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General discussion (archive)Why is Syndicate so fantastic?(82 posts)(82 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted January 20, 2012
I just dug up my old Magic Carpet manual, and while I did not find any info on saving mid-game, I discovered something interesting:
The game supports 3d glasses. Just hit F10 while in game and you can toggle between basic red/blue, stereogram (won't that make your eyes hurt after a while? Or am I missing something here?) and normal mode.
Posted January 20, 2012
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timppu: I am not sure if this was in base Magic Carpet, or only if you installed the Hidden Worlds expansion pack (or play Magic Carpet Plus), since the expansion pack seemed to change some other things in the base game as well, like replacing some useless wall of fire spell with some other.
I never played the expansion, so that might by why I never heard of the option. I'm sure I read the manual back then.
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AFnord: I just dug up my old Magic Carpet manual, and while I did not find any info on saving mid-game, I discovered something interesting:
The game supports 3d glasses. Just hit F10 while in game and you can toggle between basic red/blue, stereogram (won't that make your eyes hurt after a while? Or am I missing something here?) and normal mode.
Yeah, I remember that feature. Stereogram mode was insane, but those things were really popular in those days. And I actually got the red/blue glasses in the box, too, but the game was barely playable with them.
Post edited January 20, 2012 by bazilisek
Posted January 20, 2012
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bazilisek: Yeah, I remember that feature. Stereogram mode was insane, but those things were really popular in those days. And I actually got the red/blue glasses in the box, too, but the game was barely playable with them.
Now I am a tad bit jealous. My boxed copy only came with a manual (which did not deal with any of the expansion content, even though I got the "plus" version) and a warranty notice :( Oh well, I guess the people who bought the regular version, and not the budget version should get something extra ;)
Posted January 20, 2012
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Psyringe: Imho, the weaknesses of typical Bullfrog designs are also the reason why they didn't age particularly well. For their success, nearly all Bullfrog games relied on two common factors: novel ideas, and great graphics. Gameplay, and especially long-term motivation, often took a backseat.
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timppu: I guess I still disagree for Magic Carpet. :) The gameplay is mostly quite repetitive, albeit the further you play, the more special levels you get which are not only about "make a castle, kill enemies, build more castle..." etc., but they were more like puzzles. And even if fighting the enemies was repetitive, there was always the strategic things to consider (where to build the castle, should it be replaced to another location mid-game etc.), the urge to get the better spells activated etc.
It's very well possible that my description doesn't cover Magic Carpet well, since I never played that game. I probably should. ;)
Posted January 20, 2012
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Psyringe: If you want to let the recipient of a work of art experience the bleakness and harshness of a dystopian future, then you put the player in a role where he is either the victim of these forces (see 1984), or where he's at least forced to think about them. What you _don't_ do is putting the player in the role of a doer who commits all kinds of atrocities, is even _forced_ to do so in order to advance the story, gets rewarded for doing so, and has neither a reason nor an opportunity to question them.
One of my favorite nihilistic allegories in video gaming.
Posted January 20, 2012
Damn all unbelievers, good job I brought along my persuadertron :)
Posted January 20, 2012
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Psyringe: It's very well possible that my description doesn't cover Magic Carpet well, since I never played that game. I probably should. ;)
Wow, I am genuinely impressed, because you did get many things right, like that it had novel ideas (for gameplay and setting), the core gameplay was quite repetitive (like in most games), and the graphics engine was quite revolutionary for its time.

But unlike something like, umm, Comanche (a helicopter combat "simulator"/shoot'em-up with revolutionary 3D voxel graphics), the MC gameplay feels quite fresh and enjoyable even today, so it was not all about the graphics.

I think I liked Magic Carpet 2 less because at least first you're being lead by hand, ie. "next go there, and kill those five monsters", and after doing everything you are asked, level completed. I don't remember if the whole MC2 was like that or only the first few levels (I'm replaying MC2 now), a tunnel run shooter, but overall the first Magic Carpet felt more freeform.
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Community
General discussion (archive)Why is Syndicate so fantastic?(82 posts)(82 posts)
(82 posts)