Gunmetal (video game)

Gunmetal is a first-person shooter video game for the PC. It was developed and distributed by Mad Genius Software in 1998.

Not to be confused with Gun Metal (video game).
Gunmetal
Developer(s)Mad Genius Software
Publisher(s)Mad Genius Software
Tri Synergy
Designer(s)Mike Jackson
EngineCustom
Platform(s)DOS, Windows
Release
Genre(s)Action-adventure, first-person shooter
Mode(s)Single player, multiplayer

Plot

The game takes place 300 years in the future. The world is completely controlled by corporations, and the concept of nation is unknown.

The player takes on the role of a newly hired security guard for the Nataka Corporation, a multi-planet organization patterned loosely after mid-20th century Conglomerates such as Siemens A.G., Sara Lee, or General Electric.

The game starts with the outpost suddenly being attacked by enemy forces from Network 53, a branch of the Argus Industrial Corporation and a long-standing ally. Later, the Argus Corporation starts creating a destructive virus, the Keller virus.

The Keller virus quickly assumes control of all other Remote-Piloted Vehicles (RPV's) and many other electronics nearby. As the player was not in the Headquarters while the infection attacked, they are not affected. Following this, a war against the Keller virus takes place. A sole remaining technician named Pamela Lang helps the player travel to wherever their assistance is needed.

After completing some missions, the player is sent to destroy the Keller core, which is inside the Argus base, in which the player finds the Keller core Protection program. After defeating it, the player goes inside the dead body of the Protection program and destroys the Keller core. Upon beating this final level, the player is awarded "Employee of the Month" and is given a video taped congratulation from the President of Nataka.

Gameplay

Gunmetal has 26 published levels including two secret levels, along with four deathmatch-specific levels, and one easter egg minigame. An additional deathmatch level was added in a later patch release.

Between each level, the player is told a bit about the challenges in the upcoming level through mission briefing. They can then choose to visit an upgrade area where they can buy, sell, and trade weapons, ammo, and vehicle types to use in the mission. A limited amount of credits are given at the start of the game, but by salvaging destroyed enemy RPVs or earning "good employee" bonuses, the player can eventually afford a wide range of weaponry.

The easter egg consists of a side-scrolling minigame called "Gandhi Kong," done in the style of Donkey Kong and starring Mahatma Gandhi.

Game engine

Gunmetal's game engine was developed by Mad Genius Software. It was not, as many people at the time suspected, a Doom clone. It includes realistic lighting, spotlights, direct sunlight, and partial reflectivity (for reflections in pools and other details). At the time, very few video games had all of these features. It also featured original digital music.

Gunmetal supports the full range of multiplayer options available in 1998. As many as eight players can play over a LAN or the Internet at once, and a split-screen 2-player mode is available for local and online play.

Development

The game was showcased at E3 1997.[2]

Reception

The game received mixed reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.

References
  1. Gentry, Perry (August 28, 1998). "Weekend Releases". Gamecenter. CNET. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  2. Lee, Helen (June 16, 1997). "Mad Genius To Show GunMetal". GameSpot. Archived from the original on February 20, 1999. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  3. "Gunmetal for PC". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on June 9, 2019. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  4. Ryan, Michael E. (October 29, 1998). "Gunmetal Review [date mislabeled as "May 1, 2000"]". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on January 17, 2005. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  5. Saltzman, Marc (December 1998). "Gunmetal". PC Accelerator. No. 4. Imagine Media. p. 104. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  6. "Gunmetal". PC Gamer UK. Future Publishing. 1998.
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