I-War: Rebellion in the Universe
| I-War: Rebellion in the Universe | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Original title | I-War: Enter Infinity | ||
| Studio | Particle Systems | ||
| Publisher | Infogrames | ||
| Erstveröffent- lichung |
1997 | ||
| platform | Windows | ||
| Game engine | BREnder | ||
| genre | Space flight simulation | ||
| Game mode | Single player | ||
| medium | CD-ROM , download | ||
| language | English German | ||
| Current version | 1.24 | ||
| Age rating |
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I-War: Rebellion in the Universe (Original title: I-War: Enter Infinity ) is a space flight simulation from Particle Systems for Windows . It was published in November 1997 by Infogrames and its British subsidiary Ocean Software . In the USA, the game appeared under the title Independence War: The Starship Simulator , because Atari Corporation had already published a game of the same name in 1995 and therefore held the naming rights.
Particle Systems developed an extension with the subtitle Defiance , which was combined with the main program in 1999 as Independence War Special Edition (USA: Independence War Deluxe ) on the market. In 2001 the successor Independence War 2: Edge of Chaos was released
action
In the 23rd century, humanity expanded to other star systems and established a colonial empire with the help of jump gates for interstellar movement. But there are increasing tensions between the central government of the Commonwealth and the so-called indies, a guerrilla group of freedom fighters, terrorists and pirates who fight for independence from the mother system. The conflict has been going on for 100 years. The 14-minute intro video shows the last mission of Navy Captain Jefferson Clay, who in 2263 was able to prevent the Indies from completely blocking a jump gate by sacrificing his life. Five years after Clay's death, the nameless player character begins her service as a young Commonwealth captain on board the Dreadnaught corvette. Its purpose is to contain the attacks and raids of the rebels on ships of the Navy and the facilities of the Commonwealth. To a certain extent, the player can help determine the course of the action, depending on which there are variations in the end of the game.
In the expansion Defiance , the player slips into the role of Edison Hayes, a captain of the indie fleet, who is in command of the spaceship "Spartacus". The campaign, which consists of 18 missions, is the counterpart to the main campaign.
Gameplay
The player roams through the sector with his ship and takes on various missions. Unlike in comparable games, he not only controls a fighter or freighter, but a larger combat ship. There are a total of 100 missions, typical variants are patrol flights, repair orders or combat missions against indies. In order to perform the various tasks, the player usually changes within the ship between the navigating bridge (order acceptance, remote control of space gliders), the navigation room (flight mode), the weapons center (combat mode) and the engine room (repairs). The ship's command module can be detached from the hull and coupled to other ships.
Another special feature compared to other genre representatives are the flight characteristics of the spaceship, which are based on Newton's laws . Because of the inertia and the lack of friction in space , the ship only changes its speed and direction as soon as a corresponding (counter) thrust is triggered.
development
Work on the game initially began on behalf of Philips Media . Started under the working title "big ships", it should originally be called Dreadnought (English for battleship). With a view to the non-English-speaking sales regions, the title was changed to Infinity War . Because of a Marvel comic strip of the same name, this name had to be shortened to I-War . When Philips closed its games division, the assets went to Infogrames, which continued the project and published it in Europe under this title. Before the US release, however, it turned out that the title I-War had already been protected by the Atari Corporation, which had published a game of the same name for the Atari Jaguar in 1995. Therefore the title for the US release was changed again to Independence War . Infogrames later acquired the Atari name and trademark rights through acquisitions and was renamed Atari SA.
The first published European version of I-War initially only used software rendering for the 3D display . Spaceships consist of 250 to 400 polygons , entire scenes from 3000 to 5000. For the US version, 3D hardware support for 3dfx graphics cards was built in, which was subsequently implemented in the European version via patch.
reception
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“No, despite striking similarities with the 'Wing Commander' series, 'I-War' is not a cheap clone, but an independent product. Not only the interesting frame story catches the eye, but above all the first-class graphics that do without a 3D accelerator and are still top notch. The aircraft responds very well, although it is not particularly easy to use at first. […] I found the rather severe degree of difficulty and the length of the missions somewhat irritating. You have to reckon with up to 20 minutes per mission, at least for later assignments. [...] I-War gives experienced flying aces just the right kick, but beginners in the genre are clearly overwhelmed. "
“The entry into I-War shocked me completely: Tables and abbreviations simulate complexity, while the actual benefit resulting from them tends to zero. [...] But when I finally made my way through the countless menus and learned to differentiate the (numerous) unimportant commands from the (few) important ones, the space spectacle was fun. Sneaky graphics, intelligent computer opponents and (in the context of the genre) realistic flight behavior ensure that I fight my way through the sometimes hairy missions bitterly. Another plus are the sporadic video sequences that noticeably breathe life into the action. "
"Independence War not only provides the most detailed flight and systems modeling yet seen in a space sim, it also provides a complex, rewarding plot and a fully fleshed-out gaming world."
"Independence War not only has the most detailed flight and system model of all space simulations to date, it also offers a complex, worthwhile storyline and a fully developed game world."
The American gaming magazine Computer Games Strategy Plus recorded I-War in 1998 as a science-fiction simulation of the year. The American website Gamespot also named the game space simulation of the year.
At the Interactive Achievement Awards 1998, the game was nominated for best simulation, but had to give way to Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit .
Web links
Individual evidence
- Jump up ↑ Independence War: Rebellion in the Universe - Mission 01: Salvage. Retrieved October 22, 2019 (German).
- ↑ a b c Test report Power Play 1/98
- ↑ a b https://www.ign.com/articles/1998/09/11/independence-war
- ↑ a b Desslock: Gamesport Review: Independence War . In: Gamespot . Archived from the original on April 22, 1999.
- ↑ https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/independence-war-deluxe-edition-review/1900-2535556/
- ↑ PC Games 01/1998, pp. 184-188
- ↑ a b Test report PC Player 1/98
- ↑ Editor: The Best of 1998 . In: Computer Games Strategy Plus . February 11, 1999. Archived from the original on February 3, 2005.
- ↑ Best & Worst of 1998: Space Simulation of the Year . In: Gamespot . Archived from the original on February 14, 2003.
- ^ Second Interactive Achievement Awards; Personal computer . Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences . Archived from the original on November 4, 1999.