Messiah (video game)

{{Unreferenced section|date=September 2019}}

The game is set sometime in the distant future. The environment is a comedic take on a cyberpunk city. The levels are large and relatively open in both the horizontal and vertical dimensions. The player, as Bob, is able to fly around at great heights, although his small wings can only carry him a limited distance from the ground, necessitating a combination of climbing and flying, and so the gameplay environment features a great deal of vertical movement and exploration.

While in his cherub form, Bob is weak and unable to fight, and can very easily be killed; however, he may possess any biological lifeform by jumping into their body. The most common type of lifeform is human, and Bob will spend much of his time jumping from one to another. Other examples include rats, cyborgs and aliens. In more difficult levels, Bob can only possess another body when the target is oblivious to his presence, thus adding a stealth element to the game.

Once in control of a host, he can interact with the environment and non-player characters (NPCs) by using switches or weapons and fighting in unarmed combat. Some switches require a specific human host to activate (e.g. a scientist is required to access a secure laboratory area, or a radiation worker to handle live nuclear material); these form the basis for the game's puzzles. Other puzzles include using Bob's wings to access somewhere out of reach or too small for a host body to enter.

Most humans will ignore Bob, or be intrigued by him. The police and security force, however, will shoot on sight, as will the Chots - a separatist, cannibalistic humanoid race who regularly appear in street battles with the police in hopes of driving the Fathers out of power. As Bob progresses through the game, his reputation precedes him, and he is actively sought after by the police.

The player controls Bob, an angel sent by God to remove the corruption and sin on Earth. The dictator of Earth, Father Prime, is conducting experiments into other dimensions on the dark side of the Moon. Soon after landing on Earth, Bob's existence is deemed illegal and he finds himself hunted by police, along with the military. Meanwhile, Father Prime's experiments succeed in bringing Satan into the mortal plane. After making his way through the cyberpunk city of Faktur, Bob confronts and defeats Father Prime. Bob is then asked to return by God, telling him that if humans are prepared to tamper with His creations, there is no place for Him on Earth and leave them to their own devices. Bob refuses, and this turns out to be a ruse by Satan to lead the cherub astray.

After making his way through the industrial parts of the city, Bob infiltrates a nuclear power station and transports himself to the facility on the dark side of the Moon, ultimately confronting and banishing chicken of Satan, which destroys the facility. Bob is then thrown onto a barren part of the Moon. Bob repeatedly implores God to take him home but is met with silence and finally dies.

Lead designer David Perry intended Messiah to be targeted towards adults, in contrast to Shiny's previous games such as Earthworm Jim,{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_33/page/n58 |title=NG Alphas: Messiah |magazine=Next Generation |publisher=Imagine Media |issue=33 |date=September 1997 |pages=56–62}} and predominantly towards males. The game was developed by 10 people.{{cite web|first=Douglass|last=Perry|url=http://www.psmonline.com/news/4649.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19990128001844/http://www.psmonline.com/news/4649.html|title=The Messiah Interview, Pt. 1|website=PSM Online|archivedate=January 28, 1999|date=September 3, 1998|accessdate=September 24, 2024}}

The development team heavily touted the game's tessellation technology, which they said could reduce or increase the number of polygons displayed in real time based on the hardware running the game, thereby maximizing the level of detail possible on any given hardware setup, stabilizing the frame rate, and enabling real-time interpolation and volumetric lighting.{{cite web |last=Mowatt |first=Todd |date=July 11, 1997 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/perry-sees-the-messiah/1100-2466967/ |title=Perry Sees the Messiah [date mislabeled as "April 26, 2000"] |website=GameSpot |publisher=Red Ventures |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19981202135546/http://headline.gamespot.com/news/97_07/11_messiah/ |archivedate=December 2, 1998 |url-status=live |accessdate=July 23, 2020}}{{cite magazine |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/6/6b/EGM_US_099.pdf |title=Messiah: The Second Coming of Perfect Polygons |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |publisher=Ziff Davis |issue=99 |date=October 1997 |pages=20, 22 |accessdate=December 5, 2021}} In a 1997 interview Perry said Shiny had filed for a patent on the technology.{{cite magazine |author=Scary Larry |url=https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_111_Volume_09_Number_12_1997-12_IDG_Publishing_US/page/n69/mode/2up |title=Rising Shiny |magazine=GamePro |publisher=IDG |issue=111 |date=December 1997 |pages=68–70 |accessdate=December 5, 2021}}

The character models were built in 3D Studio. The game's characters were all animated using motion capture, with a person with dwarfism serving as the motion capture actor for Bob.

It was announced that Messiah would be released simultaneously for the PC and PlayStation in the second quarter of 1998, with another console port following as a launch title for the Dreamcast.{{cite magazine |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/f/f6/EGM_US_100.pdf |title=Sega's Comeback: The Most Powerful System Ever Created? |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |publisher=Ziff Davis |issue=100 |date=November 1997 |page=22 |accessdate=December 5, 2021}} However, the game would be delayed nearly two years, and neither a PlayStation version nor a Dreamcast version was ever released.

In February 1998, a couple years before Messiah was released, the Los Angeles Times reported a public outcry over the title. Perry explained, "It's crazy that all these people are already upset and they haven't even seen the game." Jeff Green of Computer Gaming World stated, "You can't use the word 'messiah' and not know you're going to tweak the sensibilities of the religious community." The developers received upset responses from many Christian organizations as well as consumers, including one that commented, "The word ‘messiah’ is such a powerful word, I just can't ignore it or its connotations. I know there are a lot of things out there that already tarnish religious imagery. But I just can't support a company that would throw around that word so lightly."{{cite news |last=Huffstutter |first=P.J. |date=February 19, 1998 |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-feb-19-fi-20606-story.html |title=Religious Groups Take Aim at Computer Game |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |accessdate=July 23, 2020}}

In August 1999, Interplay recorded several promotional commercials with Hank the Angry Drunken Dwarf from The Howard Stern Radio Show. Hank would don an angel costume and wandered the streets of various cities with a sign to publicly promote the game.{{Cite web|url=http://www.marksfriggin.com/news99/10-18-99.htm|title=MarksFriggin.com - Stern Show News - Archive|website=www.marksfriggin.com}}

Part of the game's soundtrack was contributed by industrial metal band Fear Factory, and was later released as Messiah.

{{Video game reviews

| GR = 74%{{cite web|url=https://www.gamerankings.com/pc/62551-messiah/index.html |title=Messiah for PC |website=GameRankings |publisher=CBS Interactive |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190530064408/https://www.gamerankings.com/pc/62551-messiah/index.html |archivedate=May 30, 2019 |url-status=dead |accessdate=July 23, 2020}}

| Allgame = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web |last=Kanarick |first=Mark |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=18416&tab=review |title=Messiah - Review |website=AllGame |publisher=All Media Network |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114170454/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=18416&tab=review |archivedate=November 14, 2014 |url-status=dead |accessdate=August 31, 2016}}

| CNG = 7/10{{cite web |last=Asher |first=Mark |date=April 21, 2000 |url=http://www.gamecenter.com/Reviews/Item/0,6,0-4034,00.html |title=Messiah |website=Gamecenter |publisher=CNET |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20000816091610/http://www.gamecenter.com/Reviews/Item/0,6,0-4034,00.html |archivedate=August 16, 2000 |url-status=dead |accessdate=December 5, 2021}}

| CGSP = {{Rating|2.5|5}}{{cite web |last=Bauman |first=Steve |date=April 28, 2000 |url=http://www.cdmag.com/articles/027/130/messiah_review.html |title=Messiah |website=Computer Games Strategy Plus |publisher=Strategy Plus, Inc. |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030525195714/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/027/130/messiah_review.html |archivedate=May 25, 2003 |url-status=dead |accessdate=July 23, 2020}}

| CGW = {{Rating|1.5|5}}{{cite magazine |last=Ardai |first=Charles |url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_192.pdf |title=God Awful (Messiah Review) |magazine=Computer Gaming World |publisher=Ziff Davis |issue=192 |date=July 2000 |pages=80–82 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161007120920/http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_192.pdf |archivedate=October 7, 2016 |url-status=live |accessdate=August 31, 2016}}

| Edge = 7.5/10{{cite magazine |author=Edge staff |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/b/b4/Edge_UK_081.pdf |title=Messiah |magazine=Edge |publisher=Future plc |issue=81 |date=February 2000 |pages=78–79 |accessdate=December 5, 2021}}

| GameFan = 85%{{cite web |last=Torres |first=Jasen |date=March 31, 2000 |url=http://www.gamefan.com/repre.asp?g=1839&t=r |title=REVIEW for Messiah |website=GameFan |publisher=Shinno Media |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20000510045148/http://www.gamefan.com/repre.asp?g=1839&t=r |archivedate=May 10, 2000 |url-status=dead |accessdate=August 31, 2016}}

| GamePro = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite magazine |last=Turner |first=Jay |date=April 10, 2000 |url=http://gamepro.com/computer/pc/games/reviews/5256.shtml |title=Messiah Review for PC on GamePro.com |magazine=GamePro |publisher=IDG |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050212160501/http://gamepro.com/computer/pc/games/reviews/5256.shtml |archivedate=February 12, 2005 |url-status=dead |accessdate=August 31, 2016}}

| GameRev = C+{{cite web |author=Johnny B. |date=May 2000 |url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/32771-messiah-review |title=Messiah Review |website=GameRevolution |publisher=CraveOnline |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160914164529/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/messiah |archivedate=September 14, 2016 |url-status=live |accessdate=July 23, 2020}}

| GSpot = 6/10{{cite web|last=Wolpaw |first=Erik |date=April 7, 2000 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/messiah-review/1900-2558919/ |title=Messiah Review |website=GameSpot |publisher=Red Ventures |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312215650/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/messiah-review/1900-2558919/ |archivedate=March 12, 2016 |url-status=live |accessdate=August 31, 2016}}

| GSpy = 91%{{cite web |last=Lally |first=Will |date=April 6, 2000 |url=http://www.gamespy.com/legacy/reviews/messiah_a.shtm |title=Messiah |website=GameSpy |publisher=IGN Entertainment |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20020402145125/http://www.gamespy.com/legacy/reviews/messiah_a.shtm |archivedate=April 2, 2002 |url-status=dead |accessdate=August 31, 2016}}

| IGN = 7.5/10{{cite web |last=Lopez |first=Vincent |date=April 7, 2000 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/04/08/messiah |title=Messiah |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921030436/https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/04/08/messiah |archivedate=September 21, 2016 |url-status=live |accessdate=August 31, 2016}}

| NGen = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine |last=Preston |first=Jim |url=https://archive.org/details/NextGen66Jun2000/page/n103/mode/2up |title=Messiah |magazine=NextGen |publisher=Imagine Media |issue=66 |date=June 2000 |page=102 |accessdate=July 23, 2020}}

| PCGUS = 77%{{cite magazine |last=Poole |first=Stephen |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/archives/2005/07/messiah.html |title=Messiah |magazine=PC Gamer |publisher=Imagine Media |volume=7 |issue=7 |date=July 2000 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060315142105/http://www.pcgamer.com/archives/2005/07/messiah.html |archivedate=March 15, 2006 |url-status=dead |accessdate=August 31, 2016}}

}}

The game received "average" reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings. The earliest review came from Edge, which gave it a score of seven out of ten, nearly two months before the game itself was released in North America, and over two months before its European release date. Computer Gaming World declared the title "truly repellent - I don't even like to think of the sort of sadist who would enjoy it." The review detailed that beside "a level of sexism that goes beyond the usual demeaning stereotypes" and "adolescent edginess" that "there's a general atmosphere of cruelty, of enjoying violence not for the adrenaline rush of the action or even for the fun of cartoonish bloodshed - but for the realistic pain it causes." Jim Preston of NextGen said, "If you can get past some technical glitches, awkward controls, and routine gameplay, Messiah will deliver – for a little while."

According to author Erik Bethke, Messiah was a commercial flop, with "fewer than 10,000 units sold in its first three months".{{cite book |last=Bethke |first=Erik |title=Game Development and Production |publisher=Wordware Publishing |date=January 25, 2003 |page=16 |isbn=1556229518}}

The game was nominated for GameSpot{{'}}s 2000 "Most Disappointing Game" award, which went to Star Wars: Force Commander.{{cite web |author=GameSpot staff |year=2001 |url=http://www.zdnet.com/gamespot/features/pc/bestof_2000/p4_01.html |title=Best and Worst of 2000 (Most Disappointing Game, Nominees) |website=GameSpot |publisher=Ziff Davis |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010204222400/http://www.zdnet.com/gamespot/features/pc/bestof_2000/p4_01.html |archivedate=February 4, 2001 |url-status=dead |accessdate=December 5, 2021}}

Throughout the game, the main character makes a sound (referred to as "oof"), which has been used in the popular game Roblox as a sound effect for when a character dies.{{cite web |last=Takahashi |first=Dean |date=November 10, 2020 |url=https://venturebeat.com/2020/11/10/tommy-tallarico-settles-copyright-dispute-with-roblox-over-oof-sound/ |title=Tommy Tallarico settles copyright dispute with Roblox over 'oof' sound |website=VentureBeat |accessdate=November 10, 2020}} There was a subsequent legal dispute{{cite web |last=Wakefield |first=Jane |date=November 11, 2020 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-54902039 |title=Roblox game-makers must pay to die with an 'oof' |website=BBC News |publisher=BBC |accessdate=December 5, 2021}} over the use of the "oof" sound, which led to a compensation agreement. On July 26, 2022, the sound was removed from Roblox and replaced with another.{{Cite news |date=2022-07-27 |title=Roblox has removed its "oof" sound of death |language=en-gb |work=Eurogamer.net |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/roblox-has-removed-its-oof-sound-of-death |access-date=2022-07-27}}{{Cite web |last=Marshall |first=Cass |date=2022-07-27 |title=Say goodbye to Roblox's iconic 'oof' sound effect |url=https://www.polygon.com/23280931/roblox-oof-sound-effect-replaced-copyright-licensing |access-date=2022-07-27 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Oof, the iconic Roblox death noise has been replaced with a way uglier sound |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/oof-the-iconic-roblox-death-noise-has-been-replaced-with-a-way-uglier-sound/ar-AA101Hyz |access-date=2022-07-27 |website=MSN |language=en-US}}

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{{reflist}}

• {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000618214424/http://messiah.com/ |date=June 18, 2000 |title=Official website }}
• {{moby game|id=/windows/messiah}}

Category:2000 video games

Category:Action-adventure games

Category:Cancelled Dreamcast games

Category:Cancelled PlayStation (console) games

Category:Cyberpunk video games

Category:Shiny Entertainment games

Category:Stealth video games

Category:Video games about angels

Category:Video games about children

Category:Video games about spirit possession

Category:Video games designed by David Perry

Category:Video games developed in the United States

Category:Video games scored by Jesper Kyd

Category:Windows games

Category:Windows-only games

Category:Roblox

Category:Single-player video games