Armada (video game)
{{Short description|1999 video game}}
{{Distinguish|Star Trek: Armada}}
{{Redirect|Armada II|Star Trek: Armada II|Star Trek: Armada II}}
{{Refimprove|date=September 2011}}
{{Infobox video game
|title = Armada
|image = Armada cover.jpg
|developer = Metro3D
|publisher = Metro3D
|director = Mark Jordan
|designer = Mark Jordan
Roger Fang
|released = {{vgrelease|NA|November 26, 1999{{cite web | author=Gantayat, Anoop | date=November 23, 1999 | title=Armada Ships to Stores | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/11/23/armada-ships-to-stores | website=IGN | publisher=Ziff Davis | access-date=October 16, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230727184020/https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/11/23/armada-ships-to-stores | archive-date=July 27, 2023 | url-status=live}}}}
|genre = Shooter, role-playing
|modes = Single-player, multiplayer
|platforms = Dreamcast
}}
Armada is a video game developed and published by Metro3D. It was released for the Sega Dreamcast in North America on November 26, 1999. Armada is a shooter role-playing game (RPG) that allows up to four players to fly about the universe, fighting the enemy, performing missions and improving their ship.
Plot
Earth has been destroyed by the unfathomable Armada, giant space aliens of unknown origin with an unknown purpose. Fleeing in whatever was available, humanity took to the stars in a desperate attempt to survive. Eons later, humans have split into six distinct groups who maintain a shaky alliance against the Armada.
Development
Armada was developed by Metro3D, (formerly Metropolis Digital, Inc.) and was announced in mid-1998 as an online game.{{cite web | author=IGN staff | date=June 30, 1998 | title=News Archives: Week of June 28, 1998 | url=http://rpgvaultarchive.ign.com/archive/19980628.shtml | website=IGN | publisher=Independent | access-date=April 19, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727072739/http://rpgvaultarchive.ign.com/archive/19980628.shtml | archive-date=July 27, 2011 | url-status=dead}} The company had previously developed a space-themed, real-time strategy game titled Star Command: Revolution.{{cite web | author=Sikora, Drew | date=January 25, 2007 | title=Interviews: EvStream | url=https://www.gamedev.net/tutorials/_/business/interviews/evstream-r2336/ | website=GameDev.net | access-date=July 26, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230726182244/https://www.gamedev.net/tutorials/_/business/interviews/evstream-r2336/ | archive-date=July 26, 2023 | url-status=live}} In May 1999, the game was revealed to be a massively multiplayer online role-playing game in development for the Sega Dreamcast.{{cite web | author=IGN staff | date=May 14, 1999 | title=First Impressions: Armada | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/05/14/first-impressions-armada | website=IGN | publisher=Ziff Davis | access-date=October 16, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230727184024/https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/05/14/first-impressions-armada | archive-date=July 27, 2023 | url-status=live}}{{cite web | author=Justice, Brandon | date=December 2, 1999 | title=Armada | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/12/03/armada | website=IGN | publisher=Ziff Davis | access-date=October 16, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230727184021/https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/12/03/armada | archive-date=July 27, 2023 | url-status=live}} The game was planned to be released as a launch title for the console on September 9, 1999, but was delayed until late September or early October of that year.{{cite web | author=Gantayat, Anoop | date=August 23, 1999 | title=Armada Misses DC Launch | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/08/23/armada-misses-dc-launch | website=IGN | publisher=Ziff Davis | access-date=October 16, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230727184021/https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/08/23/armada-misses-dc-launch | archive-date=July 27, 2023 | url-status=live}} The game was delayed again with a projected shipment the week of November 19.{{cite web | author=Justice, Brandon | date=November 3, 1999 | title=Armada to See Slight Delay | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/11/03/armada-to-see-slight-delay | website=IGN | publisher=Ziff Davis | access-date=October 16, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230727184019/https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/11/03/armada-to-see-slight-delay | archive-date=July 27, 2023 | url-status=live}} Armada was finally made available at retail on November 26, 1999, the day following Thanksgiving. At one time Armada had been scheduled to be released in Japan along with Dark Angel: Vampire Apocalypse in 2000,{{cite web | author=Gantayat, Anoop | date=December 9, 1999 | title=Metro 3D's Titles Set for Japanese release | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/12/10/metro-3ds-titles-set-for-japanese-release | website=IGN | publisher=Ziff Davis | access-date=October 16, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230517064427/https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/12/10/metro-3ds-titles-set-for-japanese-release | archive-date=May 17, 2023 | url-status=live}} but both games never made their release in Japanese stores for reasons unknown.
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| GR = 76%{{cite web | title=Armada for Dreamcast Reviews | url=https://www.gamerankings.com/dreamcast/196628-armada/index.html | website=GameRankings | publisher=CBS Interactive | access-date=November 14, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190505064532/https://www.gamerankings.com/dreamcast/196628-armada/index.html | archive-date=May 5, 2019 | url-status=dead}}
| Allgame = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web | author=Licata, Jonathan | title=Armada - Review | url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=18677&tab=review | website=AllGame | publisher=All Media Network | access-date=November 15, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115062029/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=18677&tab=review | archive-date=November 15, 2014 | url-status=dead}}
| EGM = 5.875/10{{cite magazine | author1=Boyer, Crispin | author2=Smith, Shawn | author3=Hsu, Dan "Shoe" | author4=Davison, John | url=https://retrocdn.net/images/3/37/EGM_US_127.pdf | title=Armada | magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly | publisher=Ziff Davis | issue=127 | date=February 2000 | page=173 | access-date=October 17, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230316080953/https://retrocdn.net/images/3/37/EGM_US_127.pdf | archive-date=March 16, 2023 | url-status=live}}{{efn|In Electronic Gaming Monthly{{'}}s review of the game, one critic gave it 6.5/10, two others gave it each a score of 6/10, and the other gave it 5/10.}}
| EPD = 7.5/10{{cite web | author=Lopez, Miguel | date=January 8, 2000 | title=Armada | url=http://www.elecplay.com/reviews_article.php?article=1845 | website=The Electric Playground | publisher=Greedy Productions Ltd. | access-date=October 17, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040921035455/http://www.elecplay.com/reviews_article.php?article=1845 | archive-date=September 21, 2004 | url-status=dead}}
| GI = 6.5/10{{cite magazine | author=McNamara, Andy | title=Armada - Dreamcast | url=https://gameinformer.com/reviews/review_detail.cfm?ITEM_ID=3246 | magazine=Game Informer | publisher=FuncoLand | issue=82 | date=February 2000 | access-date=November 15, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001203011900/http://gameinformer.com/reviews/review_detail.cfm?ITEM_ID=3246 | archive-date=December 3, 2000 | url-status=dead}}
| GameFan = 81%{{cite magazine | author=Rodriguez, Tyrone "Cerberus" | title=Armada | url=https://archive.org/details/Gamefan_Vol_8_Issue_02/page/n43/mode/2up | magazine=GameFan | publisher=Shinno Media | volume=8 | issue=2 | date=February 2000 | page=43 | access-date=November 15, 2020}}
| GameRev = B+{{cite web | author=Colin | date=December 1999 | title=Armada Review | url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/32199-armada-review | website=GameRevolution | publisher=CraveOnline | access-date=November 15, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150929082649/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/armada | archive-date=September 29, 2015 |url-status=live}}
| GSpot = 7.8/10{{cite web | author=Bartholow, Peter | date=December 9, 1999 | title=Armada Review [date mislabeled as "April 28, 2000"] | url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/armada-review/1900-2540037/ | website=GameSpot | publisher=Fandom | access-date=October 16, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150921112733/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/armada-review/1900-2540037/ | archive-date=September 21, 2015 | url-status=live}}
| GSpy = 9/10{{cite web | author=Bowen, Kevin | date=January 3, 2000 | title=Armada | url=http://www.planetdreamcast.com/games/reviews/armada/ | website=PlanetDreamcast | publisher=IGN Entertainment | access-date=November 14, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090131131819/http://www.planetdreamcast.com/games/reviews/armada/ | archive-date=January 31, 2009 | url-status=dead}}
| NGen = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine | author=Orlando, Greg | title=Armada | url=https://archive.org/details/NextGen62Feb2000/page/n93/mode/2up | magazine=NextGen | publisher=Imagine Media | issue=62 | date=February 2000 | page=92 | access-date=November 14, 2020}}
}}
The game received favorable reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings. Greg Orlando of NextGen said, "As a solitary experience, Armada{{'}}s RPG elements make the game worth a look – and maybe a second one, too. These unfriendly skies (and galaxies), however, are really meant to be traversed in the company of others."
The D-Pad Destroyer of GamePro said that the game was "a Dreamcast shooter fan's dream, and it recalls the classics of the genre, like Asteroids, Xevious and a touch of R-Type. Hardcore shooter fans might be put off by its wide-open, non-level-based structure, but anyone who likes a little bad-guy-blastin' action should at least give Armada a rent."{{cite magazine | author=The D-Pad Destroyer | date=December 14, 1999 | title=Armada Review for Dreamcast on GamePro.com | url=http://www.gamepro.com/sega/dreamcast/games/reviews/3622.shtml | magazine=GamePro | publisher=IDG | access-date=November 15, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041113071901/http://www.gamepro.com/sega/dreamcast/games/reviews/3622.shtml | archive-date=November 13, 2004 | url-status=dead}}{{efn|GamePro gave the game 4/5 for graphics, and three 4.5/5 scores for sound, control, and fun factor in one review.}} In another GamePro review, Lamchop said that the game "features passable sound and adequate control, though it doesn't take advantage of the Dreamcast's power in many areas. Still, Armada is compelling enough to keep you up until 2:00 am{{sic}} trying to finish the next mission."{{cite magazine | author=Lamchop | url=https://retrocdn.net/images/b/bc/GamePro_US_137.pdf | title=Armada | magazine=GamePro | publisher=IDG | issue=137 | date=February 2000 | page=112 | access-date=October 17, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109194439/https://retrocdn.net/images/b/bc/GamePro_US_137.pdf | archive-date=November 9, 2022 | url-status=live}}{{efn|GamePro gave the game 2.5/5 for graphics, 3/5 for sound, 3.5/5 for control, and 4/5 for fun factor in another review.}}
The game was a nominee for "Console Action Game of the Year" during the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences' 3rd Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, which ultimately was given to Crazy Taxi.{{cite web | title=Third Interactive Achievement Awards: Console | url=http://www.interactive.org/iaa/finalists_console.html | website=Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001011155228/http://www.interactive.org/iaa/finalists_console.html | archive-date=October 11, 2000 | url-status=dead | access-date=June 12, 2022}}
{{clear}}
Legacy
Armada F/X Racers for the Game Boy Color, a racing game which takes place in the same universe as Armada, was developed by Metro3D and released in 2000.{{cite web | author=Harris, Craig | date=February 29, 2000 | title=Armada F/X Racers (Preview) | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/03/01/armada-fx-racers-2 | website=IGN | publisher=Ziff Davis | access-date=October 16, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221208052529/https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/03/01/armada-fx-racers-2 | archive-date=December 8, 2022 | url-status=live}} A direct sequel to Armada was under development, originally for the Dreamcast, then for the Xbox and PlayStation 2 under various titles including Armada II, Armada's Revenge, Armada 2: Exodus, and Armada 2: Star Command.{{cite web | author=Chau, Anthony | date=March 20, 2001 | title=Metro3D Cancels Dreamcast Titles | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/03/20/metro3d-cancels-dreamcast-titles | website=IGN | publisher=Ziff Davis | access-date=October 16, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230727184021/https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/03/20/metro3d-cancels-dreamcast-titles | archive-date=July 27, 2023 | url-status=live}}{{cite web | author=Perry, Douglass C. | date=April 6, 2000 | title=Metro 3D Brings Armada 2 to PS2 | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/04/07/metro-3d-brings-armada-2-to-ps2 | website=IGN | publisher=Ziff Davis | access-date=October 16, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230727184017/https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/04/07/metro-3d-brings-armada-2-to-ps2 | archive-date=July 27, 2023 | url-status=dead}}{{cite web | title=In Development | url=http://www.metro3d.com/products2.html | website=Metro3D, Inc. | access-date=April 19, 2012 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20010210185246/http://www.metro3d.com/products2.html | archive-date=February 10, 2001 | url-status=dead}}{{cite web | author=Ahmed, Shahed | date=January 19, 2001 | title=Metro 3D Discusses Next-Gen Development Plans | url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/metro-3d-discusses-next-gen-development-plans/1100-2676703/ | website=GameSpot | publisher=Fandom | access-date=October 17, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010124100400/http://www.zdnet.com/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2676703,00.html | archive-date=January 24, 2001 | url-status=live}} However, due to repeated delays and redesigns along with limited resources, the game was canceled after spending over four years in varying degrees of development.{{cite web | author=Goldstein, Hilary | date=February 1, 2007 | title=Missing in Action: The Lost Games of Xbox | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/02/02/missing-in-action-the-lost-games-of-xbox | website=IGN | publisher=Ziff Davis | access-date=October 17, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230128014233/https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/02/02/missing-in-action-the-lost-games-of-xbox | archive-date=January 28, 2023 | url-status=live}}
In early 2005, EvStream, an independent game development studio formed by former Metro3D members, purchased the rights for Armada. An online continuation titled Armada Online has been announced and is under development by Roger Fang and Mark Jordan. An alpha of the game was released.
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{moby game|id=/21341/armada/}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070424170354/http://www.armada-online.com/ Armada Online official website] (archived)
Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games
Category:North America-exclusive video games
Category:Role-playing video games