Difference between revisions of "Orb: The Derelict Planet"
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'''Some day in the future''' | '''Some day in the future''' | ||
| − | The silence was broken vividly | + | The silence was broken vividly by loud static, and then a low voice. |
| − | by loud static, and then a low | ||
| − | voice. | ||
:"Chara 4........" | :"Chara 4........" | ||
Someone sat erect and began to | Someone sat erect and began to | ||
| Line 23: | Line 21: | ||
:"I need to speak with someone in charge of your military..." | :"I need to speak with someone in charge of your military..." | ||
| − | Quiet hysteria hung over the | + | Quiet hysteria hung over the mechanical world of Chara 4. A nervousness hung about each and every one of the world's intelligent machines. In one particular place, one large group of Orb's, as they are popularly described by their alien allies, waited with the most acute panic anywhere to be found. Many beings talked or whispered, pretended to joke, or just hung about the hall in silence. |
| − | mechanical world of Chara 4. | ||
| − | A nervousness hung about each | ||
| − | and every one of the world's | ||
| − | intelligent machines. In one | ||
| − | particular place, one large | ||
| − | group of Orb's, as they are | ||
| − | popularly described by their | ||
| − | alien allies, waited with the | ||
| − | most acute panic anywhere to | ||
| − | be found. Many beings talked | ||
| − | or whispered, pretended to | ||
| − | joke, or just hung about the | ||
| − | hall in silence. | ||
| − | It was then that a fairly | + | It was then that a fairly important Orb rolled into the hall and collected the silent attention of the entire group which waited. Another Orb followed behind and waited to one side. |
| − | important Orb rolled into the | ||
| − | hall and collected the silent | ||
| − | attention of the entire group | ||
| − | which waited. Another Orb | ||
| − | followed behind and waited to | ||
| − | one side. | ||
| − | "One of you will be selected | + | :"One of you will be selected to either save our world or debunk a hoax. Either way, it will be one of you, who have been noticed for some personal valor or special strengths." |
| − | to either save our world or | ||
| − | debunk a hoax. Either way, it | ||
| − | will be one of you, who have | ||
| − | been noticed for some personal | ||
| − | valor or special strengths." | ||
The Orb paused. | The Orb paused. | ||
| − | "Apparently, some scavenger | + | :"Apparently, some scavenger alien has found himself on a abandoned world where the old machines seem to still be in operation. According to he, the old mainframe computer has selected us (for some unknown reason) as a threat to those who no longer live there." |
| − | alien has found himself on a | ||
| − | abandoned world where the old | ||
| − | machines seem to still be in | ||
| − | operation. According to he, | ||
| − | the old mainframe computer has | ||
| − | selected us (for some unknown | ||
| − | reason) as a threat to those | ||
| − | who no longer live there." | ||
| − | "It, again according to he, is | + | :"It, again according to he, is constructing, by process of energy-to-matter conversion, weaponry to launch at us, and while we are confident we could fend off such a strike, the computer could send more. We need to strike this system down at its heart and end this threat." |
| − | constructing, by process of | ||
| − | energy-to-matter conversion, | ||
| − | weaponry to launch at us, and | ||
| − | while we are confident we | ||
| − | could fend off such a strike, | ||
| − | the computer could send more. | ||
| − | We need to strike this system | ||
| − | down at its heart and end this | ||
| − | threat." | ||
| − | The Orb swiveled to regard | + | The Orb swiveled to regard the second Orb who had entered with him. He turned back to the crowd. |
| − | the second Orb who had entered | ||
| − | with him. He turned back to | ||
| − | the crowd. | ||
| − | "Our scientist fellow here, a | + | :"Our scientist fellow here, a researcher of our aggressor, has received some information from a probe he sent there, as well as depositing some of our most potent weaponry. This information has been placed in the ship that will transport you to the planet, but the weapons have been noticed and captured by the enemy. When you land, you'll need to find them to use 'em, fighting your way, apparently, through many multitudes of small creatures and large and trained or bred creatures. In the cities you will meet more advanced automated adversaries, and traps, no doubt, as well." |
| − | researcher of our aggressor, | ||
| − | has received some information | ||
| − | from a probe he sent there, as | ||
| − | well as depositing some of our | ||
| − | most potent weaponry. This | ||
| − | information has been placed in | ||
| − | the ship that will transport | ||
| − | you to the planet, but the | ||
| − | weapons have been noticed and | ||
| − | captured by the enemy. When | ||
| − | you land, you'll need to find | ||
| − | them to use 'em, fighting your | ||
| − | way, apparently, through many | ||
| − | multitudes of small creatures | ||
| − | and large and trained or bred | ||
| − | creatures. In the cities you | ||
| − | will meet more advanced | ||
| − | |||
| − | no doubt, as well." | ||
| − | After several weeks of tests | + | After several weeks of tests one Orb had been selected to penetrate the defenses of the derelict world. He is You! Your ship will proceed to a home-made transport warp and within a minute you will be closing in on the enemy world below. Good Luck. |
| − | one Orb had been selected to | ||
| − | penetrate the defenses of the | ||
| − | derelict world. He is You! | ||
| − | Your ship will proceed to a | ||
| − | home-made transport warp and | ||
| − | within a minute you will be | ||
| − | closing in on the enemy world | ||
| − | below. Good Luck. | ||
==Instructions== | ==Instructions== | ||
Revision as of 05:33, 25 August 2010
Overview
This is, basically, Metroid. An amateur Metroid, I grant you. And with a protagonist that rather baffles me; it’s basically an eye inside a glass orb. Still, hey. I guess the most distinctive element of Samus is her morph ball ability. And the most expressive Metroid game is the second one, in which you spend half of your time in ball form, rolling around the walls and ceilings.
Josh Turcotte did a good job here; Orb is one of the more complex and fully-featured Game-Maker games I’ve played, and also employs one of the most comprehensive storylines. Even the credits are uncommonly verbose.
The visuals are clean and attractive. The level design is actually pretty good, if about as confusing as the original Metroid. From the amount of original effort that went into this game I’d like to see what else Josh Turcotte got up to.
Story
Some day in the future
The silence was broken vividly by loud static, and then a low voice.
- "Chara 4........"
Someone sat erect and began to listen.
- "Chara 4.....Chara 4.......Is anyone there? Hello.......... I'm hailing the planet Chara 4 .......Is anyone there?"
- "This is Chara 4. Who hails the planet Charanaphan?"
- "I need to speak with someone in charge of your military..."
Quiet hysteria hung over the mechanical world of Chara 4. A nervousness hung about each and every one of the world's intelligent machines. In one particular place, one large group of Orb's, as they are popularly described by their alien allies, waited with the most acute panic anywhere to be found. Many beings talked or whispered, pretended to joke, or just hung about the hall in silence.
It was then that a fairly important Orb rolled into the hall and collected the silent attention of the entire group which waited. Another Orb followed behind and waited to one side.
- "One of you will be selected to either save our world or debunk a hoax. Either way, it will be one of you, who have been noticed for some personal valor or special strengths."
The Orb paused.
- "Apparently, some scavenger alien has found himself on a abandoned world where the old machines seem to still be in operation. According to he, the old mainframe computer has selected us (for some unknown reason) as a threat to those who no longer live there."
- "It, again according to he, is constructing, by process of energy-to-matter conversion, weaponry to launch at us, and while we are confident we could fend off such a strike, the computer could send more. We need to strike this system down at its heart and end this threat."
The Orb swiveled to regard the second Orb who had entered with him. He turned back to the crowd.
- "Our scientist fellow here, a researcher of our aggressor, has received some information from a probe he sent there, as well as depositing some of our most potent weaponry. This information has been placed in the ship that will transport you to the planet, but the weapons have been noticed and captured by the enemy. When you land, you'll need to find them to use 'em, fighting your way, apparently, through many multitudes of small creatures and large and trained or bred creatures. In the cities you will meet more advanced automated adversaries, and traps, no doubt, as well."
After several weeks of tests one Orb had been selected to penetrate the defenses of the derelict world. He is You! Your ship will proceed to a home-made transport warp and within a minute you will be closing in on the enemy world below. Good Luck.
Instructions
Planetary Report # 1
This information has been made with the help of the broadcast from a probe we sent to the Aggressor world. This probe had also dropped ten weapons in various places on the world for your use. This probe also observed several creatures who were close to the landing site we have chosen for you. Below are a few descriptions of what we found and some advise given in light of said observations.
Unfortunately, the weapons are no longer where we left them. We beleive the computers can control some of the creatures and as a result the weapons have been misplaced.
From observations of creatures on, or in, the planet, we have determined what we call the HP scale. This is used to find out what weapon will kill what creatures or destroy what dev- ices. These are the results. The description of the weapons follows.
- Orb of Water..............25HP
- Orb of Fire...............45HP
- Orb of Magma..............65HP
- Orb of Lightning..........85HP
- Orb of Stone..............65HP
- Orb of Harm..............105HP
- Orb of Defence...........125HP
- Orb of Destruction.......125HP
- Orb of Apocalypse........145HP
- Orb of Antimatter........165HP
The Orb of Water fires a small but deadly bubble killing any creature of below 25HP. The Orb of Fire fires a small bolt of flame. The Orb of Magma is able to fire a ball of Magma. The Orb of Lightning fires out a bolt of electrical energy. The Orb of Stone creates stone in the air used more for aide in climbing rather than as a weapon. The Orb of Harm fires a small bomb. A small ball of ambiplasma is fired when the Orb of Defense is used, but it does not act as a missile but as a force that stays close to you for a short period of time often getting in the way of attacking creatures. When used the Orb of Destruction propels a small missile that kills any below 125HP. The Orb of Apocalypse fires a larger one killing any creature below 145 HP. The Orb of Antimatter is the most potent killing below 165HP with a small pellet of antimatter, which reacts with harm anything made of our matter.
Most of this world's wildlife lives below ground in large and vast caverns. The people who used to live here, though, left behind several cities, some ancient, some new, some wartorn, while others mostly undamaged. Some structures have even been detected below the surface. There seems to be two classes of life. One is very large, usually trained and dangerous, and usually guarding keys. Many of these attack by breathing fire. It is suggested that you can stop them from breathing fire by getting right in their face. They should temporarily lose some of the gas they breath that they use to blow fire and so can no longer fire. But if you don't do this, they may leave you with a few parting shots when they are killed. Other than these big monsters, there are countless, usually smaller, creatures that would hinder your progess. Pay particular attention to spiked fliers that with follow and attack, and deadly burrowing worms. In the cities, you should watch out for more automated foes, some of which can deliver immediately fatal blows.
The Alien who contacted us is in one of the cities, and has collected three of the most potent weapons we sent down. From what we could tell, he was a miner who found that this world was rich in energy producing crystals, and was caught here when the computer suddenly decided to go on alert when detecting us. He needs four varieties of gems to power his craft, but can no longer leave his hideout. He had lost many shovels and hammers in the caverns, which you could use to get these gems for him. He hinted that he may not be willing to let go of those three weapons if you do not, so collect all you can.
There are also energy capsules down there in the shape of hearts. We beleive they may have been left behind by the prior inhabitants of the world probably after they fled the world when the malfunctioning defense system began harming its creators. We may never know, but nevertheless, your mission is clear. Take out the computer mainframe for the defense-offense systems.
Good luck.
Credits
Music: Thankfully supplied by GAME-MAKER
Everything Else: Josh Turcotte
Thanks To
This game wouldn't be possible without my computer and a half ruined Microcassette recorder, a few good tapes, an excellent SoundBlaster system, a few new pens, a lot of graphpaper, and my very fat Norwegian Elkhound named Thor who was for most of the monsters in this game, and for a few of the sounds in the game, my inspiration. The rest of the monsters Merry, Pippin, and Isis... in order two loud parakeets and a pest of a cat, are responsible for. GAMEMAKER is, however, more responsible than any other for this master piece, and deserves due thanks from I as well as from any who enjoy playing this game.
