Gorky 17
Gorky 17 | |
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Developer(s) | Metropolis Software Hyperion Entertainment (Linux and Amiga) |
Publisher(s) | Monolith Productions, TopWare Interactive (Windows) Linux Game Publishing (Linux) e.p.i.c. Interactive (Macintosh) |
Platform(s) | AmigaOS 4, Linux, Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows |
Release | Windows Macintosh 2002 Linux 2006 |
Genre(s) | Tactical role-playing |
Mode(s) | Single-player |
Gorky 17 (released as Odium in North America) is a turn-based tactics tactical role-playing video game developed by Polish studio Metropolis Software and published by Monolith Productions for Microsoft Windows in 1999. The game was later ported to Linux by Hyperion Entertainment and published by Linux Game Publishing in 2006. The AmigaOS 4 version was released in 2015.
Gameplay
The game features two modes: In the real-time 'exploration' mode, the player controls game characters using a mouse in a point-and-click manner to navigate the player characters through the city as well as interacting with various objects in the game world. Combat takes place in preset encounters located in specific areas of each level map. In the combat mode, the screen is divided into squares with player and computer-controlled characters taking turns trying to eliminate the opposing party. In one turn each game character can move by a certain number of squares and use a weapon once, or decide to take cover instead. Weapons have different tactical effects, for example the pistol can only be fired orthogonally, while the rifle can be fired orthogonally and diagonally. The game ends if any player-controlled character dies.
Plot
The player commands a small group of NATO operatives who must reveal the mystery behind the sudden appearance of hybrid creatures in a former Soviet military base at a small Polish town near Lubin. The area is surrounded by NATO troops and media from all over the world, and the first group sent into town disappears without a trace. The main hero of the story is the 40-year-old Canadian soldier Cole Sullivan, a commando team member with extensive scientific knowledge. His team's task is to explain the hybrids' presence and to find the missing members of Group One.
Development and release
Work on the game began at least as early as 1997, at which time it was known only by the working title "Haunted City" (which Adrian Chmielarz of Metropolis Software clarified has almost nothing to do with the game and "just somehow stuck").[1] The game was rendered entirely using Real3D.[1]
The developers debated over whether combat in the game should be realtime, turn-based, or a combination of both.[1]
Hyperion Entertainment also announced an AmigaOS 4[2] version of the game, but nothing was heard of the port since then. At the Amiga30th Anniversary Dinner in 2015 the AmigaOS version was finally demonstrated in a near finished state with an estimated release of Christmas 2015.[3]
Reception
Aggregator | Score |
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GameRankings | 71%[4] |
Publication | Score |
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AllGame | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
CNET Gamecenter | 8/10[6] |
Computer Games Strategy Plus | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Computer Gaming World | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Eurogamer | 8/10[9] |
GameRevolution | A−[10] |
GameSpot | 5.9/10[11] |
GameZone | 7.3/10[12] |
IGN | 7/10[13] |
Next Generation | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
PC Accelerator | 6/10[15] |
PC Gamer (US) | 34%[16] |
The PC version received above-average reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.[4]
IGN rated the game as "decent", highlighting the mix of turn-based strategy, adventure and RPG genres. Graphically, "the environments themselves are nicely drawn, character animations are very fluid, and the atmosphere presented is ultimately quite captivating." Criticisms included the lack of a line-of-sight mechanic and some interface flaws.[13] Eric Bratcher of NextGen called it "A groundbreaking title kept from four-star status only by the at-times unwieldy mechanics and some minimal balance issues."[14]
Sequels
Gorky Zero: Beyond Honor is a third-person isometric stealth action game. The story serves as a prequel to Gorky 17. The game was published in North America and the United Kingdom by JoWooD Entertainment.
Gorky Zero 2: Aurora Watching is a third-person stealth action game and a sequel to Gorky Zero. The game was published in North America by Dreamcatcher Interactive as Soldier Elite and in Europe by Enlight Software as Aurora Watching. The English translation ignores all ties to the previous Gorky titles, for example changing the protagonist's name from Cole Sullivan to White Fox. The English-language story concerns the protagonist infiltrating a secret Russian base where scientists are developing enhanced human soldiers called "Crazy Ivans".
References
- ^ a b c "NG Alphas: Metropolis". Next Generation. No. 35. November 1997. pp. 86–89. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- ^ "Hyperion and Metropolis announce AmigaOS 4 version of Gorky 17". Hyperion Entertainment. 25 December 2003. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- ^ "Gorky 17 – Finally Coming soon!". The Amigans. 2 August 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
- ^ a b "Odium for PC". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 12 May 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- ^ Simpson, Chris. "Odium – Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on 17 November 2014. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- ^ Walker, Mark H. (4 January 2000). "Odium". Gamecenter. CNET. Archived from the original on 16 August 2000. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- ^ Mouneimne, Neil (16 December 1999). "Odium". Computer Games Strategy Plus. Strategy Plus, Inc. Archived from the original on 9 July 2003. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- ^ Liberatore, Raphael (March 2000). "Odious (Odium Review)" (PDF). Computer Gaming World. No. 188. Ziff Davis. p. 138. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- ^ Bye, John "Gestalt" (2 March 2000). "Odium". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on 7 January 2001. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- ^ Colin (December 1999). "Odium Review". GameRevolution. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on 19 September 2015. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- ^ Wolpaw, Erik (14 December 1999). "Odium Review [date mislabeled as "May 2, 2000"]". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- ^ Lafferty, Michael (12 December 1999). "Odium Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on 5 October 2008. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- ^ a b Rouse, Rich (7 December 1999). "Odium". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- ^ a b Bratcher, Eric (February 2000). "Odium". NextGen. No. 62. Imagine Media. p. 104. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- ^ Brenesal, Barry (March 2000). "Odium". PC Accelerator. No. 19. Imagine Media. p. 90. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- ^ McDonald, T. Liam (April 2000). "Odium". PC Gamer. Vol. 7, no. 4. Imagine Media. p. 108. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
External links
- 1999 video games
- AmigaOS 4 games
- Linux games
- MacOS games
- Monolith Productions games
- Post-apocalyptic video games
- Tactical role-playing video games
- Video games developed in Poland
- Video games set in 2008
- Video games set in Poland
- Windows games
- Biopunk
- TopWare Interactive games
- Single-player video games
- RuneSoft games
- Metropolis Software games
- Linux Game Publishing games