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

Last updated
Armorines: Project S.W.A.R.M.
Armorines - Project S.W.A.R.M. Coverart.png
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

Armorines: Project S.W.A.R.M., known as 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.

Contents

Gameplay

Armorines: Project S.W.A.R.M. is a first-person shooter with some on-rails 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:

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.

Related Research Articles

<i>Worms Armageddon</i> 1999 video game

Worms Armageddon is a 1999 turn-based strategy video game developed and published by Team17. It was originally released for the Microsoft Windows operating system, and was later ported to the PlayStation, Dreamcast, Nintendo 64, and Game Boy Color. Worms Armageddon is the third installment in the Worms series. In the game, the player controls a team of up to eight earthworms tasked with defeating an opposing team using a wide range of weapons at their disposal. The game takes place on a destructible and customizable two-dimensional board and is characterized by cartoonish graphics and a unique brand of humour.

<i>Vigilante 8</i> 1998 video game

Vigilante 8 is a vehicular combat video game developed by Luxoflux and published by Activision for PlayStation, Nintendo 64 and Game Boy Color. Although officially it has no connection to the Interstate '76 series, it features several of its themes.

<i>NBA Live 2000</i> 1999 basketball video game

NBA Live 2000 is the 2000 installment of the NBA Live video game series. The cover features Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs. The game was developed by EA Sports and released in 1999. Don Poier is the play-by-play announcer with Reggie Theus on color commentary. The game features Michael Jordan in his first official appearance in the series. The PC version of the game introduced EA's "Face in the Game" feature, allowing players to use custom facial photographs on created players. It was also the final NBA Live game released for Nintendo 64. NBA Live 2000 is followed by NBA Live 2001. A cancelled Game Boy Color version was in development by Handheld Games for THQ, but it was scrapped during testing.

<i>Madden NFL 99</i> 1998 American football video game

Madden NFL 99 is a football video game released for the PlayStation, Nintendo 64 and Microsoft Windows. It is the first multiplatform Madden game to be fully 3D and polygonally based and is also the first game to feature Franchise mode. The game's commentary is by John Madden and Pat Summerall. The American version of the game features John Madden himself on the cover, while the European version uses Garrison Hearst instead. The game was the top-selling PlayStation sports video game in 1998 in North America, having sold 1.1 million copies on the PlayStation.

<i>Madden NFL 2000</i> 1999 American football video game

Madden NFL 2000 is a football video game. This was the second of the Madden NFL games to not solely feature John Madden on the cover in North America. The only other one was Madden NFL '95. Most versions of the game cover featured Madden prominently in the foreground, and a recognizable Barry Sanders in a background action graphic. The European PAL edition features only Dorsey Levens on the cover.

<i>Turok: Rage Wars</i> 1999 video game

Turok: Rage Wars is a first-person shooter video game developed by Acclaim Studios Austin and published by Acclaim Entertainment. It was released for the Nintendo 64 video game console in 1999. Rage Wars is a game in the Turok video game series, with a heavy emphasis on multiplayer. It supports a maximum of four players simultaneously via split-screen. The game also supports the Nintendo 64 Expansion Pak for high-resolution graphics, but does not require it. A separate game, also titled Turok: Rage Wars, which is set in the same universe but features a different gameplay and storyline, was released for the Game Boy Color in 1999.

<i>Hydro Thunder</i> 1999 video game

Hydro Thunder is an arcade inshore powerboat racing video game originally released by Midway Games in February 1999 and later released for the Sega Dreamcast as a launch title later that year. It was also released for the PlayStation and Nintendo 64 in early 2000. This game is part of Midway's Thunder series of racing games, which includes Offroad Thunder, 4 Wheel Thunder, and Arctic Thunder. Hydro Thunder Hurricane, a sequel to Hydro Thunder, was later released for the Xbox 360 on July 27, 2010 on Xbox Live Arcade.

<i>WCW Mayhem</i> (video game) 1999 video game

WCW Mayhem is a professional wrestling video game published by Electronic Arts (EA), based on the American promotion World Championship Wrestling (WCW). The first WCW game produced by EA, it was released for Nintendo 64 and PlayStation in 1999 and for the Game Boy Color the following year.

<i>WWF War Zone</i> 1998 professional wrestling video game

WWF War Zone is a professional wrestling video game developed by Iguana West and released by Acclaim Entertainment in 1998 for the PlayStation, Nintendo 64, and Game Boy. The game features wrestlers from the World Wrestling Federation.

<i>WWF Attitude</i> 1999 professional wrestling video game

WWF Attitude is a professional wrestling video game based on the World Wrestling Federation released by Acclaim Entertainment in 1999 for the PlayStation and Nintendo 64. A slightly enhanced port of the game was later released for the Dreamcast, as well as a handheld version for the Game Boy Color. The game is named after the WWF's then-current "Attitude" marketing campaign, with the tagline "Get it" also being used on company programming during that period.

<i>Re-Volt</i> 1999 video game

Re-Volt is a racing video game designed by Paul Phippen and Simon Harrison. It was developed by Acclaim Studios London and published by Acclaim Entertainment for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo 64, PlayStation and Dreamcast.

<i>South Park: Chefs Luv Shack</i> 1999 game show-style party video game

South Park: Chef's Luv Shack is a 2D game show-style party video game and is a sequel to the 1998 video game South Park, itself based on the American animated sitcom of the same name. Developed by Acclaim Studios Austin and published by Acclaim Entertainment, it was released in 1999 for the Dreamcast, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation and Nintendo 64. Its gameplay involves playing minigames and the ability to play against other players in a challenge for the most points. It also involves trivia questions about South Park and other topics.

<i>Extreme-G 2</i> 1998 video game

Extreme-G 2, also known as Extreme G: XG2, is a racing video game developed by Probe Entertainment and published by Acclaim Entertainment for Nintendo 64 and Microsoft Windows. It is the sequel to Extreme-G and is followed by Extreme-G 3.

<i>South Park Rally</i> 1999 kart-style racing video game

South Park Rally is a 2000 kart-style racing video game based on the American animated sitcom South Park published by Acclaim Entertainment and released for the PlayStation, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo 64, and Dreamcast. Gameplay follows the player in a competitive racing championship set in the fictional town of South Park. Players are given the options for multiplayer, arcade, or championship modes, but only the championship unlocks extra features. Competition begins in South Park's 1st Rally, a circuit race around four checkpoints in the downtown area of South Park. Races get gradually more diverse, with more locations, racers, and elements added as the game progresses.

<i>Forsaken</i> (video game) 1998 video game

Forsaken is a 1998 first-person shooter video game. It was developed by Probe Entertainment for Microsoft Windows and PlayStation and Iguana UK for the Nintendo 64 and published by Acclaim Entertainment. A remastered version was released in 2018 for Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux and Xbox One.

<i>NBA In The Zone 2000</i> 2000 video game

NBA In The Zone 2000 is a basketball video game released for the Nintendo 64, PlayStation, and Game Boy Color in 2000. It is the fifth and final installment of the NBA In The Zone series. The cover features Marcus Camby of the New York Knicks.

<i>NBA Jam 99</i> 1998 video game

NBA Jam 99 is a basketball game for the Nintendo 64 and Game Boy Color, released in 1998 by Acclaim Entertainment's Acclaim Sports label and developed by Iguana West. New Jersey Nets forward Keith Van Horn appeared on the cover. Acclaim was unable to secure the license to use Michael Jordan's name or likeness, and as such he was not available as a player for the Chicago Bulls. A player named Roster Guard is available in his place. Rosters are accurate as of July 1, 1998. The game also features Kevin Harlan on play-by-play with Bill Walton as the color commentator. The Utah Jazz' Dan Roberts provides the arena announcing.

<i>NHL Breakaway 98</i> 1997 video game

NHL Breakaway 98 is a 1997 ice hockey video game for the PlayStation and Nintendo 64. It was the first hockey game to come from Acclaim Entertainment and the first game released under the publisher's new Acclaim Sports label. The game met with divisive reviews upon its release for the PlayStation, though the game's management mode and its system of using points to improve aspects of a team received widespread praise, but reviews for the later Nintendo 64 version were more consistently favorable. It was followed by a sequel, NHL Breakaway 99, released the following year.

<i>Jeremy McGrath Supercross 2000</i> 2000 video game

Jeremy McGrath Supercross 2000 is a motocross racing video game developed by Acclaim Studios Salt Lake City and published by Acclaim Entertainment under their Acclaim Sports label for Nintendo 64, Game Boy Color, PlayStation and Dreamcast. It features eight stadium tracks, eight outdoor tracks, and an option for players to create their own custom tracks. In addition to having a racing game mode, players could perform dirt bike tricks in a stunt mode.

<i>Roadsters</i> (video game) 1999 video game

Roadsters is a racing game released by Titus Software for Nintendo 64 in 1999, and for PlayStation, Dreamcast and Game Boy Color in 2000. It is a car racing game that features both licensed cars from manufacturers and unlicensed cars from imaginary manufacturers that are based on and bear great resemblance to their equivalent, real car models. The game also includes a multi-player mode supports up to 2 human players that can compete in any of the available circuits with 4 more CPU controlled racers. A PlayStation 2 version was originally planned to release on April 11, 2001.

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. 1 2 "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. 1 2 "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. 1 2 "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. 1 2 "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. 1 2 Trueman, Doug (February 2000). "Armorines: Project S.W.A.R.M. (N64)". NextGen . No. 62. Imagine Media. p. 94. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  31. 1 2 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.