Derelict

[Pater Alf]

"Derelict" is a strategical FPS game in which you have to lead your squad through a hostile space station. Each of your 5 team members has a special skill that you use in certain situations:

1. Communication Specialist: He can use a motion sensing radar system to find or avoid enemies
2. Heavy Assault: He carries around a Gatlin Cannon that can efficiently mow down hordes of enemies.
3. Demolition Expert: He can use a grenade launcher and has the power to rip apart objects
4. Engineer: He can repair things and hack security systems
5. Medic: He can heal your team

I haven't played much of the game by now, but so far it looks really promising. The graphics are nice and detailed and the soundtrack is very creepy and atmospheric. And there are five difficulty settings, so everybody should be able to play this game.

Developer: Erik Hogan

Download: http://curlysworldoffreeware.com/game_i ... gameid=280

Official homepage: http://earok.net/node/343

Download size: 33.5 MB

Year: 2008

Status: We have to check if we can host the game...

[Chroelle]

It has been a while since I needed a good change of underwear.
The onyl thing that took me down in this one was the quality-shifting sound effects. Great music and nervewrecking bleeps got really bad company by Terminator-wannabe voiceacting, and guns that said poof.
I wanted a simple bang. (Generally what men wants).
HOWEVER THIS WAS THE ONLY BAD THING I COULD SAY ABOUT THIS GAME IN ALL.
This is a beautiful piece of scary space FPS! It took me about a second to get into the mood and 2 tries of first level to get the hang of it. It really plays beautifully, and the tension that comes with a bleep is something you cant buy your way into. Atmostphere is marvelous. The limited line of sight with flashlights and the email, and communications that sends shivers down your spine thinking about what awaits.

[Pater Alf]

[s]It's a bit embarrassing that I'm stuck in level 1 (or even in the turtorial) . But how the hell do I open this damned air vent (I think that is what I have to do)???[/s]

Edit: Forget about it. I mistook air vent with air lock and tried something completely wrong the whole time...

[Scythe]

Turned out to be something like 3-5 hours worth of tactical gameplay for me, possibly less if you're not as cautious as I am. I'm not a fan of FPS, so it was a relief to find that this was much more about tactics than full auto.

Sure the textures weren't exactly beautiful. Sure the sound fx were kind of weak. Yeah, the voice acting was a little wooden and a bit of a low quality recording. I wish there were more types of enemies with a little stronger AI than take the shortest route to the nearest player, and that the boss fights involved a little more tactics. Also, the Demolition Expert felt a little useless compared to the rest of the team.

All that fades next to the glorious tactical gameplay, the cool music and the deep atmosphere. I'm gonna go out on a limb here and give it the highest praise for awesomeness, in spite of its flaws.

[Pater Alf]

There are some minor bugs. Game crashed for me once with a memory access violation and one time one of my character died, but the statistic showed him with 100% health and I was still able to choose him (but got a black screen when I did). And of course I don't like the vanishing bodies (your enemies die and after a while they simply vanish).

But the rest of the game is brilliant and gives you an experience that you seldom get from a freeware game. Atmosphere is really creepy and once or twice I really winced in my chair (for example when I looked out of the window and saw someone looking at me from the other side of the station).
I like it that the game isn't a simple first person shooter, but mainly a tactical game. Without the right tactic you won't go anywhere (and I know it for sure, because even on the easiest level I died many, many, many times).

I have to admit that haven't finished the game yet, but I really love what I saw so far.

[earok]

Thanks for all of the feedback =) you guys rock.

A new edition is coming, may still be awhile yet, but it'll be far far better then the current game. The biggest new feature will be online multiplayer! Though there will be some catering for localisation as well, how'd you like to hear wooden acting from Danish and German space marines?

AI - I planned to have this more like in the original Space Hulk, where they'd do things like wait around corners for their buddies to arrive so they could launch a synchronised attack, but didn't have the patience to program this. Will definitely consider improving the AI though.

[Chroelle]

Let us know if you want to follow up on Danish space marines. I will be more than happy to help out!
I am also going back to finish this game soon, as I simply had to put it down due to midnight chills. Dont play this in the evening or if you are on an abandoned spacestation - or at least play it at your own risk!

When multiplayer arrives, let me know, then I think we are ready to kick up some CWF-gangup!
Few games get perfect scores, but this one did. (It might not look like it now, but it will be changed as I upped my grade to perfect after hearing that there will be more features). So I changed my mind from near-perfect to perfect.

[Scythe]

Chroelle, darling. I think the best wooden acting from Danish space marines would be us on our headsets doing multiplayer. I'm sure I can be surprisingly convincing as the Communications Specialist screaming, "They're all over the place!" We just need to record that and send it in.

[Chroelle]

Oh and maybe some scottish fella screaming something about not being able to hold it...

I am certainly up for doing some voiceacting... We might need to set some sort of mood first though, so it wouldn't be one of us screaming something at the other while the first one is talking in a calm voice. That would be wooden!

[earok]

Just so you guys know, theres a new beta version out and I'm desperately after playtest reports. Cheers!

http://earok.net/node/385

[earok]

Derelict 1.2 is now officially released and available for download.

It's an all-round update with fixes to bugs, framerate, graphics, AI, options, audio etc etc

[Scythe]

Sorry we never got around to beta testing, hope you did find some testers. I am sure one of the more diligent guys will replace it with the new version soonish.

Hmm, gotta find the time to try it out too... sounds good with an updated AI.

[Pater Alf]

The most serious bug on my computer was that I couldn't see anything on the radar. I got an accustig signal if enemies come close, but I couldn't see from which direction. I didn't even realize that this is a bug until I saw some screenshots from the working radar/map. Game is still fully playable, but I think it gets alot harder that way.

I have to check if this bug is gone in the new version.

[Scythe]

Well, did you have the Communications Specialist as your active character? Otherwise, the radar doesn't show much of anything, IIRC.

[Pater Alf]

Yes, I mean when I play with the communications specialist. All I get is an acustic signal that gets faster if enemies get closer. But I can't see anything on the radar (not even a map, everything is black).

[earok]

One other person noted that bug in a pre-1.2 version, it should be fixed now. Can you let me know if there is still no map, if there isn't can you email me a screenshot?

earok3d at gmail dot com

[Pater Alf]

I downloaded and tried it right away and it really works now. That should make it a lot easier to succeed in your game (it was very hard even on easiest level before).

Thank you very much!!!

[Chroelle]

EVeryone can look forward to an interview with Erik coming up on CWF soon. I just need some time to get it going...