FutureNet: Amiga Format 78

Looking for some atmosphere, fear, excitement, tension, apprehension, and fun? Steve McGill was. He found it when he reviewed Breed 3D.

There's no doubt about it. We are witnessing biggest fight the Amiga, Amiga owners, and Amiga developers have ever seen since the Amiga concept became reality.

That this fight could alter the course of home computing history is beyond question. If the Amiga does the unimaginable, and loses, it'll herald a sad sad era of darkness and techno slavery for Amiga owners, Joe Public, and the rest of the World. A grave scenario indeed. And one that must never be allowed to happen.

The Amiga succeeded despite Commodore's inept marketing strategy. It succeeded because it captured the imagination of the imaginative, the creative, and the visionary. It succeeded because it was the computer of the people. And most of all, it succeeded because the people loved it.

That it can fight back and again win its rightful position of prominence is going to be more difficult than ever before. External forces with more money and bigger marketing budgets than you could throw a Third World country at will be out in full Stormtrooping jackbooted media imperialistic force.

Fight back

But the Amiga can resist. It's in possession of the most powerful marketing force known in the world. A force that can't be bought or silenced or bullied or ignored. And that force relies on people talking, for it's nothing more nor nothing less than word of mouth. Amiga owners talk to each other more than any other gaming fraternity. It's word of mouth that keeps the Amiga alive. It's word of mouth that keeps the Amiga vibrant. It's word of mouth that keeps the Amiga exciting.

So, I've kept you waiting this long and still haven't mentioned Alien Breed 3D from Team 17. Hopefully I've made a point of sorts about the Amiga's strength and the inherent power of word of mouth. I say hopefully, because I'm going to ask you a big favour; something that I've never done before since joining Amiga Format. The favour's simple - get in touch with Team 17 by whatever means are available: e-mail, net access, phone, write, parachute... anything.

Tell them how good Alien Breed 3D is. Tell them what you like about it. Tell them what works and what doesn't. Tell them what you'd like to see improved. But most of all, ask, plead, beg, grovel, implore and petition them not to leave the Amiga market. The market needs them to produce more games like Breed 3D. The market needs more games like Breed 3D.

LOOK OUT BEHIND YOU!

Simply the best...

For Breed 3D is quite simply one of the best games ever to appear on the Amiga. It exploits the AGA hardware, injects it with euphoric gameplay and, at the same time, radiantly displays the potential that lies in the heart of a well-coded A1200.

Be prepared to have your imagination captured as the game immerses you in the dangerously harsh world of the Breed and their foul brethren. Feel the adrenaline invigorate your senses as you frantically switch between out-and-out fearless aggression and cringingly fearful, trembling paranoia.

Yes, Breed 3D does all that, plus some more, to the player as they play. Put it down to the perfect balance of design, aesthetics, gameplay, intuitive control, involvement, consistency, internal dynamics and fun. The layout of the sixteen levels is believable enough in an Alien kind of a way. There are no pointless dead ends. There are extremely atmospheric, submerged areas. And, Doom-beatingly, the levels have different floor layers requiring the traversing of stairs, ramps, lifts and other obstacles to access them.

Frustratingly, though, there is no map to access. But, by way of compensation, changes in wall and floor textures in the various sections helps compartmentalise the levels and keep everything at a manageable, memorable level, alleviating, to a limited degree anyway, the need for a map.

The choice is yours

Married to the design of the levels is an intuitive control system, offering maximum flexibility and degree of choice: Keyboard control can be completely reconfigured to the player's choice, although it's unlikely to be changed from the pre-set keys. Mouse control is possible also, but it wasn't my control system of choice.

The joystick is okay, but wilts slightly in front of the might of the keyboard. The best system is probably that of CD32 controller use - you can run, duck, fire weapons, operate lifts and doors, select weapons and, most importantly, use the sidestep easily in a devastatingly effective manner. In all, a tremendous selection that should see everyone but DC Thomson of Dundee happy.

The monsters inhabiting the levels are various and present their own little problems in choosing the most efficient method of dispatching them. Unlike the monsters in Fears, Breed's denizens exhibit a limited believable intelligence. They run about a bit, dodge, weave, and attack you at every opportunity.

As expected, different weapons do different types of damage and it's in this area that players should familiarise themselves well. It means the difference between success and death. The weapons sound wonderful when fired. Although the double barrelled shotgun acts as a pump action - quirky.

I KNOW SOMETHING YOU DON'T KNOW

A sounding success

While on the subject of sound, it deserves a special mention. It enhances and expands an already bristling atmosphere. When walking through levels that are semi-submersed, the splish-splash of wet footsteps, the occasional howl of distant breed, the reflections from the graphics, the squeal of monsters that have been shot all meld together and pull you into a disturbingly violent, unfriendly world. It's you, your wits and your weapons. And that's tops.

To finish off, the way the game makes use of accelerator cards deserves a special mention. With an accelerator fitted, everything becomes silky smooth and can easily live with the Dooms and Marathons of the world. Their use further enhances the credibility and immersion factor of the game's scenario.