Armorines: Project S.W.A.R.M.

Armorines: Project S.W.A.R.M., known as simply Armorines in Europe, is a 1999 first-person shooter developed by Acclaim Studios London and released for the Nintendo 64, Game Boy Color and PlayStation. It is based on the Armorines comic book from Valiant Comics, which was bought by Acclaim Entertainment.

Armorines: Project S.W.A.R.M.
Developer(s)Acclaim Studios London (N64)
Neon (GBC)
Distinctive Developments (PS)
Publisher(s)Acclaim Entertainment
Platform(s)Nintendo 64, Game Boy Color, PlayStation
ReleaseNintendo 64
  • NA: 9 December 1999[1]
  • EU: 17 December 1999
Game Boy Color
  • NA: December 1999
  • EU: 3 December 2000
PlayStation
  • NA: 4 May 2000[2]
  • AU: 2000
  • EU: 23 November 2001
Genre(s)First-person shooter
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Gameplay

Armorines: Project S.W.A.R.M. is a first-person shooter with some on-rail segments. The game features five different environments taking place on earth and in space and has two characters to choose from: Tony Lewis and Myra Lane. Each character has a different starting weapon. Tony uses a slower but stronger gun than Myra, while Myra uses a faster machine gun-like weapon, which causes less damage. Additional weapons can be picked up throughout the game. The weapons available depend on which character the player chooses to play as. Each character features 3 weapons, while there are 5 special weapons. Each one of the special weapons is exclusive to a specific environment and can be powered up 3 times in its respective environment.[3]

Armorines includes a co-op campaign and a multiplayer versus mode. The versus mode can accommodate up to 4 players, while the co-op mode supports 2 players.[4] The Versus mode has 4 gameplay types:

  • Deathmatch: Playable by 2-4 players. This game mode's objective is to get the most kills. The game can have a target amount of kills or have a timer set.
  • Racewars: Playable by 2-4 players. In this game mode player can choose to play as any of the alien bug species, each one possessing different attributes and abilities. The objective in this game mode is get the most kills. The game can have a target amount of kills or have a timer set.
  • Capture the Flag: This is a team based game for 2-4 players. The objective is to steal the other teams flag and return it to your base,
  • King of the Hill: Playable by 2-4 players. The player must find the score zone, marked by a large flag, and stay inside of it to score points.

Plot

A group of marines fitted with advanced futuristic suits of armor protect Earth from an invasion of extraterrestrial, spider-like beings. The marines protect the Earth by killing the spiders with their weapons. The game features 2 protagonists and playable characters, Tony Lewis and Myra Lane. Each character has a different load-out equipped with their Armorine suit. They are Armorines, a highly advanced, highly classified virtually indestructible fighting force equipped to survive the terrifying might of a nuclear conflict.[5]

Development

Armorines was developed by Acclaim Studios London and uses the Turok 2: Seeds of Evil engine.[6] By using a Nintendo 64 Expansion Pak, the Nintendo 64 version can output high-resolution graphics (640x480). It is also compatible with the Rumble Pak.

Reception

The Game Boy Color and Nintendo 64 versions received mixed reviews, while the PlayStation version received unfavourable reviews, according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.[7][8][9] Doug Trueman of NextGen gave both the N64 and PlayStation versions negative reviews in two separate issues, first calling the former "a great step backward from Turok 2. If you're desperate to kill bugs, buy a can of Raid instead" (#62, February 2000);[30] and later saying of the latter, "Like the plot of so many science-fiction horror flicks, this was a good idea gone horribly wrong" (#69, September 2000).[31] In Japan, where the latter was ported and published by Acclaim Japan on 13 July 2000, Famitsu gave it a score of 21 out of 40.[19]

The Enforcer of GamePro said of the Nintendo 64 version, "If you're looking for the best corridor shooter on the N64 right now, Armorines is it. The frenetic action, challenging missions, and creepy graphics will keep you blasting away through those cold winter nights."[35][lower-alpha 3] However, Hyper gave the same console version 67%, saying, "Armorines had potential, but somehow it's been spoiled."[36]

Notes
  1. Four critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the Nintendo 64 version each a score of 5/10, 4.5/10, 6/10, and 3/10.
  2. Three critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the PlayStation version each a score of 4/10, 3.5/10, and 3/10.
  3. GamePro gave the Nintendo 64 version three 4/5 scores for graphics, sound, and control, and 4.5/5 for fun factor.

References
  1. "Eliminate Alien Infestation With Acclaim's ARMORINES IN PROJECT S.W.A.R.M [sic]". Acclaim Entertainment. 9 December 1999. Archived from the original on 26 August 2004.
  2. "Save The Planet From Insect Invasion In Acclaim's ARMORINES IN PROJECT S.W.A.R.M [sic]". Acclaim Entertainment. 4 May 2000. Archived from the original on 15 August 2004.
  3. Armorines Project S.W.A.R.M. Instruction Booklet (PDF). Acclaim Entertainment. 1999. pp. 14–15.
  4. Armorines Project S.W.A.R.M. Instruction Booklet. Acclaim Entertainment. 1999. p. 5.
  5. Armorines: Project S.W.A.R.M. Instruction Booklet. Acclaim Entertainment. 1999. p. 4.
  6. "Special Investigation: Armorines". N64 Magazine. No. 31. Future Publishing. August 1999. pp. 58–63.
  7. "Armorines: Project S.W.A.R.M. for Game Boy Color". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 22 May 2019. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  8. "Armorines: Project S.W.A.R.M. for Nintendo 64". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 12 May 2019. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  9. "Armorines: Project S.W.A.R.M. for PlayStation". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 1 May 2019. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  10. White, Jason. "Armorines: Project S.W.A.R.M. (GBC) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on 15 November 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  11. Scoleri III, Joseph. "Armorines: Project S.W.A.R.M. (N64) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on 14 November 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  12. Thompson, Jon. "Armorines: Project S.W.A.R.M. (PS) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on 15 November 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  13. Ham, Tom (12 January 2000). "Armorines: Project S.W.A.R.M. (N64)". Gamecenter. CNET. Archived from the original on 23 August 2000. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  14. Steinberg, Scott (30 May 2000). "Armorines: Project S.W.A.R.M. (PS)". Gamecenter. CNET. Archived from the original on 16 August 2000. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  15. Johnston, Chris; Smith, Shawn; Hsu, Dan "Shoe"; Boyer, Crispin (February 2000). "Armorines Project S.W.A.R.M. (N64)". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 127. Ziff Davis. p. 177. Archived from the original on 8 January 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  16. Funk, Joe; Hager, Dean; Smith, Shawn (August 2000). "Armorines [Project S.W.A.R.M.] (PS)" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 133. Ziff Davis. p. 148. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  17. Ham, Tom (22 January 2000). "Armorines: Project S.W.A.R.M. (N64)". The Electric Playground. Greedy Productions Ltd. Archived from the original on 9 March 2002. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  18. Nash, Jeff (19 June 2000). "Armorines: Project Swarm [sic] (PSX)". The Electric Playground. Greedy Productions Ltd. Archived from the original on 14 May 2002. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  19. "アーモリンズ -Project S.W.A.R.M.- [PS]". Famitsu (in Japanese). Enterbrain. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  20. Fitzloff, Jay; Anderson, Paul; Reiner, Andrew (January 2000). "Armorines: Project S.W.A.R.M. (N64)". Game Informer. No. 81. FuncoLand. Archived from the original on 4 June 2000. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  21. "Armorines [Project S.W.A.R.M.] (PS)". Game Informer. No. 87. FuncoLand. July 2000.
  22. Buchanan, Levi (6 December 1999). "REVIEW for Armorines: Project SWARM (N64)". GameFan. Shinno Media. Archived from the original on 16 May 2000. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  23. Amsbury, Robert (February 2000). "Armorines: Project S.W.A.R.M. Review (N64)". GameRevolution. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on 22 September 2015. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  24. Fielder, Joe (6 December 1999). "Armorines: Project Swarm [sic] Review (N64) [date mislabeled as "April 28, 2000"]". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on 20 January 2005. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  25. Fielder, Joe (18 July 2000). "Armorines [Project S.W.A.R.M.] Review (PS)". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on 3 April 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  26. Harris, Craig (22 December 1999). "Armorines: Project S.W.A.R.M. (GBC)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 3 April 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  27. Casamassina, Matt (3 December 1999). "Armorines: Project S.W.A.R.M. (N64)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 3 April 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  28. Smith, David (22 May 2000). "Armorines: Project S.W.A.R.M. (PS)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 3 April 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  29. "Armorines". N64 Magazine. No. 37. Future Publishing. January 2000.
  30. Trueman, Doug (February 2000). "Armorines: Project S.W.A.R.M. (N64)". NextGen. No. 62. Imagine Media. p. 94. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  31. Trueman, Doug (September 2000). "Armorines: Project S.W.A.R.M. (PS)". NextGen. No. 69. Imagine Media. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  32. "Armorines [Project SWARM] (GBC)". Nintendo Power. Vol. 128. Nintendo of America. January 2000. p. 149.
  33. "Armorines: Project SWARM (N64)". Nintendo Power. Vol. 128. Nintendo of America. January 2000. p. 143. Archived from the original on 8 January 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  34. Zuniga, Todd (August 2000). "Armorines: Project S.W.A.R.M." Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. Vol. 3, no. 11. p. 98. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  35. The Enforcer (February 2000). "Armorines: Project S.W.A.R.M. (N64)" (PDF). GamePro. No. 137. IDG. p. 96. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 November 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  36. Adam, Arthur (April 2000). "Armorines: Project S.W.A.R.M [sic] (N64)". Hyper. No. 78. Next Media Pty Ltd. pp. 90–91. Retrieved 6 January 2021.

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