Author Topic: Space Hulk - Vengeance of the Blood Angels  (Read 5481 times)

BloodShot

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Space Hulk - Vengeance of the Blood Angels
« on: 2011-04-21 05:31:15 »
Seeing as how I used to make threads about old games, it's been so long I figure why not make another.

Anyone ever played this? Space Hulk: Vengeance of the Blood Angels, otherwise known as Space Hulk 2, is a sequel to the original DOS/Amiga game. It was the same type of gameplay as the first, combining strategic commanding of a squad mixed with horror elements and borrowing heavily from the movie "Aliens" but with a Warhammer universe spin.

This game gave me nightmares as a kid, particularly because of these guys:


Story:
The Genestealers, are the main adversary of the game. Basically, the rundown of the story is an enormous derelict spacecraft, made up of seemingly smaller derelicts, or "Hulks" (which connect to make one gargantuan Hulk) is drifting off course out of the warp and is on a collision course for the nearest planet, where millions of humans make their home. The Space marines don't have the sufficient resources to destroy a ship of that size, so they send in a group of highly elite marines, (wearing "Terminator" power armor which is highly resilient, resistant to most types of arms fire) who are tasked with navigating the hulk, restoring operations, and sending it back on course.

When you get on board you discover it is overrun by Genestealers, an extremely intelligent alien race which are parasitic in nature - they reproduce through other species. Here's a quote from a wiki about their reproductive method:
Quote
Possibly the most terrifying aspect of Genestealers is their insidious method of reproduction. Through the use of a tube-like tongue called an Ovipositor, they insert a tiny embryonic organism containing their own genetic material into a host victim. Over time this organism alters the host's genetic code, and their consciousness is also completely suppressed by a localised version of the Hive Mind, known as the Brood Mind, becoming a virtual slave. Any offspring born by the host will be horrific Genestealer Hybrids, which the host will be psychically mesmerised to care for, giving rise to the Genestealer Cults that grow in secret within human and other societies.
The intro (3DO version - has some more info about the Genestealers too, plus some cool music  ::))
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfXVjr1n1fk

Here's some gameplay videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnQ5y7Z0rrg (Intro and first mission)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UTKl6UvRrw(second mission, note you don't control a squad until later, or in skirmishes)

It was released for PC, ps1, and 3DO.

The game had excellent use of sound. Marines gave orders, told you to check behind or to your left, noticed noises in the distance, and lent out horrific screams upon death. The melee combat system was interesting too, requiring you to attack the enemy, but time your blocks right as he stabbed you. Sure, i just mashed the buttons and always died :p

The graphics were quite nice for a 2d game too, using 3d models rendered into 2d, and using hires 2d animations in melee. Part of why i found it scared so well is the lack of music, and how the game manages to build up tension, especially with the added bonus of efficiently managing your squads and such - instead of just using cheap scares and the like.

The PC version featured networked multiplayer coop where you could work together with friends to complete the many missions. IMO it was the best aspect of the game which is often overlooked.

Genestealer up close


Blood effects - quite nice for its time, and appear when you destroy the stealers.


The original was quite good too, obviously didn't look as good, but it was still very scary and fun as well, and it did have the added bonus of being able to customize your marine's loadouts later on


So anyone played this old game? Thoughts/Opinions?
« Last Edit: 2011-04-21 05:48:49 by BloodShot »