Zeewolf
| Zeewolf | |
|---|---|
 Zeewolf cover art | |
| Developer(s) | Binary Asylum |
| Publisher(s) | Binary Asylum |
| Designer(s) | Andy Wilton |
| Composer(s) | Allister Brimble |
| Platform(s) | Amiga |
| Release date(s) | 1994 |
| Genre(s) | Shoot 'em up |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
Zeewolf is a single-player 3D shoot 'em up computer game released for the Amiga platform in November 1994 by Binary Asylum.[1] The player is tasked with flying a helicopter gunship over 32 combat missions. The game has a similar design and appearance to the earlier (but unrelated) Zarch created by David Braben. A sequel, Zeewolf 2: Wild Justice followed in 1995, which was notable for the involvement of former Commodore Format editor Trenton Webb.[2]
Gameplay
The player flies an attack helicopter (and occasionally other aircraft) over 32 missions. Objectives include locating targets, destroying enemy units and buildings, transporting friendly vehicles and rescuing hostages. Some objectives are time limited. The player is given a finite number of lives. The player's craft can be destroyed by accumulated damage from enemy fire or from colliding with structures or terrain. The helicopter is equipped with cannon, rockets and guided air-to-air missiles. Fuel and ammunition are finite and the player has limited funds and locations in which to refuel or buy ammunition.
The game allows control by joystick or mouse. Under joystick control pressing in a direction causes the aircraft to orient and travel in that direction and the craft automatically maintains altitude. Under mouse control the mouse's motion tilts the aircraft around the axis of the rotors. The aircraft can only pitch and yaw; it cannot roll. The mouse buttons control weaponry and throttle. The game enforces a flight ceiling at which the throttle will not increase altitude. As with Zarch, the mouse control is difficult to master for beginners. However, control with the mouse offers greater manoeuvrability than is possible with the joystick.
Zeewolf uses a wraparound map in which the landscape endlessly repeats. An in-game map shows the location of the player within the landscape.
Development
The concept was developed by Andy Wilton with additional programming by Jim Gardner. The levels were designed by Andy Smith and Bob Wade. Allister Brimble composed the title music and sound effects.
The terrain is constructed from an undulating landscape of fixed size tiles. The 3D engine renders vehicles, ships, buildings, trees, hostages and projectiles as solid polygons with shadow effects. The game uses a horizontal camera angle where only a boxed section of the terrain centred on the player's position is visible. This limitation in depth is necessary to achieve an acceptable frame-rate with the stock Amiga hardware.
Reception
The sequel was ranked the 17th best game of all time by Amiga Power.[3]
References
- ↑ "Zeewolf for Amiga (1994)". MobyGames.
- ↑ "Zeewolf 2: Wild Justice for Amiga (1995)". MobyGames.
- ↑ Amiga Power magazine issue 64, Future Publishing, August 1996