TechnoMage
| TechnoMage: the return of eternity | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | Sunflowers | ||
| Publisher | Sunflowers | ||
| Erstveröffent- lichung |
November 24, 2000 | ||
| platform | PlayStation , Microsoft Windows | ||
| genre | Computer role playing game | ||
| Game mode | Single player | ||
| medium | CD-ROM | ||
| language | German English | ||
| Current version | 1.04 (d) | ||
| Age rating |
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TechnoMage: The Return of Eternity is a computer role-playing game by the German computer game manufacturer Sunflowers . It was released on November 24, 2000 for Windows and June 2001 for the PlayStation . It was the company's last in-house production, and in 2002 the internal development department was closed.
action
TechnoMage takes place in the fantasy world of Gothos, which is inhabited by the magical people of the Dreamer and the more tech-savvy steamers. Both peoples exist peacefully side by side, but are skeptical of each other and avoid contact with each other. The main character and player character Melvin grows up in the village of Dreamertown and is a half-breed. This makes him an outsider, but also allows him to use the special skills of both peoples. When the ground breaks and monsters threaten the nearby town of Steamertown, Melvin is blamed. Because as a bastard, he challenges the wrath of the gods. Melvin escapes into the woods and tries to find out the cause and prove his innocence. To do this, he is traveling to eight different regions. In Talis, who like Melvin is also a half-breed, he finds a faithful companion for his adventure trip.
Gameplay
The game is kept quite colorful and is aimed at younger players both visually and in terms of content (including renouncing blood). Comparisons were made to Nox or Diablo 2 , among others, because of the playback and the core mechanics, but also to Zelda because of the versatility . The 3D game world is presented from an isometric perspective with a resolution of 640 × 480 pixels. The camera can be rotated 360 °, but the tilt angle cannot be changed and it cannot be zoomed.
Much of the game consists of real-time battles. For this, Melvin can fall back on skills from the field of technology or magic. For defeating opponents, completing missions and solving puzzles, he receives experience points that he can invest in the development of his four character values (strength, intelligence, constitution, mysticism). Some Rubik's cubes that can be found can also increase individual attributes. In this way, he learns more and more skills over time. With dagger, sword, battle ax and bow, there are several weapons to choose from, as well as various protective and defensive objects (armor, rings) and tools or aids. To regenerate lost life or magic points, the player must collect appropriate potions.
Some puzzles rely on the use of the rotation function. This includes tasks such as stacking boxes, lever puzzles and recognizing and looking through secret mechanisms. There are also jump-'n'-run elements that require a certain skill from the player, such as movement using jump combinations over moving platforms. If Melvin dies with such a skill, he will be awakened at regularly set respawn points. This does not apply to death in combat; the free memory function must be used for this. There are also mini-games like a bug race included.
development
Gold status was announced on November 7, 2000 . The game received several updates after its release. Patch 1.02 was released in December 2000. In March 2001 the last patch 1.04 was released for the time being.
In March 2001, Sunflowers published a limited edition of 250 pieces of Melvin miniature figures via its own online shop.
reception
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"Apart from the somewhat disappointing graphic presentation, Technomage can convince all around: An imaginative storyline, lovingly designed characters, simple operation, a successful real-time combat system and the brilliant combination of action and role-playing elements promise countless hours of entertaining on the monitor . "
“Despite the adversity of the program, we ultimately enjoyed ourselves for hours in this fairytale ambience. Maybe because it is always nice when the good wins. Maybe just because gentle action and cute adventures are becoming increasingly rare. "
“Finally a console action role-playing game for the PC appears! Technomage is bursting with exciting orders and loads of hidden details. The Sunflowers developers succeeded in creating the fairytale flair very well. I especially liked the secluded fairy forest. Unfortunately there is also something to complain about: Since you always have to readjust your perspective yourself, you see some monsters too late. In addition, the controls are a bit inaccurate, which makes some of the hopping passages extremely tricky. But you can master these situations with diligence. Fun, excitement and tons of surprises - if you like this mix, Technomage is just right for you. "
For one year, the development team was accompanied by a television team from 3sat and the authors Cornelia Rettig and Stephanie Keppler, who documented the creation of the title. The documentary was broadcast on October 16, 2000 on 3Sat under the title "Von Spielmachern und Pixelhelden".
Despite the benevolent reception, the game was not considered commercially successful. It remained the last self-developed title from Sunflowers. At the beginning of 2002, the company dissolved its internal development department and from then on limited itself to working with external partners and publishing.
literature
In September 2000, Carlsen Verlag announced that it would publish a four-part comic series on the game that would follow the plot of the game. The first volume was announced for November 2000. Volume 2 was published in February 2001, Volume 3 in June 2001.
- Josip Maria Polls, Ru (text) Gat, Sergi San Julian (drawing): Technomage
- Volume 1: The Homecoming, Carlsen Comics 2000. ISBN 978-3551747716
- Volume 2: Godon's Legacy, Carlsen Comics 2001. ISBN 978-3551747723
- Volume 3: Eiland of Eternity, Carlsen Comics 2001. ISBN 978-3551747730
- Volume 4: Salvation for Gothos, Carlsen Comics 2001. ISBN 978-3551747747
Web links
- TechnoMage: The Return of Eternity at MobyGames (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b game test: Technomage - The Return of Eternity , Golem.de
- ↑ From dreamers and steamers
- ↑ TechnoMage is gold
- ↑ Technomage - Patch 1.02 available
- ↑ New Technomage patch
- ↑ Heroes for the desk
- ↑ 4Players (Windows)
- ↑ 4Players (PlayStation)
- ↑ Gamesworld (Windows)
- ↑ GameStar
- ↑ Jeux Video (PlayStation)
- ↑ Jeux Video (Windows)
- ↑ PC Action 1/2001
- ↑ PC Games 1/2001
- ↑ PC Joker 1/2001, pp. 80-83
- ↑ PC Player 1/2001, pp. 100-102
- ↑ play The Playstation 3/01
- ↑ Gamekult (Windows)
- ↑ Gamekult (PlayStation)
- ↑ TechnoMage: A fairytale ambience . Southgerman newspaper
- ↑ Technomage on TV
- ↑ Thorsten Wiesner: Sunflowers stops internal development. In: Golem.de. Retrieved November 24, 2018 .
- ↑ Technomage Comics
- ↑ Second TechnoMage comic
- ↑ TechnoMage Comic: third volume