Bio Menace

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Bio Menace
Developer(s)	Apogee Software
Publisher(s)	Apogee Software
Designer(s)	Jim Norwood
Engine	"Commander Keen engine"
Platform(s)	DOS
Release date(s)	August 3, 1993
Genre(s)	Run and gun/platform
Mode(s)	Single player
Rating(s)	OFLC: G8+
Media	3 1/2 floppy disk
Input methods	keyboard, joystick

Bio Menace is a 2D, side-scrolling, platform game both developed and published by Apogee Software in 1993 for DOS. It was built on a licensed version of id Software's Commander Keen game engine, and was known as Bio Hazard during production. Apart from the engine, all in-game content was created by the game's designer, Jim Norwood.

The player controls the protagonist, Snake Logan, a top CIA operative. Upon receiving reports of Metro City being invaded by mutants, Snake is ordered to fly recon over the city. However, after crash landing in Metro City, Snake is forced to complete his mission on foot.

Contents 1 Distribution 2 Gameplay 3 Secret levels 4 Reception 5 References 6 External links

[edit] Distribution

The game has three episodes, the first of which was released as shareware, the rest being available commercially. The episodes are:

• Episode 1 - Dr. Mangle's Lab
• Episode 2 - The Hidden Lab
• Episode 3 - Master Cain

Sales of the game were discontinued in 2000 due to problems with more modern operating systems.

Apogee released the game as freeware on December 23, 2005 as a "Christmas present" and the full game can be downloaded from the Apogee website. It is likely that this decision was made due to the results of an earlier poll on the 3D Realms forums, where visitors could pick a game they would like to see released as freeware from a list of discontinued Apogee games. See also list of commercial games released as freeware.

[edit] Gameplay

The basic goal of Bio Menace is to control the main character Snake Logan through the levels of each episode; rescuing the hostage and reaching the exit, or killing a boss monster and reaching the exit. Most levels require Logan to pick up items such as keycards to access new areas, and ultimately, the exit. The levels are also full of monsters that can be shot and killed, or avoided. Logan also has the opportunity to collect bonus items to increase his overall score.

Snake Logan's default weapon is a hitscan gun that shoots regular bullets, but this can be upgraded to shoot different projectiles by collecting various power-ups. Logan can also use hand grenades, found throughout the levels, to kill monsters, and mines that can be set up on floors. He also has access to secret maneuvers that have effects varying from a shield surrounding Snake to a powerful green beam. Monsters have varying amounts of hit points, therefore some require more hits than others in order to be killed. Another interesting point is some monsters cannot be killed at certain intervals, or with certain weapons.

Logan only has a limited amount of health (8 units on easy mode, or 4 on medium or hard mode) that decreases as Logan takes damage from monsters. He dies if this health bar reaches zero. When Logan dies he is returned to the beginning of the level, or the midway beacon if he found it in the level before dying. Snake has only a limited number of lives, and if he runs out the player must start the episode over again. Logan can collect health kits to restore his full health, and 50 red gems or a miniature Logan to gain extra lives. The player can save the game at any time and place, but when the game is loaded the player is returned to the start of the level.

An interesting feature added in the registered version is the transformer beam, which allows Snake to turn into a small mutant creature. In this form Snake is small enough to fit in tunnels that would be too small for a human. When transformed, Snake can't use his weapons, and can only defend against monsters by biting them, making combat much harder.

Other items that Logan can collect in the game include several different types of keys to open doors; bonus items that are usually hidden and are worth a varying number of points; and "RoboPal", a robotic ally that flies near Logan and fires at enemies whenever the player does. There is also one plot related item, a nuclear device, needed in episode 2 to get the correct ending.

[edit] Secret levels

All three episodes contain secret levels that can be accessed by collecting the secret level gems, which are usually well hidden in the levels. These levels allow Snake to collect large amounts of bonus items, gems, and lives. Snake can still die in these levels, because most of them contain monsters and other various dangers.

Though not a secret level, there is an Easter egg in episode two. In the 10th level, "Specimens Lab", it is possible to enter a "Secret Door" and meet the programmers running the game "Behind the scenes". In exchange for not telling anyone, they let the player grab some goodies from their storeroom, which is filled with various items from Apogee's Bio Menace, Duke Nukem and Commander Keen. The programmer team can be attacked, but they are invulnerable and retaliate fiercely.

[edit] Reception

The game was reviewed in 1994 in Dragon #202 by Sandy Petersen in the "Eye of the Monitor" column. Petersen gave the game 2 out of 5 stars.^[1]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Bio Menace - Official page, including download of the game
• Bio Menace at MobyGames