Master of Dimensions
{{Short description|Israeli video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| released = 1996
| image = File:Master_of_Dimensions_1996_Windows_Cover_Art.jpg
| genre = Point and click adventure
| developer = Makh-Shevet
| publisher = Eidos Interactive
|caption =
|alt =
}}
Master of Dimensions (שליט המימדים) is a 1996 adventure video game by Israeli developer Makh-Shevet (through their division Mad Engine{{Cite web|title=Cover: Fünfte Dimension, Die - PC CD-ROM|url=https://www.kultboy.com/index.php?site=pic&id=2292&s=2|access-date=2022-01-22|website=www.kultboy.com}}) and published by Eidos Interactive.
Development
After several years of translating foreign adventure games into Hebrew Makh-Shevet created Master of Dimensions as its first original title.{{Cite news|last=Frost (פרוסט)|first=Tal (טל)|date=April 16, 2013|title=גיימינג כחול לבן: מ-Xonix ועד כוכב כחול|language=he|trans-title=Blue and white gaming: from Xonix to Blue Star|work=Ynet|url=https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-4368049,00.html|access-date=2022-01-22}} Master of Dimensions is based on an RPG of the same name that Makh-Shevet founder Oren Obstblum created with some friends in 1985{{Cite web|title=Uma Aventura de Outra Dimensão|trans-title=An Adventure from Another Dimension|url=http://avcom.co.il/mod/pages/mirror/odia/odiaonline.htm|access-date=2022-01-22|website=Odia|language=pt}}{{Cite web|title=Master of Dimensions|url=http://avcom.co.il/mod/pages/mirror/brazil/master.htm|access-date=2022-01-22|website=Netgamer|language=pt}}{{Cite news|date=November 1996|title=Master of Dimensions feature|work=PC Home|url=http://avcom.co.il/mod/pages/paperreview/pv-pchome1.htm}} as a result of his dissatisfaction with current RPG.{{Cite web|title=Master of Dimensions history|url=http://avcom.co.il/mod/pages/about.htm|access-date=2022-01-22|website=Avcom.co.il}} He and his friends started fantasizing about traveling into parallel dimensions to fantastic places and eras.{{Cite web|last=Wiklund|first=Mats|date=November 21, 1996|title=Avdammat rollspel|trans-title=Dusted role play|url=http://avcom.co.il/mod/pages/mirror/swedish/master.html|access-date=2022-01-22|website=DN.se|language=Sv}} Later when creating a video game, he decided to draw from this idea. The game was programmed by Eric Siegel, who incorporated both 3D and 2D animation.{{Cite book|last=We are all press and media (כולנו עיתונות ותקשורת)|url=http://archive.org/details/Zombit-027|title=תכנות (אנשי הדממה)|date=January 1997|work=Zombie (זומביט)|publisher=Young Computer Magazine (מגזין מחשבים צעיר)|page=15|language=He|trans-title=Programming (Silent People)|issue=27}}
The game's publisher was Eidos Interactive, who were following up their interactive adventure The Riddle of Master Lu.{{Cite web|title=Die fünfte Dimension - Das Rätsel der 5. Dimension|trans-title=The Fifth Dimension - The Mystery of the 5th Dimension|url=http://avcom.co.il/mod/pages/mirror/german1/page2.html|access-date=2022-01-22|website=PC Games|language=De}} It was distributed in English under licence by US Gold{{Cite book|url=http://archive.org/details/PC_Zone_42_September_1996|title=Master of Dimensions ad|work=PC Zone|date=September 1996|issue=42}} while Polish distributor of the game, Mirage, produced a localised version under the title Władca Wymiarów.{{Cite book|last=Gregrowicz|first=Adam|url=http://archive.org/details/swiat_gier_komputerowych_49-1997-1|title=Master of Dimensions|date=January 1997|work=Świat Gier Komputerowych|pages=26–7|language=Pl|issue=49}} It was localised for the Brazilian market by BraSoft Corporation.https://www.linkedin.com/in/socialmediaprofessional/details/experience/ {{Self-published source|date=June 2022}} The German version featured well-known German voice actors.{{Cite journal|date=January 1997|title=Die Fünfte Dimension|trans-title=Master of Dimensions|url=https://www.kultboy.com/index.php?site=t&id=21375|journal=PC Joker|language=de|pages=106}}
At the time, it was one of the only Israeli computer games developed and distributed outside Israel.
The game was relatively successful, and very popular in Europe, leading to Makh-Shevet developing another, less successful puzzle adventure game called Grenix. Master of Dimensions
Plot
Players take the role of a young man who must try to save the magician Merlin.{{Cite book|url=http://archive.org/details/Excalibur_Magazine_58_1997-01|title=Master of Dimensions|date=January 1997|publisher=Excalibur|pages=40–1|language=pl|issue=58}}{{Cite book|url=http://archive.org/details/MicromanaTerceraEpocaSpanishIssue22|title=The Master of Dimensions|date=November 1996|publisher=Micromanía Tercera Epoca|pages=13–4|language=es|issue=22}} The game features a dozen interconnected mini-stories, which correspond to different dimensions the player visits,{{Cite book|url=http://archive.org/details/MicromanaTerceraEpocaSpanishIssue24|title=Master of Dimensions|date=January 1997|publisher=Micromanía Tercera Epoca|pages=56|language=es|issue=24}} ranging from detective comics and classic fantasy elements to ultra-realistic mega-cities.{{Cite web|last=Aichinger|first=Herbert|title=Die fünfte Dimension|url=http://avcom.co.il/mod/pages/mirror/german2/dim.html|access-date=2022-01-22|language=de}} The game has a point-and-click interface.
Critical reception
Critical reception to the game has been mixed.
PC Top Player deemed it a mediocre video game, criticising its unoriginal plot and simple gameplay.{{Cite book|url=http://archive.org/details/pcplayerspain018|title=Master of Dimensions|publisher=PC Top Player|year=1997|pages=46|language=es|issue=18}} Metzomagic critiqued the game's "occasional obscure solution and seeming dead-end, humungous maze and a timed puzzle".{{Cite web|last=Ramsey|first=Steve|date=February 2004|title=The Master of Dimensions|url=http://www.metzomagic.com/showArticle.php?index=613|access-date=2022-01-22|website=Metzomagic}} Świat Gier Komputerowych liked its "nice graphics, well-chosen difficulty level and...variety". Gry komputerowe wrote it is "well-designed in terms of graphics".{{Cite book|url=http://archive.org/details/gry-komputerowe-wydanie-targowe-a-96|title=Master of Dimensions|publisher=Gry Komputerowe (Wydanie Targowe)|year=1996|pages=5|language=pl}} Micromania felt the game had "interesting characters and well-plotted stories". PC Player praised the game's "lovely little details" including its music, gags and decent voicework, but criticised the pixel hunting.{{Cite book|last=PC Player|url=http://archive.org/details/PC-Player-German-Magazine-1997-01|title=Die Fünfte Dimension|date=January 1997|publisher=PC Player|pages=78|language=de|trans-title=Master of Dimensions}} The magazine added that despite the game experiencing the "teething troubles of a first work", its "small, loving details" reflected the earnestness of its creators.
Paul Ricketts of The Post noted the game's "variety of locations" and "character interaction" as entertaining aspects.{{Cite web|last=Rickitis|first=Pags|date=September 13, 1996|title=A game that takes you into several dimensions|url=http://avcom.co.il/mod/pages/paperreview/pv-post.htm|access-date=2022-01-22|website=The Post|page=50}} PC Home praised graphical elements including large scale character sprites, and camera changes.{{Cite news|last=McKally|first=Paul|date=December 1996|title=Master of Dimensions|page=126|work=PC Home|url=http://avcom.co.il/mod/pages/paperreview/pv-pchome2.htm}} Folha De Londrina felt the player would have to "work hard" to decipher the game's puzzles.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=December 4, 1997|title=E tem mais...|trans-title=And there's more...|url=https://www.folhadelondrina.com.br/mercado-digital/e-tem-mais-52978.html|access-date=2022-01-22|website=Folha de Londrina|language=pt-br}} PC Games enjoyed the game's "optical and acoustic details".{{Cite web|date=December 1996|title=Die fünfte Dimension: Time Machine|url=https://www.kultboy.com/index.php?site=t&id=8519|access-date=2022-01-22|website=PC Games|page=172|language=de}} Meanwhile, PC Joker thought the game had replayability due to its variable solutions.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://avcom.co.il/mod/ Home page]
- [https://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/master-of-dimensions Mobygames]
- [http://avcom.co.il/mod/pages/paperreview/pv-wiz.htm Wiz review] (Hebrew)
- [http://avcom.co.il/mod/pages/paperreview/pv-megascore.htm Mega Score review] (Portuguese)
- [https://www.starehry.eu/magazines/riki/Riki-25.pdf Riki review] (Slovakian)
Category:Eidos Interactive games
Category:Video games based on Arthurian legend