Cel Damage

Last updated

Cel Damage
Cel Damage.jpg
Developer(s)
Publisher(s)
Designer(s) Kevin Barrett
Composer(s) Egg Plant Productions
Platform(s)
ReleaseXbox
  • NA: 15 November 2001
  • EU: 3 May 2002
GameCube
  • NA: 7 January 2002
  • EU: 3 May 2002
PlayStation 2
  • EU: 12 December 2002
PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita
  • NA: 22 April 2014
  • PAL: 14 May 2014
Xbox One
  • WW: 11 March 2016
Nintendo Switch
  • WW: 28 March 2019
Genre(s) Vehicular combat
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

Cel Damage is a vehicular combat video game developed by Pseudo Interactive and published by Electronic Arts. The game was first released for Xbox on 14 November 2001, and for GameCube on 7 January 2002, in North America respectively. In Europe, the game launched for both consoles on 3 May 2002. A Europe-exclusive PlayStation 2 port, titled Cel Damage Overdrive, was released as a budget title by System 3 under their Play It label on 12 December 2002. A high-definition remaster, developed and published by Finish Line Games, titled Cel Damage HD, was released for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita on 22 April 2014 in North America and 14 May 2014 in the PAL region. An Xbox One port followed worldwide, via the Xbox Games Store, on 11 March 2016. A Nintendo Switch port was released via the Nintendo eShop on 28 March 2019.

Contents

Cel Damage is a cartoonish take on vehicular combat games, like those from the Twisted Metal series. The story focuses on six cartoon characters from a fictional cartoon show called "Cel Damage". The characters annihilate each other to the delight of TV audiences and, since they are cartoons, instantly regenerate. The player battles through 12 different levels and three game modes. Weaponry for Cel Damage includes cartoon staples like vacuum nozzles and portable holes, mundane weaponry like chainsaws and baseball bats, and items like freeze rays, giant springs, and portable nuclear devices.

Gameplay

Cel Damage is a vehicle shooter in which players compete against one another using weapons to either gain smack points or stop other opponents from achieving their goal, depending on the game mode. Weapons include black holes, boxing gloves, grenades, chainsaws, [1] baseball bats, chain guns, axes, and freeze rays. [2] The three game modes are Smack Attack, in which players attack other players and/or computer players to gain a certain number of points first; Gate Relay, in which players race to checkpoints; and Flag Rally, in which players race to collect flags. Smack Attack is the only mode not initially locked (except in the PlayStation 2 version). Additional characters and areas are also unlockable in the game. [1] The HD re-release in 2014 contained small differences from the original such as including life-bars and altering the method to unlock certain items but otherwise contains the same content with a few new weapons and a new stage.

Cel Damage features ten characters, six of whom are immediately available to play as at the beginning of the game. The other four are referred to as "guest star" characters and have to be unlocked. [3]

Plot

In the game, Cel Damage is a popular animated demolition derby series that airs weekly on the fictional network "'Toon T.V." [4] The characters in Cel Damage are a select few of cartoon characters who battle every week to achieve fame and glory. [4] The characters use their own vehicles [5] and battle using a variety of deadly weapons. [6] Because the characters in Cel Damage are cartoons, they cannot be killed and can continuously come back to fight again. [4]

Development

The Cel Damage graphics engine uses a rendering technique called cel shading to produce this cartoon-like appearance. [7] Furthermore, the physics engine in Cel Damage is unique. Rather than aiming to simulate realistic real-world physics, it emulates complex cartoon physics; the physics engine calculates the relevant parts of physical interaction as they would in reality, and then distorts the physical laws to produce a cartoon-like interaction. [8] This can be seen, for example, when a car turns and the entire shape of the car deforms and flexes into the turning direction. Cars and game objects can realistically be sliced into pieces, flattened, frozen, shattered, shredded, impaled, lit on fire (and subsequently burn to a crisp and fall into ashes), and more. [8] Chris Hecker, editor of Game Developer magazine, described Cel Damage's cartoon-style graphics as "state-of-the-art for computer-game physics". [8]

Cel Damage was released as Cel Damage: Overdrive, a Europe-only title for the PlayStation 2. Play It released the game on 12 December 2002.[ citation needed ]

Reception

Cel Damage was generally praised for its cartoon graphics, but received "mixed or average reviews" on all platforms according to video game review aggregator Metacritic. [14] [16] [15] [17] Gerald Villoria of GameSpot called the Xbox version's visuals "impressive," and stated that the player "can easily think that [they are] playing a real-time cartoon". [2] However, he added that some weapons in the game were far more useful than others, making the game a repetitive race to get the best weapon. [2] Vincent Lopez of IGN said the cel shading in the same version "was one of the best examples of the effect on the market," but that the game play is too difficult due to both the computer players and the small arenas. [35] Brian Davis of GameSpy praised the same version for its characters and maintaining its cartoon feel, but found that the game play was too short. [29] NextGen said of the same version, "Pseudo Interactive deserves credit for taking cel shading to the next level by adding truly cartoonish physics, but a great look doesn't make a great game. This is a real missed opportunity." [36]

Cancelled sequel

In 2002, Pseudo Interactive created an early prototype for a sequel to Cel Damage and pitched the project to Electronic Arts, Sega, Ubisoft, and Midway Games. The proposal was declined by each of the publishers it was offered to, due to the poor sales performance of the first game and concerns with the marketability of the property. [39]

Related Research Articles

<i>Donald Duck: Goin Quackers</i> 2000 video game

Donald Duck: Goin' Quackers is a 2000 platform game developed and published by Ubi Soft for various consoles and Windows-based personal computers. A version with the same title was released for the Game Boy Color, before it was retitled Donald Duck Advance for the Game Boy Advance. Reviews praised the music, backgrounds and animations, noting the short length and low difficulty as more fun for children.

In the history of video games, the sixth generation era is the era of computer and video games, video game consoles, and handheld gaming devices available at the turn of the 21st century, starting on November 27, 1998. Platforms in the sixth generation include consoles from four companies: the Sega Dreamcast (DC), Sony PlayStation 2 (PS2), Nintendo GameCube (GC), and Microsoft Xbox. This era began on November 27, 1998, with the Japanese release of the Dreamcast, which was joined by the PlayStation 2 on March 4, 2000, the GameCube on September 14, 2001 and the Xbox on November 15, 2001, respectively. The Dreamcast was among the first to be discontinued in 2001, followed by GameCube in 2007, Xbox in 2009, and PlayStation 2 in 2013. Meanwhile, the seventh generation of consoles started on November 22, 2005, with the launch of the Xbox 360.

<i>Soulcalibur II</i> 2002 video game

Soulcalibur II is a 2002 arcade fighting video game developed and published by Namco. It is the third installment in the Soulcalibur series of weapon-based fighting games as the sequel to Soulcalibur (1998). Originally intended to be released on Sega's NAOMI arcade board, the game was built on the Namco System 246 board before being ported to the PlayStation 2, GameCube, and Xbox home consoles.

<i>Jet Set Radio</i> 2000 video game

Jet Set Radio is a 2000 action game developed by Smilebit and published by Sega for the Dreamcast. The player controls a member of a youth gang, the GG's, as they use inline skates to traverse Tokyo, spraying graffiti, challenging rival gangs, and evading authorities.

<i>Robotech: Battlecry</i> 2002 video game

Robotech: Battlecry is a 2002 video game set in the Robotech universe, the first video game successfully released for the franchise. It was developed by Vicious Cycle Software and published by the now-defunct TDK Mediactive, in association with Harmony Gold USA. With a story focused on new characters created for the game and with guest appearances of main characters Rick Hunter, Roy Fokker, Lisa Hayes and a part of one in-game mission directly centered on Lynn Minmei, it somewhat follows the Robotech continuum.

<i>NBA 2K3</i> 2002 basketball video game

NBA 2K3 is a 2002 sports video game developed by Visual Concepts and published by Sega for GameCube, PlayStation 2 and Xbox.

<i>Legends of Wrestling</i> 2001 video game

Legends of Wrestling is a professional wrestling video game developed and published by Acclaim. It was released in 2001 for the PlayStation 2, then in 2002 for the GameCube and Xbox.

<i>Gauntlet Dark Legacy</i> 1999 video game

Gauntlet Dark Legacy is an arcade video game released in 2000. It is the seventh title in the Gauntlet series, and is an expansion of the previous title in the series, Gauntlet Legends. The expansion adds five new levels, and four new character classes: Dwarf, Knight, Jester, and Sorceress. It also adds a large number of secret characters, some of which can be unlocked in the game, while others are only accessible by entering specific cheat codes.

<i>Superman: Shadow of Apokolips</i> 2002 video game

Superman: Shadow of Apokolips is a video game that was released in 2002 for the PlayStation 2 and GameCube consoles. It was developed by Infogrames Sheffield House, published by Infogrames under the Atari brand name, and released in conjunction with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Comics. It is based on the television series Superman: The Animated Series.

<i>ESPN International Winter Sports 2002</i> 2002 video game

ESPN International Winter Sports 2002, known in Japan as Hyper Sports 2002 Winter, is the name of two sports video games released in 2002 by Konami, one for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and GameCube, and the other for the Game Boy Advance. In Japan the game is part of the Hyper Sports series, known internationally as the Track & Field series.

<i>ESPN MLS ExtraTime 2002</i> 2001 video game

ESPN MLS ExtraTime is a sports video game released in 2001-2002 by Konami. It is available for PlayStation 2, Xbox, and GameCube. Clint Mathis is on the cover. The original ExtraTime was released for PS2 seven months after ESPN MLS GameNight on the PlayStation, with the GameCube and Xbox versions released in 2002 afterward as ESPN MLS ExtraTime 2002. MLS ExtraTime was the last in the series as the MLS sold its video game license to EA Sports' FIFA series.

<i>V-Rally 3</i> 2002 video game

V-Rally 3 is a racing video game developed by Eden Studios and published by Infogrames Europe. It was released for the PlayStation 2 and Game Boy Advance platforms in 2002, and ported to the Xbox, GameCube, and Microsoft Windows in 2003.

<i>Ed, Edd n Eddy: Jawbreakers!</i> 2002 side-scrolling video game

Ed, Edd n Eddy: Jawbreakers! is a 2D side-scrolling video game developed by Climax Group and published by BAM! Entertainment, with European distribution handled by Acclaim Entertainment. It was released exclusively for the Game Boy Advance on March 25, 2003. Based on Cartoon Network's animated television series Ed, Edd n Eddy, the game mirrors Ed, Edd, and Eddy's television quest to make money to buy jawbreakers. Gameplay is similar to The Lost Vikings.

<i>Baldurs Gate: Dark Alliance</i> 2001 video game

Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance is a 2001 action role-playing video game developed by Snowblind Studios and published by Interplay Entertainment subsidiary Black Isle Studios for the PlayStation 2 and the Xbox consoles, with High Voltage Software handling the GameCube port, and Magic Pockets developing the Game Boy Advance version. CD Projekt was developing a version for Microsoft Windows, but was ultimately cancelled. In 2021, a 4K port of the game was released for the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch and PC.

<i>Shrek</i> (video game) 2001 video game

Shrek is a 2001 platform video game developed by Digital Illusions Canada and published by TDK Mediactive for the Xbox, based on the 2001 film Shrek. The game was released on November 15, 2001, as one of 22 North American launch titles for the Xbox and March 29, 2002, in Europe. A reworked version of the game, titled Shrek: Extra Large, was released for the GameCube on October 30, 2002, in North America and on October 24, 2003, in Europe. Shrek: Extra Large uses the same engine and game mechanics as the original Xbox release, but with an altered story and different levels.

<i>Teen Titans</i> (2006 video game) 2006 video game

Teen Titans is an action beat 'em up video game released in 2006 for the GameCube, PlayStation 2, and Xbox. A game under the same name was released for the Game Boy Advance on October 16, 2005. They were developed by Artificial Mind and Movement and published by THQ in conjunction with Majesco Entertainment. The game is themed after the 2003 Cartoon Network TV series Teen Titans, and most of the original voice actors reprise their respective roles.

<i>Tom and Jerry in War of the Whiskers</i> 2002 video game

Tom and Jerry in War of the Whiskers is a fighting video game developed by VIS Entertainment, published by NewKidCo for PlayStation 2, GameCube, and Xbox. It is the sequel to the 3D cartoon fighting video game Tom and Jerry in Fists of Furry for Nintendo 64 and Microsoft Windows. It allows up to four players to play simultaneously. It is the only NewKidCo game and the only Tom and Jerry game released to receive a T rating. The PlayStation 2 version was released in all major regions, and the GameCube and Xbox versions were only released in North America. The game received mixed reviews from critics, with Metacritic scores of 63/100, 64/100, and 50/100 on PlayStation 2, GameCube, and Xbox, respectively.

<i>Resident Evil</i> (2002 video game) Survival horror game

Resident Evil is a 2002 survival horror game developed and published by Capcom for the GameCube. It is a remake of the 1996 PlayStation game Resident Evil, the first installment in the Resident Evil video game series. The story takes place in 1998 near the fictional Midwestern town of Raccoon City where a series of bizarre murders have taken place. The player takes on the role of either Chris Redfield or Jill Valentine, S.T.A.R.S. officers sent in by the city and the R.P.D. to investigate the murders.

<i>Harry Potter</i> video games Licensed video games based on the Harry Potter novels

The Harry Potter video games are a series of video games based on the Harry Potter novel and film series originally created by English author J. K. Rowling. Many of the Harry Potter-inspired video games are tie-ins to the film adaptations of the same name. There are multiple distinct versions for individual games.

References

  1. 1 2 "Cel Damage (Xbox) - Overview". AllGame. Archived from the original on 14 November 2014. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Villoria, Gerald (16 November 2001). "Cel Damage Review (Xbox)". GameSpot . Archived from the original on 15 November 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  3. ↑ "Cel Damage". Electronic Arts. Archived from the original on 20 January 2008. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 Cel Damage GameCube Instruction Booklet, p. 7
  5. ↑ Cel Damage GameCube Instruction Booklet, pp. 13-16
  6. ↑ Cel Damage GameCube Instruction Booklet, p. 17
  7. ↑ Padilla, Raymond (July 2001). "Cel Damage (Preview)". GameSpy. Archived from the original on 20 January 2005. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  8. 1 2 3 Weiss, Peter (23 January 2002). "Calculating Cartoons". Science News Online. Science News. Archived from the original on 1 March 2007. Retrieved 8 November 2015.(subscription required)
  9. ↑ "Cel Damage for GameCube". GameRankings. Archived from the original on 7 September 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  10. ↑ "Cel Damage HD for PlayStation Vita". GameRankings. Archived from the original on 10 January 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  11. ↑ "Cel Damage Overdrive for PlayStation 2". GameRankings. Archived from the original on 7 September 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  12. ↑ "Cel Damage HD for PlayStation 4". GameRankings. Archived from the original on 6 September 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  13. ↑ "Cel Damage for Xbox". GameRankings. Archived from the original on 7 September 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  14. 1 2 "Cel Damage for GameCube Reviews". Metacritic . Archived from the original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  15. 1 2 "Cel Damage HD for PlayStation Vita Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  16. 1 2 "Cel Damage HD for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  17. 1 2 "Cel Damage for Xbox Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  18. ↑ Mariott, Scott Alan. "Cel Damage (Xbox) - Review". AllGame. Archived from the original on 14 November 2014. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  19. ↑ EGM staff (December 2001). "Cel Damage (Xbox)". Electronic Gaming Monthly . No. 149. Ziff Davis. p. 250.
  20. ↑ Bramwell, Tom (7 May 2003). "Cel Damage Overdrive". Eurogamer . Archived from the original on 7 September 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  21. ↑ "Cel Damage (GC)". Game Informer . No. 107. FuncoLand. March 2002. p. 81.
  22. ↑ Kato, Matthew (December 2001). "Cel Damage (Xbox)". Game Informer. No. 104. FuncoLand. p. 101. Archived from the original on 1 December 2003. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  23. ↑ Pong Sifu (17 December 2001). "Cel Damage Review for GameCube on GamePro.com". GamePro . IDG Entertainment. Archived from the original on 22 December 2004. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  24. ↑ Dan Elektro (15 November 2001). "Cel Damage Review for Xbox on GamePro.com". GamePro. IDG Entertainment. Archived from the original on 7 February 2005. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  25. ↑ LaBella, Anthony (6 May 2014). "Cel Damage HD Review (PS4)". GameRevolution . CraveOnline. Archived from the original on 1 October 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  26. ↑ Gee, Brian (December 2001). "Cel Damage (Xbox)". GameRevolution. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on 9 September 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  27. ↑ Villoria, Gerald (24 January 2002). "Cel Damage Review (GC)". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 10 January 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  28. ↑ Wessel, Craig (16 February 2002). "Cel Damage (GameCube)". GameSpy. Archived from the original on 7 February 2005. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  29. 1 2 Davis, Brian (5 December 2001). "Cel Damage (Xbox)". GameSpy. Archived from the original on 8 February 2005. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  30. ↑ Bedigian, Louis (13 February 2002). "Cel Damage Review - GameCube". GameZone. Archived from the original on 4 March 2007. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  31. ↑ Donato, Joe (13 May 2014). "Cel Damage HD review: I never asked for this (PS4)". GameZone. Archived from the original on 10 January 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  32. ↑ "PS4 Reviews". GameZone. Archived from the original on 1 July 2014. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  33. ↑ Lafferty, Michael (21 November 2001). "Cel Damage Review - Xbox". GameZone. Archived from the original on 21 March 2009. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  34. ↑ Mirabella III, Fran (11 January 2002). "Cel Damage (GCN)". IGN. Archived from the original on 20 September 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  35. 1 2 Lopez, Vincent (6 November 2001). "Cel Damage (Xbox)". IGN. Archived from the original on 20 September 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  36. 1 2 "Cel Damage (Xbox)". NextGen . No. 85. Imagine Media. January 2002. p. 26. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  37. ↑ "Cel Damage". Nintendo Power . Vol. 153. Nintendo of America. February 2002. p. 149.
  38. ↑ "Cel Damage". Official Xbox Magazine . Imagine Media. December 2001.
  39. ↑ Liam Robertson (9 July 2016), Cel Damage 2: The Unreleased Sequel - Unseen64, archived from the original on 13 December 2021, retrieved 13 July 2016
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.