Time Commando
| Time Commando | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Adeline Software |
| Publisher(s) | Activision |
| Director(s) | |
| Designer(s) |
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| Composer(s) |
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| Platform(s) | PlayStation DOS |
| Release | PlayStation Windows Saturn |
| Genre(s) | Action-adventure |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
Time Commando is an action-adventure computer and video game developed by Adeline Software and published by Activision. It was originally released for the Sony PlayStation on January 1, 1997, and was later released for Microsoft Windows on May 6, 1997 in the United States and May 6, 1998 in Japan and Europe. A Sega Saturn version of the game was released in Japan on March 5, 1998.
The game takes place in the near future, and the military, with the help of a private corporation has created a computer capable of simulating any form of combat from any point in history. However, a programmer from a rival corporation infects the system with a virus that creates a time-distortion vortex, which threatens to swallow the world if it is not destroyed. The player controls Stanley Opar, an employee at the center who enters the vortex to try and stop the virus. In order to accomplish this, the player must combat various real-life enemies throughout different time periods. These eras include Prehistoric (featuring cavemen, saber tooth tigers, and bears), Roman Empire, Feudal Japan, Medieval, Conquistador, Wild West, American Civil War,World War One, Modern War, Future, and finally, a showdown with the virus.
As the player goes through each level, he/she collects various weapons exclusive to each time period. For example, the Prehistoric level features rocks and caveman clubs, Feudal Japan features throwing stars and katanas, Wild West features pistols and rifles, and Modern War has submachine guns and rocket launchers. Stanley has a small life bar that grows larger further into the game, when the player picks up life power-ups. Along the same lines, Stanley has multiple lives. As the player plays through a level, a time bar, which counts down time until the virus completely takes over and the player dies, slowly fills. This bar can be emptied by depositing computer chips collected throughout the levels in various "orb pools," which resemble the vortex Stanley first entered.
Trivia
- The name of the hero, Stanley Opar is a pun. When pronounced out loud, it sounds like Stan Leopard.
- Some of the programers in the team were also active demomakers, members of the groups Pulse and NeXT.