Blade Force
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Short description|1995 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
|title = Blade Force
|image = 3DO Blade Force cover art.jpg
|developer = Studio 3DO
|publisher = The 3DO Company
|director = Gregory A. Gorsiski
|producer = Robert Lindsey
Trip Hawkins
|designer = Brad Engstrand
Michelle Breiner
Oren Tversky
|programmer = Frank Sandoval
|artist = Paul Xander
Rebecca Chow
Vince Arroyo
|composer = Nick Lockwood
|engine = Bill Budge
|platforms = 3DO
|released = {{vgrelease|NA|1995|EU|1995|JP|20 October 1995}}
|genre = Simulation, third-person shooter
|modes = Single-player
}}
Blade Force is a 1995 third-person shooter simulation video game developed by Studio 3DO and published by The 3DO Company in North America, Europe and Japan exclusively on the 3DO format. Set on a dystopian sci-fi future in the year 2110, where the fictional city of Meggagrid has been overrun by criminals, the player is equipped with a flight suit created by scientist Dr. Franz Grubert known as the HeliPak in an attempt to overthrow the main criminal organization led by the Pitt family and bring order back to the metropolis. Its gameplay mainly consists of shooting action in third-person with six degrees of freedom using a main five-button configuration.
Headed by Electronic Arts and The 3DO Company founder Trip Hawkins alongside Gregory A. Gorsiski and Robert Lindsey, Blade Force was created by most of the same team that were previously involved with several projects at Studio 3DO such as Jurassic Park Interactive and features a 3D game engine created by Pinball Construction Set designer Bill Budge.
Blade Force has been met with mostly positive reception from video game magazines and other dedicated outlets that reviewed the game since its launch, with praise towards the presentation, texture-mapped polygon graphics and sound design, though some reviewers criticized other aspects of the title such as the gameplay.
Gameplay
Blade Force is a third-person shooter simulation game similar to Descent, where players are equipped with the HeliPak flight suit and must traverse through seven areas set in the futuristic 3D urban landscape of Meggagrid featuring six degrees of freedom to overthrow the criminal organization led by the Pitt family and bring order back to the metropolis as the main objective.Blade Force manual (3DO Interactive Multiplayer, US){{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/stream/MicromanaTerceraEpocaSpanishIssue11#page/n25/mode/1up|title=Reportaje: 3DO – Ahora es su turno – Blade Force|magazine=Micromanía|volume=3|issue=11|publisher=HobbyPress|date=December 1995|page=26|lang=es}}
Before the main missions, players are introduced to a tutorial area by Dr. Franz Grubert to get familiarized with the controls and beneficial items that can be picked up along the way. After the tutorial is completed, players are tasked with various objectives to clear before proceeding such as capturing a designated criminal. If the players does not recover health, their player character will burst in flames and crash into the ground by enemy fire and once all lives are lost, the game is over, though players have the option of resuming progress by loading their saved game into the last mission reached.
Synopsis
Blade Force takes place in the year 2110, where a fictional metropolis built from the ruins of Los Angeles called Meggagrid has been overrun by criminals. Scientist Dr. Franz Grubert had previously proposed a plan two years ago to equip the city's police force with a flight suit known as the HeliPak, but the government decided reducing the prison sentence to two years, cut funding for the remaining mental health centers and rely on aerial counter-terrorism squads as a cost-effective measure to control the increasing crime statistics. Due to corruption at the city hall, the city council did not adopt the proposed equipment and cut funds for Dr. Grubert, who was later permanently crippled during a bombing procedure. Seeking revenge against his enemies, Grubert plotted a plan to overthrow the main criminal organization led by the Pitt family, as the players are equipped with the HeliPak suit to carry on the mission.
Development and release
Blade Force was created by most of the same team that were previously involved with several projects at Studio 3DO such as Jurassic Park Interactive.{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/stream/Edge_UK_021#page/n36/mode/1up|title=Prescreen – Blade Force|magazine=Edge|issue=21|date=June 1995|page=37}}{{cite magazine|last1=Taylor|first1=Matt|url=https://archive.org/stream/Gamefan_Vol_3_Issue_09#page/n57/mode/1up|title=Preview – Bladeforce|magazine=GameFan|volume=3|issue=9|publisher=DieHard Gamers Club|date=September 1995|pages=58–60|access-date=20 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190113200615/https://archive.org/stream/Gamefan_Vol_3_Issue_09#page/n57/mode/1up|archive-date=13 January 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/stream/Ultima_Generacion_05#page/n23/mode/2up|title=Versión beta – Real 3DO – Blade Force|magazine=Última Generación|issue=7|publisher=MV Editores|date=October 1995|pages=24–25|lang=es}}{{cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/bill-budge-reflects-on-his-pioneering-career/1100-6298764/|title=Bill Budge reflects on his pioneering career – DICE 2011: Following AIAS award, Pinball Construction Set creator talks about the path he took that inspired a generation of game makers|work=GameSpot|publisher=CBS Interactive|date=11 February 2011|access-date=2019-11-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191020052039/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/bill-budge-reflects-on-his-pioneering-career/1100-6298764/|archive-date=2019-10-20|url-status=live}} Its development was helmed by Electronic Arts and The 3DO Company founder Trip Hawkins, alongside producers Gregory A. Gorsiski and Robert Lindsey, with Gorsiski also sharing the role of designer, director and writer with multiple members of the staff. Frank Sandoval served as project's sole programmer, while artists Paul Xander, Rebecca Chow and Vince Arroyo were responsible for the artwork. The soundtrack was written by composer Nick Lockwood, while Jeff Sutherland handled the sound design. Other members of the staff collaborated in its development including Pinball Construction Set designer Bill Budge, who created the 3D game engine. The game runs at 30 frames per second.{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/stream/edge-special-edition-1996-essential-hardware-guide-pdf-optimized#page/63/mode/1up|title=3DO: software – Bladeforce|magazine=Edge|type=Special Edition|date=Autumn 1995|page=63}}
Blade Force was published by The 3DO Company across North America, Europe and Japan in 1995.{{cite magazine|url=https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File%3AEGM_US_075.pdf&page=96|title=Next Wave: Blade Force|magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly|issue=75|publisher=Sendai Publishing|date=October 1995|page=96}}{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/stream/Video_Games_The_Ultimate_Gaming_Magazine_Issue_82_November_1995#page/n47/mode/1up|title=3DO's Hot Holiday Line-Up – BladeForce (Studio 3DO)|magazine=VideoGames – The Ultimate Gaming Magazine|issue=82|publisher=L.F.P., Inc.|date=November 1995|page=45}}{{cite web|url=http://tk-nz.game.coocan.jp/gamedatabase/software/DB_3DO1995.html|title=3DO Soft > 1995|publisher=GAME Data Room|accessdate=2018-08-15|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180816093607/http://tk-nz.game.coocan.jp/gamedatabase/software/DB_3DO1995.html|archive-date=16 August 2018|url-status=live}} Early previews prior to release showcased at events like E3 1995 featured several differences such as a different head-up display and gameplay perspective.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.abandonware-magazines.org/affiche_mag.php?mag=101&num=2881&album=oui|title=Reportage: Ici, Londres (3DO) – Un Avenir Pour La 3DO|magazine=CD Consoles|issue=7|publisher=Pressimage|date=May 1995|pages=42–43|lang=fr}}{{cite magazine|last1=García|first1=Marcos|last2=Martín|first2=Fernando|url=https://archive.org/stream/Superjuegos_038#page/n21/mode/1up|title=Reportaje – Electronic Entertainment Expo: Una Feria Elevada Al Cubo – 3DO / Crystal Dynamics|magazine=Superjuegos|issue=38|publisher=Grupo Zeta|date=June 1995|page=22|lang=es}}{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/stream/Edge_UK_024#page/n33/mode/1up|title=Prescreen – Blade Force|magazine=Edge|issue=24|date=September 1995|page=34}} Although the title was rated 17 in western regions, the Japanese release was rated E instead.
Reception
{{Video game reviews
|GR = 90%{{cite web|url=https://www.gamerankings.com/3do/584316-blade-force/index.html|title=Blade Force for 3DO|work=GameRankings|publisher=CBS Interactive|year=2019|accessdate=2019-10-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191020052022/https://www.gamerankings.com/3do/584316-blade-force/index.html|archive-date=20 October 2019|url-status=live}}
|Allgame = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|last=Sackenheim|first=Shawn|url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=2373&tab=review|title=Blade Force (3DO) – Review|work=AllGame|publisher=All Media Network|year=2007|accessdate=2019-10-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115230420/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=2373&tab=review|archive-date=2014-11-15|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}
|Edge = 7 / 10{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/stream/Edge_UK_027#page/n63/mode/2up|title=Testscreen – Blade Force|magazine=Edge|issue=27|date=December 1995|pages=64–65|access-date=20 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190104230341/https://archive.org/stream/Edge_UK_027#page/n63/mode/2up|archive-date=4 January 2019|url-status=live}}
|GameFan = 249 / 300{{cite magazine|last1=Halverson|first1=Dave|author-link1=Dave Halverson|last2=Des Barres|first2=Nicholas|author3=Stalker|url=https://archive.org/stream/Gamefan_Vol_3_Issue_11#page/n21/mode/1up|title=Viewpoint – Bladeforce|magazine=GameFan|volume=3|issue=11|publisher=DieHard Gamers Club|date=November 1995|page=22}}
|GamePro = 15.5 / 20{{cite magazine|last=Nihei|first=Wes|url=https://archive.org/stream/GamePro_Issue_080_March_1996#page/n73/mode/1up|title=Quick Hits – ProReview: BladeForce|magazine=GamePro|issue=80|publisher=IDG|date=March 1996|page=72|access-date=21 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190104230323/https://archive.org/stream/GamePro_Issue_080_March_1996#page/n73/mode/1up|archive-date=4 January 2019|url-status=live}}
|NGen = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/stream/nextgen-issue-012/Next_Generation_Issue_012_December_1995#page/n184/mode/1up|title=Finals – Dizzying – Bladeforce|magazine=Next Generation|issue=12|publisher=Imagine Media|date=December 1995|page=183|access-date=20 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160411040735/https://archive.org/stream/nextgen-issue-012/Next_Generation_Issue_012_December_1995#page/n184/mode/1up|archive-date=11 April 2016|url-status=live}}
|rev1 = 3DO Magazine
|rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine|last=Wynne|first=Stuart|url=https://archive.org/stream/3-do-gold-01#page/10/mode/1up|title=Review: BladeForce – Bite Me! That's the legend scrawled on the hero's mouthpiece. That's the attitude of the developers of BladeForce: colossal 3D landscapes, massed gun emplacements, a sky full of attack drones. All at 30fps or more|magazine=3DO Magazine|issue=1|type=Special Gold|publisher=Paragon Publishing|date=1995–1996|page=10}}
|rev2 = Coming Soon Magazine
|rev3 = The Electric Playground
|rev3Score = 9 / 10{{cite web|last=Lucas|first=Victor|url=http://www.elecplay.com/review_424.html|title=Reviews – Bladeforce|publisher=The Electric Playground|date=26 November 1995|access-date=2019-10-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010421122900/http://www.elecplay.com/review_424.html|archive-date=21 April 2001|url-status=dead}}
|rev4 = Game Players
|rev4Score = 95%{{cite magazine|last=Lundrigan|first=Jeff|url=https://archive.org/stream/Game_Players_Issue_59_December_1995#page/n79/mode/1up|title=3DO – Review – Bladeforce|magazine=Game Players|issue=78|publisher=Signal Research|date=December 1995|page=78}}
|rev5 = Joystick
|rev5Score = 75%{{cite magazine|url=https://www.abandonware-magazines.org/affiche_mag.php?mag=30&num=615&album=oui|title=Vidéotest: Blade Force (3DO) – Balade en force|magazine=Joystick|issue=65|publisher=Anuman Interactive|date=November 1995|pages=76–77|lang=fr|access-date=20 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170916204922/http://abandonware-magazines.org/affiche_mag.php?mag=30&num=615&album=oui|archive-date=16 September 2017|url-status=live}}
|rev6 = MAN!AC
|rev6Score = 53%{{cite magazine|last=Ehrle|first=Oliver|url=https://archive.org/stream/MANIAC.N026.1995.12/MANiAC.N026.1995.12-kultmags-DURiAN_noOCR#page/n71/mode/1up|title=Spiele-Tests – 3DO – Blade Force|magazine=MAN!AC|issue=26|publisher=Cybermedia|date=December 1995|page=72|lang=de}}
|rev7 = Mega Fun
|rev7Score = 80%{{cite magazine|last=Harhausen|first=Björn|url=https://www.kultboy.com/index.php?site=t&id=16604|title=Test 3DO – Blade Force|magazine=Mega Fun|issue=39|publisher=CT Computec Verlag GmbH & Co. KG|date=December 1995|page=93|lang=de}}
|rev8 = Power Unlimited
|rev8Score = 69 / 100{{cite magazine|title=Review – Blade Force – 3DO|magazine=Power Unlimited|issue=27|publisher=VNU Media|date=June 1996|lang=nl}}
|rev9 = Strana Igr
|rev9Score = 5- / 10{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/stream/GameLand19960202#page/n69/mode/2up|title=3DO Игры – Blade Force|magazine=Strana Igr|issue=2|publisher=Gameland|date=March 1996|volume=2 |pages=70–71|lang=ru}}{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/stream/GameLand19960606#page/n101/mode/1up|title=3DO Игры – Blade Force|magazine=Strana Igr|issue=6|publisher=Gameland|date=September 1996|volume=6 |page=102|lang=ru}}
|rev10 = Video Games
|rev10Score = 59%{{cite magazine|last=Schaedle|first=Wolfgang|url=https://www.kultboy.com/index.php?site=t&id=18654|title=Real 3DO – Reviews – Bladeforce|magazine=Video Games|issue=52|publisher=Future-Verlag|date=March 1996|page=66|lang=de}}
|award1Pub = Game Players (1995)
|award1 = Best 3DO Game of the Year{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/stream/Game_Players_Issue_60_Holiday_1995#page/n27/mode/1up|title=Game Players – Awards – Best 3DO Game|magazine=Game Players|issue=79|publisher=Signal Research|date=Christmas 1995|page=28}}
}}
Next Generation gave five stars out of five, giving praise to the graphics and gameplay, and called it one of the best games for 3DO system.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/3do/584316-blade-force Blade Force] at GameFAQs
- [https://www.giantbomb.com/blade-force/3030-16059/ Blade Force] at Giant Bomb
- [http://www.mobygames.com/game/3do/blade-force Blade Force] at MobyGames
{{Portal bar|1990s|United States|Video games}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Blade Force}}
Category:3DO Interactive Multiplayer-only games
Category:Flight simulation video games
Category:Science fiction video games
Category:Single-player video games
Category:Third-person shooters
Category:Video games developed in the United States
Category:Video games set in Los Angeles
Category:Video games set in the 22nd century
Category:Video games set in the future