Tex Murphy: Overseer
| Tex Murphy: Overseer | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the series: Tex Murphy | |||
| Original title | Tex Murphy: Overseer | ||
| Studio | Access software | ||
| Publisher | Access software | ||
| Senior Developer | Aaron Conners Chris Jones |
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| Erstveröffent- lichung |
1998 | ||
| platform | Windows | ||
| genre | Adventure | ||
| Game mode | Single player | ||
| control | Keyboard & mouse | ||
| medium | CD-ROM , DVD-ROM , download | ||
| language | English | ||
| Age rating |
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Tex Murphy: Overseer is an adventure game for Windows and the fifth in the Tex-Murphy series by Access Software . It is a remake of the first series part, Mean Streets . The main character, private detective Tex Murphy, tells his girlfriend Chelsee Bando about his first case, which the user reenacts in the form of flashbacks. Like the previous two titles Under a Killing Moon and The Pandora Files , Overseer combines a narrative style through full motion videos (FMVs) with game sections in 3D environments.
action
As with all Tex Murphy games, Overseer is a science fiction scenario set in San Francisco after World War III. After the devastating events of World War I, many of the major cities were rebuilt, but certain areas are still marked by war (for example Old San Francisco). Another consequence was the formation of two civil classes: the mutants and the "norms".
Since the game is told in a series of flashbacks , there are two main timelines. In 2043, shortly after the events of its predecessor The Pandora Files , tensions between Mutants and Norms gradually subsided. Tex goes on a date with his girlfriend Chelsee Bandoo, who has doubts about Tex's ability to be in a relationship. She confronts him with the fact that he is still wearing the wedding ring of his ex-wife Sylvia Linsky. This leads Tex to recount the events of his first case. In essence, these are the events of the action in Mean Streets , but with a few differences.
The flashbacks take place in November 2037. The crusade for genetic purity is gradually gaining traction and tensions between mutants and norms mount. The mutants are mostly forced to live in the run-down outskirts of cities such as Old San Francisco. Tex, on the other hand, lives in a new apartment on Front Street in New San Francisco. He has just been kicked out of the Colonel's detective agency for unpacking about the Colonel's unethical practices. He has therefore recently started working independently.
Tex is hired by Sylvia Linsky to find out the truth about her father's suicide. She believes he was murdered, but the police have already stopped the investigation. Since nobody else wants to help her, she turns to Tex. As a result, Tex gets caught up in a plot about implants and mind control that he has to stop in time.
Gameplay
Tex Murphy: Overseer is the third part of the series that uses the virtual world technology from Access Software and combines the game in the manner of an interactive film with film recordings by well-known actors such as Michael York , Henry Darrow , Richard Norton , Joe Estevez and Clint Howard .
The new engine was accompanied by a slightly modified game control, but the basic principle of the predecessor was retained. In addition to the dialogues in film sequences, the player explores the various freely accessible locations in search of clues and objects. In the dialogues in Overseer , the answer selection changed so that the exact answer was no longer given, but only an adequate description.
The game offers two difficulty modes, entertainment and gamer mode. In entertainment mode there are additional hints for solutions and certain puzzles can be avoided. At the end of the game, the player receives a score that provides information on his success in discovering and solving all puzzles. The maximum number of points in gamer mode is higher than in entertainment mode.
development
In October 1996, Access Software announced plans for a new Tex-Murphy project with the working title Trance .
Access initially intended to develop a sequel to The Pandora Files under this title . However, in order to be able to enter into a very short completion contract with Intel, who were looking for a game as a bundle product for their upcoming hardware, the concept of Overseer was developed . The shortened development cycle made it necessary to choose an existing narrative. According to Game Director Adrien Carr, the game was only planned as a demonstration for the new Intel chip, not as a full-fledged sequel, let alone as a preliminary conclusion to the series. When Intel decided not to release the bundle, Access Software continued development and expanded the interactive areas before launching the game on its own.
Access Software created a new engine for Overseer for use with Windows 95/98. Overseer was also one of the first games specifically designed for DVD-ROM. The North American retail version therefore also contained two versions, one on five CDs and one on a single DVD. The DVD version was identical in terms of content, with it only the regular data carrier change was omitted and the film sequences could be delivered in better quality.
reception
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“Unfortunately, Access failed to develop the game's technology further. While the videos consist of very coarse pixels, the SVGA graphics of the game part are exceptionally slow. Nevertheless, the game is the first choice for fans of interactive feature films, since the English-language program offers not only an atmospheric atmosphere but also a noteworthy depth of play. Owners of DVD drives are also getting food for their drives for the first time, the supplied DVD replaces the five CD-ROMs in the game. "
"Overall, Tex Murphy: Overseer is a definite step down from the Pandora Directive. With its foregone conclusion, it lacks the replayability of the previous game in the series. While there is a lot to do, there is so much FMV, I often had the feeling that I was watching a movie, with some adventure game parts dropped in as intermissions. "
“The bottom line is that Overseer is definitely a step backwards since the Pandora files. With its predefined conclusions, it lacks the replayability of the earlier series parts. And while there is a lot to do, there is so much FMV that I felt like I was watching a movie with a few adventure game sections added for a change. "
Tex Murphy: Overseer was organized by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences at the Interactive Achievement Awards 1997 nominated for the award as "Adventure Game of the Year". In the vote, it was defeated by Westwoods Adventure Blade Runner .
continuation
The planned continuation of the series with a trilogy from the games Chance , Polarity and Trance did not materialize. Microsoft Access Software took over in 1999 and with the general decline of the adventure market there was no possibility of continuing the series for the series creators around Chris Jones and Aaron Conners, who had acquired the trademark rights in 2008. Only with a successful crowdfunding campaign in 2012 via the Kickstarter website was it possible to secure sufficient funding for a successor with the help of fans of the series. In 2014, a sixth game was released under the title Tesla Effect: A Tex Murphy Adventure .
Web links
- Tex Murphy: Overseer atMobyGames(English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Tex Murphy: Overseer in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- ^ Peter Smith: Access announces new adventure . October 16, 1996. Archived from the original on January 1, 1997. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
- ↑ Ingmar Böke: Interview: Aaron Conners . Adventure meeting . January 18, 2014. Archived from the original on September 7, 2013. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
- ↑ Ingmar Böke: Interview: Adrian Carr (second part) . Adventure meeting . January 18, 2014. Archived from the original on December 14, 2013. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
- ↑ Tex Murphy Overseer Install Guide . fourthlaw.com. Archived from the original on January 11, 2014. Retrieved on April 4, 2014.
- ↑ Test report Power Play
- ↑ Test report PC Player
- ↑ a b Harald Wagner: Tex Murphy: Overseer . In: PC Games . No. 06/1998, September, p. 171.
- ↑ Heiko Häusler: Tex Murphy: Overseer. In: Gamestar. No. 05/1998, pp. 114-116.
- ↑ GameRankings
- ↑ Gamespot test report
- ↑ a b Scorpia / Editing: Tex Murphy: Underachiever. In: Computer Gaming World. No. 167, 05/1998, pp. 197-198.
- ^ The Award; Award updates . Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences . Archived from the original on June 15, 1998.
- ^ The Award; Award updates . Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences . Archived from the original on June 15, 1998.
- ↑ Tex Murphy Don's Fedora Once Again . AdventureGamers.com. Retrieved May 20, 2013.
- ^ Ugur Sener: Interview with Chris Jones on Project Fedora . Adventurelantern.com. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
- ↑ Tex Murphy Kickstarter funded. In: GameSpot. Retrieved October 23, 2019 (American English).