Zero-5
{{about|the 1994 Atari ST game|the 1997 Atari Jaguar remake|Zero 5 (Atari Jaguar game)}}
{{Short description|1994 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
|title = Zero-5
|image = Atari ST Zero-5 cover art.jpg
|developer = Caspian Software
|publisher = {{vgrelease|EU|Caspian Software|FR|Frontier Software}}
|programmer = Andrew Gisby
Tony Bennett
|artist = Andrew Gisby
|composer = Dave Newman
James Veal
|platforms = Atari STe
|released = {{vgrelease|EU/FRA|1994}}
|genre = Shooter
|modes = Single-player
}}
Zero-5 is a shooter video game developed and published by Caspian Software for the Atari STe in 1994. It is one of the last official releases for the Atari ST after being discontinued in 1993 by Atari Corporation.
Set in the year 2044, players assume the role of a recently recruited Space Hound by DEFCON to take control of the Perseus space fighter in a battle to defend Earth and counterattack the invading forces of the Morphon alien race, who wants to reach the planet and destroy the human race after picking up signal of the Europa III satellite and destroying it as a result. Zero-5 was conceived by Andrew Gisby and spent well over a year in development, though its programming routines were being changed three years prior to release and is inspired by Universal Pictures' 1984 space opera film The Last Starfighter.{{cite magazine|last=Forrester|first=Simon|url=http://www.stformat.com/stf64/index.html|title=Interview - Zero-5 - 3D-Oh!|magazine=ST Format|issue=64|publisher=Future plc|date=November 1994|pages=82–83|access-date=August 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170716233229/http://www.stformat.com/stf64/index.html|archive-date=July 16, 2017|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}{{cite web|author=gisbya|url=https://www.atarilegend.com/games/games_detail.php?game_id=3575|title=Games - Zero-5 - Comments|website=atarilegend.com|date=July 2, 2006|access-date=2018-08-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180808104536/https://www.atarilegend.com/games/games_detail.php?game_id=3575|archive-date=August 8, 2018|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}{{cite web |url=https://www.atarilegend.com/interviews/56 |title=Interview with Andrew T Gisby | Atari Legend |website=www.atarilegend.com |access-date=15 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818114210/https://www.atarilegend.com/interviews/56 |archive-date=18 August 2021 |url-status=dead}}
Zero-5 was well received by video game magazines and commended for its 3D graphics, sound, and gameplay, but was criticized for the constant disk swapping if players did not have more than one disk drive to be used when playing the game and sold very few copies.{{cite web|url=https://ataricrypt.blogspot.com/2016/03/operation-zero-5.html|title=Operation: Zero-5|website=ataricrypt.blogspot.com|date=March 25, 2016|access-date=2018-12-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181205143102/https://ataricrypt.blogspot.com/2016/03/operation-zero-5.html|archive-date=5 December 2018|url-status=live}} In 1997, it received a remake by the same team for the Atari Jaguar under the same name.
Gameplay
Zero-5 is a shooter game that is primarily played in a first-person perspective, where the player assume the role of a recruited Space Hound pilot by DEFCON to take control of the Perseus space fighter in a battle to defend Earth from the invading forces of the Morphon alien race, who are set to eradicate the human race after their signal was picked up signal by the now-destroyed Europa III satellite across 16 missions, each one featuring a different scenario and circumstances to complete in order to progress further, with later missions increasing in difficulty.
Depending on the situation, missions take place on either outer space or in the surface of a planet or an asteroid. If the Perseus sustains too much damage, it will be destroyed and the game is over, but the player is allowed to resume the last mission the game saved at the menu screen. If the game is played on an Atari ST machine that does not have more than 1MB of memory, features such as speech synthesis and other graphical effects are deactivated.{{cite magazine|last=Nash|first=Jonathan|url=http://www.stformat.com/stf61/index.html|title=Screenplay - Game Preview - Zero 5|magazine=ST Format|issue=61|publisher=Future plc|date=August 1994|pages=56–57|access-date=January 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170716232330/http://www.stformat.com/stf61/index.html|archive-date=July 16, 2017|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}{{cite magazine|last=Lennard|first=Vic|url=http://www.atarimania.com/reviews/hi_res/zero-5_preview_st_review_33.jpg|title=ST Action - Zero-5 Preview - First Impressions - Fly Like The Wind|magazine=ST Review|issue=34|publisher=EMAP|date=December 1994|page=55|access-date=January 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926182218/http://www.atarimania.com/reviews/hi_res/zero-5_preview_st_review_33.jpg|archive-date=September 26, 2018|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}} When played on the Atari Falcon, the game's frame rate is increased and the visuals are improved. In addition, the game can also be played with either the Atari Jaguar joypads or Power Pad joypads (gray version of Jaguar joypads marketed for the STe and Falcon).
Development and release
Zero-5 was conceived by self-taught programmer Andrew T. Gisby, who wanted to create a fast-paced shooter in 3D due to his fascination with three-dimensional simulation video games at the time and was developed over the course of one year, though the game's programming routines were originally written three years prior and he was inspired by games like Elite and movies such as The Last Starfighter, among other sources of inspiration. The music was composed by Dave Newman and James Veal.{{cite web|last=Wallett|first=Adrian|url=https://www.arcadeattack.co.uk/david-newman/|title=David Newman (VGM Composer) – Interview|publisher=arcadeattack.co.uk|date=July 19, 2019|access-date=2019-10-07}}
Zero-5 was released on Europe by Caspian Software in 1994, a year after Atari Corp. officially discontinued support for the Atari ST platform before they restructured themselves to focus completely on the release and support of their newest product, the Atari Jaguar video game console, while the game itself retailed for around EU£19.99-24.99. It was also distributed in France by Frontier Software during the same time period.
Reception
{{Video game reviews
|rev1 = STart Micro
|rev2 = ST Format
|rev2Score = 92%{{cite magazine|last=Forrester|first=Simon|url=http://www.stformat.com/stf66/index.html|title=Screenplay - Game Review - Zero-5|magazine=ST Format|issue=66|publisher=Future plc|date=January 1995|pages=48–49|access-date=August 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170716232336/http://www.stformat.com/stf66/index.html|archive-date=July 16, 2017|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}
|rev3 = ST Review
|rev3Score = 86%{{cite magazine|last=Hackett|first=Tina|title=ST Action - Zero-5 - Up And Away|magazine=ST Review|issue=35|publisher=EMAP|date=January 1995|pages=[http://www.atarimania.com/reviews/hi_res/zero-5_st_review_35.jpg 50]-[http://www.atarimania.com/reviews/hi_res/zero-5_st_review_35_2.jpg 51]}}
}}
Zero-5 was well received by critics despite its late release on the Atari ST platform.{{cite magazine|last=Abramson|first=Marc|url=http://download.abandonware.org/magazines/ST%20Magazine/stmagazine_numero096/st%20magasine%20-%20n%B096%20-%20juillet%201995%20page063.jpg|title=Cahier Loisirs / Test - Zero 5|magazine=ST Magazine|issue=96|publisher=Pressimage|date=July 1995|page=54|lang=fr}} STart Micro{{'}}s Arnaud Pignard compared the game with Cybermorph but highly praised its realization, audiovisual presentation, playability and longevity. ST Format{{'}}s Simon Forrester also compared the title with Carrier Command, praising its fast-pacing and structured mission variety but criticized the lack of additional weapons and ability to slowdown, as well as the constant disk swapping if players did not have more than one disk drive to be used when playing. ST Review{{'}}s Tina Hackett commended the polygonal 3D graphics, sound design, addictive gameplay and longevity but criticized the constant disk swapping if players did not have more than one disk drive to use and overall accuracy of laser shots.
Remake
A remake developed by most of the same team was released by Telegames for the Jaguar under the same title as the original in 1997, becoming one of the last official licensed releases for the system after it was discontinued in 1996 by Atari Corporation, who merged with JT Storage in a reverse takeover before its launch.{{cite web|last=Smith|first=Jason |url=http://www.jaguarsector.com/index.php?autocom=ibwiki&cmd=article&do=print_article&id=379|title=Atari Jaguar Timeline|website=jaguarsector.com|access-date=2019-01-26 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130629025431/http://www.jaguarsector.com/index.php?autocom=ibwiki&cmd=article&do=print_article&id=379|archive-date=29 June 2013|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://contracts.onecle.com/atari/jt.mer.1996.04.08.shtml|title=Atari and JT Storage Reorganisation Plan|website= onecle.com|access-date=2019-01-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061209123854/http://contracts.onecle.com/atari/jt.mer.1996.04.08.shtml|archive-date=December 9, 2006|url-status=live}}[http://google.brand.edgar-online.com/displayfilinginfo.aspx?FilingID=261582-33477-51099&type=sect ATARI CORP Annual Report (Regulation S-K, item 405) (10-K405) ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS]
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{atarimania|id=10929}}
- [https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/ast/948761-zero-5 Zero-5] at GameFAQs
- [https://www.mobygames.com/game/atari-st/zero-5 Zero-5] at MobyGames
{{Portal bar|1990s|United Kingdom|Video games}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zero-5}}
Category:Caspian Software games
Category:Science fiction video games
Category:Single-player video games
Category:Video games developed in the United Kingdom
Category:Video games scored by Dave Newman
Category:Video games scored by James Veal
Category:Video games set in outer space