History: In the far future the world has degenerated to one large arena battle after another. The very existence of your tribe, race and planet depends upon the outcome of the game. Without the cash (called Kash in the game) won in the games, you would have nothing, not even your lives.
Plot: As a warrior of the future, you must fight battles against opponents within arenas of electrostatic flux called Kraals. If you're good enough to win, you'll return to your mothership. If you're good enough to survive, you can progress through the galaxy buying faster, more powerful ships and advanced weaponry for your tribe. This real-time rendered 3D game offers multi-player network play and modem-to-modem combat for futuristic Spartans to fight it out.
The game is played from the first person perspective or several other third person views. The learning curve will scare many off, but the game is worth it if you spend the time.
Missions: Twenty-five regular levels and five bonus levels with expanding and contracting play areas. There are several types of Kraals including horizontal (Mandalas), vertical (Mantras) and spherical (Fluxes). The horizontal and vertical Kraals require that you stay on the surface of the flux field, while the spherical ones allow you to fly free in space in all six dimensions.
Combat: Real-time shooter with multiple races who challenge piloting skills. You fight for "kash" to earn entry into the next arena and purchase upgrades to beam weapons, missiles, ships, armor, and shields. Hull repair pods can be picked up with the other power ups but cannot be purchased between missions for any price. Replay and save favorite battles.
Artificial intelligence (AI): You fight other mercinary competitors like Jed Butthead and Private Partz
Graphics: Three dimensional (3D) rendered, texture-mapped polygon graphics with multiple camera angles to enhance the experience. Grids define the action over a basically black background with objects drawn in wireframe. The graphics resemble neon lights more than pictures. Nihilist uses three dimensional graphics to get the pictures to come out of the screen. The chroma depth 3D technology allows you to use 3D glasses to get an interesting depth effect similar to three dimensional movies.
Voice actors:
Music score: Soundtrack developed by Bits has either a europunk feel or a non discript but still punk edge to it. The music includes rodk tunes for Dog Eat Dog, Sugar Ray and Pop Will Eat Itself.
Sound effects: Q Sound audio positioning technology and sound libraries provide special, 3D sounds and effects. The effects are excellent.
Multi-player: Up to for player network play and point to point modem play.
Journalists: Jason calls it Cyberpunk Asteroids.
References:
John Patterson, Computer Player, volume 3, number 4, September, 1996, pg. 12.
Jason D'Aprile, Computer Games, issue 77, April, 1997, pg. 76, 60%.
Jim Burdick, Computer & Net Player, volume 3, number 11, April, 1997, pg. 59, 60%