Gods (video game)
{{Use British English|date=September 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Short description|1991 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
|title = Gods
|image = Gods cover.png
|caption = European cover art by Simon Bisley
|developer = The Bitmap Brothers
|publisher = {{vgrelease|EU|Renegade Software|NA|Mindscape}}
|designer = Eric Matthews
Steve Tall
|programmer = Steve Tall
|artist = Mark Coleman
|composer = Nation 12
|engine =
|released = 1991-92
|genre = Platform
|modes = Single-player
|platforms = Amiga, Atari ST, Archimedes, MS-DOS, PC98, Genesis, Super NES
}}
Gods is a platform game by The Bitmap Brothers released for the Amiga and Atari ST in 1991. The player is cast as Hercules in his quest to achieve immortality. It was ported to the Acorn Archimedes, Genesis/Mega Drive, PC98, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, and Atari Jaguar.{{cite web|last=Verdin|first=Guillaume|url=https://mag.mo5.com/199049/gods-et-the-chaos-engine-cette-annee-sur-jaguar/|title=Gods et The Chaos Engine cette année sur Jaguar|work={{ill|MO5.com|lt=MO5.com|fr|MO5.com}}|publisher=Association MO5.COM|date=May 18, 2021|access-date=2024-02-12|language=fr|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205140301/https://mag.mo5.com/199049/gods-et-the-chaos-engine-cette-annee-sur-jaguar/|archive-date=2023-02-05|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Verdin|first=Guillaume|url=https://mag.mo5.com/233879/gods-the-chaos-engine-et-stormbringer-disponibles-sur-jaguar/|title=Gods, The Chaos Engine et Stormbringer disponibles sur Jaguar|work={{ill|MO5.com|lt=MO5.com|fr|MO5.com}}|publisher=Association MO5.COM|date=November 2, 2022|access-date=2024-02-12|language=fr|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221105003419/https://mag.mo5.com/233879/gods-the-chaos-engine-et-stormbringer-disponibles-sur-jaguar/|archive-date=2022-11-05|url-status=live}}
Plot
Four guardians have invaded and usurped the citadel of the gods. The gods offer any hero who can succeed in retaking the citadel one favour. The hero who comes forth asks the gods as their favour to be granted a seat among them as an equal. The gods are only comforted by the hope the hero will fail. After the last boss is beaten, the gods prove true to their word and the last image is the hero becoming a being of light as he ascends to Mount Olympus.
Gameplay
Precise and timed jumping are required to progress. Planning each move carefully yields better results health-wise than attempting to rush through a level, and there are some puzzles (often involving levers and objects) which require the player to go back and forth in the level, since there is only a four-space inventory where objects required to get bonuses (such as keys) or to complete a level can be carried. The console versions (particularly the Mega Drive/Genesis version) run at a considerably higher speed, which increases the difficulty level. A Game Boy Advance version was also in development but cancelled.[http://www.bitmap-brothers.co.uk/our-games/future/gods-gba/index.htm Bitmap Brothers Website]{{cite web |title=Gods [GBA – Cancelled] |url=https://www.unseen64.net/2008/04/07/gods-gba-unreleased/ |website=Unseen64 |date=4 July 2008}} There was also a Turbografx-CD version in the works, but apparently was canceled for unknown reasons.https://twitter.com/PCEngineCLUB/status/1526547932803395585/photo/3 {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}
The console versions do not share the same opening theme music as the PC versions of the game. They do, however, have background music throughout the game, while the PC version only has background music throughout the game with a Roland LAPC-I.
There are several weapons available in the levels or to buy, and up to three of each can be used simultaneously. It is also possible to vary the focus of the weapons: to destroy more enemies at the same horizontal level as the player, a tight angle is advisable, but in levels with open spaces and enemies in higher places, a diffuse aim might prove more useful. There are also other weapons, such as bouncing axes that can be used to take on enemies at a lower level or fireballs.
The enemy AI adapts to the player position and their skill. Some rooms contain inaccessible items - smaller "thieves" show up from a passage in the wall, try to grab the item and bring it back to another point in the room or disappear with it. The player is able to obtain the item if they shoot the thief at the correct time. Bonuses are awarded for reaching certain parts of the level under a certain limit of time or number of lives, bringing an object to a room or simply by playing poorly, where the game helps the player.{{citation needed|date=July 2021}}
There are four levels, each with a Guardian at the end. After completion of a level the player meets a trader, and depending on the wealth accumulated during the game (by catching diamond-shaped jewels or bags) can buy more powerful weapons or items (Xenon 2 Megablast uses the same idea).{{citation needed|date=July 2021}}
Development
As was common with Bitmap Brothers, an external musician assured the game score, this time John Foxx as Nation 12.[http://www.atarimagazines.com/compute/issue147/104_Gods.php COMPUTE! ISSUE 147 / DECEMBER 1992 / PAGE 104] from http://www.atarimagazines.com The box cover illustration was designed by the British comic book artist Simon Bisley. The graphics were designed using the SpriteFX application.{{cite magazine|date=October 1994|title=Indies Corner|url=https://archive.org/details/ST_Format_Issue_063_1994-10_Future_Publishing_GB/page/n53|magazine=ST Format|publisher=Future Publishing|issue=63|page=54}} Versions for the Nintendo DS and PC Engine Super CD-ROM² were planned but never released.{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/pc-engine-fan-june-1992/PC%20Engine%20Fan%20-%20June%201992%20%28Compressed%29/page/86/mode/1up|title=Maker Land: Other Makers|magazine=PC Engine Fan|volume=5|issue=6|publisher=Tokuma Shoten|date=June 1992|page=86|language=ja}}{{cite web|last=Gasking|first=Frank|url=https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/2024/02/gods/|title=Gods (PC Engine/Nintendo DS)|work=Games That Weren't|date=February 9, 2024|access-date=2024-02-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240213012058/https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/2024/02/gods/|archive-date=2024-02-13|url-status=live}}
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| rev1 = Datormagazin
| rev1Score = 97% {{cite magazine|magazine=Datormagazin |volume=1991 |issue=10 |date=May 1991 |page=64 |first=Lars |last=Janson |title=Crush Your Piggy Bank or Sell Your Bike! |url=https://archive.org/stream/Datormagazin1991Nr22/Datormagazin_1991_nr10#page/n63 |publisher=Egmont Publishing}}
| rev2 = CU Amiga
| rev2Score = 93% {{cite magazine|magazine=CU Amiga |date=March 1991 |first=Dan |last=Slingsby |pages=34–36 |url=https://archive.org/stream/cuamiga-magazine-013/CUAmiga_013_Mar_1991#page/n33/mode/2up |publisher=EMAP |title=Gods Amiga Review}}
| rev3 = Zero
| rev3Score = 90% {{cite magazine|magazine=Zero |issue=18 |date=April 1991 |first=David |last=McCandless |pages =43–44 |url=https://archive.org/details/zero-magazine-18/page/n42 |publisher=Dennis Publishing |title=Gods Atari ST Review}}
| rev4 = Amiga Computing
| rev4Score = 90% {{cite magazine|magazine=Amiga Computing |date=July 1991 |issue=38 |first=Nick |last=Clarkson |pages=54–55 |url=https://archive.org/details/amiga-computing-magazine-038/page/n53 |publisher=Europress Publications |title=Gods Amiga Review}}
| rev5 = Amiga Format
| rev5Score = 90% {{cite magazine|magazine=Amiga Format |issue=23 |date=June 1991 |first=Trenton |last=Webb |pages=54–56 |publisher=Future plc. |title=Gods Amiga Review |url=https://archive.org/details/Amiga_Format_Issue_023_1991-06_Future_Publishing_GB/page/n153}}
| rev6 = The One
| rev6Score = 93% {{cite magazine|title=Gods |magazine=The One |date=March 1991 |first=Laurence |last=Scotford |pages=48–50}}
}}
Computer Gaming World in 1992 named it one of the year's top four action games for "fast and furious arcade-style action [and] enough exploration and puzzle-solving to raise it above the typical action crowd".{{cite magazine | url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1992&pub=2&id=100 | title=CGW Salutes The Games of the Year | magazine=Computer Gaming World | date=November 1992 | access-date=4 July 2014 | pages=110}}
Legacy
A remastered version of the game, Gods Remastered, was developed by Robot Riot Games and released on 4 December 2018 for Microsoft Windows.{{cite news |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/11/27/the-unnaturally-muscular-hercules-of-gods-returns-next-week/ |title=The unnaturally muscular Hercules of Gods returns next week |first=Brendan |last=Caldwell |date=27 November 2018 |access-date=27 November 2018 |work=Rock Paper Shotgun }} It was then announced for Xbox and Steam, and released December 2019, followed by Nintendo Switch and PS4, with 29 March 2020 given as the release date for the latter platforms.{{cite web|url=http://www.nintendolife.com/games/switch-eshop/gods_remastered|title=Gods Remastered|website=Nintendo Life|access-date=8 February 2019}} Licensing restrictions prevented the distribution of this remastered edition past 27 March 2022.{{cite web|url=https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/628720/view/4515423468947477869|title=End of distribution|website=Steam|date=30 January 2022 |access-date=31 January 2022}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{moby game|id=/gods|name=Gods}}
- {{Internet Archive game|msdos_Gods_1991|Gods}}
- [http://st-news.com/issues/st-news-volume-6-issue-2/reviews/gods/ Gods Atari ST version review, 1992]
{{The Bitmap Brothers}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Acorn Archimedes games
Category:The Bitmap Brothers games
Category:Cancelled Nintendo DS games
Category:Cancelled TurboGrafx-16 games
Category:Single-player video games
Category:Super Nintendo Entertainment System games
Category:Video games based on Greek mythology
Category:Video games developed in the United Kingdom
Category:Video games scored by David Whittaker
Category:Video games scored by Richard Joseph