Overview
Space Hulk (not to be confused with the 2013 game of the same name) is a sci-fi fantasy first-person tactical shooter developed and published by Electronic Arts for MS-DOS PCs on June 1993.
Based on the 1989 Games Workshop board game of the same name, Space Hulk is set in the futuristic Warhammer 40,000 universe and has players directing five-man squads of genetically-enhanced Space Marine Terminators (from the elite Deathwing company of the Dark Angels chapter) through derelict space vessels called "space hulks" that are infested with hostile Tyranid Genestealers.
The game is heavily tactics-based and has players utilizing two separate game interfaces: the Terminator View Screen (where they take direct first-person control of individual Terminators while viewing the perspective of all squadmates) and the Planning Screen (a top-down tactical interface where players issue direct orders to each Terminator). It uses a limited grid-based system for movement and combat (similar to first-person RPGs in the 1980's), and players can "freeze time" (in a limited capacity) to assess the situation and issue orders.
It was later ported to the Amiga in late 1993, followed by a Japan-only port by Starcraft for the NEC PC-9821 on March 3, 1995. It later received a sequel, titled Space Hulk: Vengeance of the Blood Angels.
Gameplay
The Planning Screen
The game consists of 51 missions, divided up into tutorials, stand-alone and campaign missions. Mission objectives include actions such as exterminations, object retrievals, and protection. The number of Terminators the player will have to manage varies from one to two squads of five men each. The Terminator can be controlled from two different screens, the Planning screen and the Terminator View Screen. The Planning screen offers a top-down view over the map and allows the player to issue commands to all Terminators. In the Terminator View screen the player can see the first-person perspective of five Terminators, but only fully control one at a time. The game is in real-time, but players can pause the game by "Freezing" the game. While the game is Freeze mode the player can still issue out commands, but pressured to issue out commands fast does not go away, as a timer is ticking down to when freeze time will end.
Terminator View screen
The AI on the Terminators is limited. They will automatically fire on enemies in front of them, but when attacked from the side or from behind, they will not react and face the threat. Instead they will almost immediately die.
Trivia
- Opening theme by D-Rok titled "Get Out Of My Way"
Log in to comment