Eufloria

Last updated

Eufloria and Eufloria HD
Eufloria cover.jpg
Steam header
Developer(s) Omni Systems Limited (Alex May, Rudolf Kremers, Brian Grainger)
Publisher(s) Headup Games (Germany)
Composer(s) Brian Grainger
Platform(s) Microsoft Windows, Android, Linux, PlayStation Network, [1] iOS, BlackBerry PlayBook [2] , Nintendo Switch
ReleaseMicrosoft Windows
  • NA: 30 November 2009
PSN [3]
  • NA: 4 October 2011
  • EU: 5 October 2011
iOS
8 February 2012
Nintendo Switch [4]
  • NA: 31 December 2021
Genre(s) Real-time strategy
Mode(s) Single-player

Eufloria (formerly Dyson) is a real-time strategy video game developed by British studio Omni Systems Limited, consisting of independent developers Alex May, Rudolf Kremers and Brian Grainger. [5] It was named after the Dyson tree hypothesis by Freeman Dyson that a tree-like plant could grow on a comet.

Contents

The game was released for Microsoft Windows in 2009, the PlayStation Network in 2011 and the iPad in 2012. Mac, Linux and Android versions of this game was pre-released along with Humble Indie Bundle for Android 4 on 8 November 2012. According to the official FAQ for the game, the final release for Mac and Linux was to be provided in the late summer of 2013. [6] Eufloria HD was released for Android on the Google Play Store on 15 December 2012. The BlackBerry PlayBook version released on 29 December 2012. A version for the Nintendo Switch was released on December 31, 2021.

It is set in a futuristic space environment, where the player assumes the role of the commander of interstellar lifeforms called Euflorians, who live and gain their resources on asteroids. The player has to use basic units that are grown on Dyson trees and are called "seedlings", to colonize and conquer asteroids. On asteroids, Dyson trees may be planted and as the tree grows and gets stronger, it will produce more seedlings with certain attributes. There are also flowers, defensive trees, and other units later in the game. Players battle other empires and seek to discover the origin of a mysterious grey menace, to speed up the return of the mythical Growers.

Eufloria has been described as a simple but charming game [7] with calming music, graphics, and gameplay. [8]

Versions

There are two versions of Eufloria: the original release for Windows PCs and subsequently rewritten for the PlayStation Network now referred to as Eufloria Classic, and Eufloria HD, the actively maintained build first released on iOS and later on BlackBerry. The Humble Bundle 4 for Android made it available on Android, and also in pre-release form on PC, Mac, and Linux. Owners of the original Eufloria could upgrade for free once Eufloria HD was released on PC, Mac and Linux. This version was released October 2014. [9] A version of Eufloria HD was released for the Nintendo Switch on December 31, 2021. [10]

Gameplay

Graphically, Eufloria is simple, with minimalistic graphics, and a simple design. The colour of the Euflorian empire is customizable.

At the start of the game, the player has one tree, called a Dyson tree, on an asteroid. The tree has a number of branches and leaves that fall off and become seedlings, which can be used to either create trees or fight other seedlings. Each tree is unique, the growth of its branches based on a fractal algorithm. [11]

To create trees, 10 seedlings are needed in orbit of an asteroid. These seedlings then plummet into the ground to grow grass and the trees' roots. A plant called a defense tree may also be grown that attacks invading enemy seedlings by releasing explosive fruit. Over time, the plant's health, damage, and spawn rate increases. The player can also customize their asteroids with add-ons called 'flowers'.

If a dyson tree has a flower added, dysons with a vastly enhanced firerate and range are produced. If a defense tree has a flower added, lasermines are produced. These are powerful seedlings which can take on multiple enemies with multiple lasers, and a suicidal explosion.

The seedlings can attack enemy asteroids, and take them over by burrowing through the roots to the core, and sapping the energy of the asteroid.

All levels are partially randomly generated, meaning each playthrough is slightly different. Also, each asteroid is unique in size and values, and produces seedlings with different stats. There are three stats: Speed enhances the rate of movement of seedlings, Strength enhances the damage of seedlings, and Energy increases the speed at which seedlings can convert enemy asteroids. The stats also affect the appearance of the seedlings. [12]

Plot

The game begins in the far off future in space. The player controls a force of seedlings, and take more asteroids for the growers, mythical beings which spawned the seedlings. The mothertree hopes that by taking enough colonies for the growers, they can make them return. [13] Early in the game, the player encounter an enemy, the greys, which has brutally attacked one of their colonies. [14] Soon the mothertree learns that the greys have been driven mad by a disease, which forces them to attack. [15] They also learn that another empire is attacking their empire and so the player is sent beyond the borders of the empire to find out why the greys are attacking, and deal with them. The player continues, gaining new technologies and rescuing allies along the way, to find that their enemies produced the greys, despite the danger that the greys would destroy them too. Eventually, the home asteroid of the greys was found. After conquering them, the mothertree analysed their remains, and found that all the enemy seedlings had the same DNA as the Euflorian's seedlings.

Development

Originally called Dyson, the game started as a simple single proof of concept level. [16] Levels were originally designed with the XML markup language, and later the Lua programming language for increased flexibility.[ citation needed ]

The game was renamed Eufloria after a contest on IGN's Direct2Drive. [17] Over 400 names were sorted through, with Vernon Sydnor giving the winning name. [18]

The game has since been upgraded with a campaign, substantial AI and graphical improvements, and has been translated into English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Dutch.

Reception

Lewis Denby of Resolution Magazine gave the game a 6/10. [7] Anthony Burch of Destructoid gave it a 4/10. [8] Mike Rose of gamezebo gave it three out of five stars. [11]

Related Research Articles

Pikmin is a real-time strategy and puzzle video game series created by Shigeru Miyamoto, and published by Nintendo. The games focus on directing a horde of plant-like creatures called Pikmin to collect items by destroying obstacles, avoiding hazards, and fighting fauna that are hazardous to both the player character and the Pikmin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Feral Interactive</span> British video game publisher

Feral Interactive Limited is a British video games developer and publisher for macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Nintendo Switch and Microsoft Windows platforms. It was founded in 1996 to bring games to Mac and specialises in porting games to different platforms.

<i>Mushihimesama</i> 2004 video game

Mushihimesama is a manic shooter developed by Cave, originally distributed by AMI in 2004 and later redistributed to arcades in 2011 as the significantly changed "version 1.5". It was ported to the PlayStation 2 in 2005 and iOS in 2011. An Xbox 360 port was released in May 2012. A version for Microsoft Windows was also published by Degica in 2015. In 2021, the game was ported to the Nintendo Switch.

<i>Defend Your Castle</i> 2008 video game

Defend Your Castle is a series of video games developed by XGen Studios.

<i>Bit.Trip Beat</i> 2009 video game

Bit.Trip Beat, marketed as BIT.TRIP BEAT, is an arcade-style music video game developed by Gaijin Games and published by Aksys Games for the Wii's WiiWare download service. It was released in 2009 in North America, and released in Japan and PAL regions in the same year. It was later released for the Windows and Mac OS X through the download service Steam in 2010, while Namco Bandai published it for iOS on iPod Touch, iPhone, and iPad in both Bit.Trip Beat and Bit.Trip Beat HD versions. Android and Linux versions debuted in the Humble Android Bundle 3.

<i>Terraria</i> 2011 video game

Terraria is a 2011 action-adventure sandbox game developed by Re-Logic. The game was first released for Windows and has since been ported to other PC and console platforms. The game features exploration, crafting, building, painting, and combat with a variety of creatures in a procedurally generated 2D world. Terraria received generally positive reviews and sold over 44 million copies by 2022, making it one of the best-selling video games.

<i>MotoHeroz</i> 2011 video game

MotoHeroz is a platform-racing video game developed and self-published by Ubisoft RedLynx. It was released as a digital download on September 15, 2011 for the Nintendo Wii via its WiiWare service, March 15, 2012 for iOS devices, and September 26, 2013 for Android.

<i>Vera Blanc</i> 2010 video game

Vera Blanc is an Italian mystery visual novel video game series for the Android, iOS, Linux, Mac OS, and Microsoft Windows platforms, with art in the comic style. The games were developed and published by Winter Wolves. The first game Vera Blanc: Full Moon was released on June 30, 2010 and the sequel Vera Blanc: Ghost In The Castle on September 1, 2010. There are currently no plans for another sequel of the series.

<i>Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime</i> 2015 video game

Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime is a space shooter video game developed by Asteroid Base for Microsoft Windows, OS X, PlayStation 4, Linux, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. The project is part of the ID@Xbox program. The game's title is a reference to the Bruce Cockburn song "Lovers in a Dangerous Time".

<i>Five Nights at Freddys 2</i> 2014 video game

Five Nights at Freddy's 2 is a 2014 point-and-click survival horror game developed and published by Scott Cawthon. It is the second installment in the Five Nights at Freddy's series. Set in a fictional pizzeria, the player takes on the role of a night security guard and must defend themselves from the restaurant's hostile animatronic mascots. The player cannot leave their office, but has access to security cameras throughout the restaurant to monitor animatronic activity. Wearing a mask that looks like one of the animatronics allows the player to avoid being detected in most cases, though some animatronics are repelled through other methods. If an animatronic enters the office and the player is detected, they will be killed. As the game progresses, Atari-styled minigames and phone calls provide insight into the history of the restaurant.

<i>Gunman Clive</i> 2012 video game

Gunman Clive, released in Japan as Gunman Story is a platform game developed and published by Swedish development studio Hörberg Productions. It was first released for Android on 2 April 2012. The game follows Clive, a lone gunslinger in a futuristic Wild West, as he tries to save the mayor's daughter from a group of technologically well-armed bandits.

<i>Woah Dave!</i> 2014 video game

Woah Dave! is a platform video game developed and published by MiniVisions for iOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation Vita. The game was released on iOS, Windows, and Nintendo 3DS on October 30, 2014. It was released for the PlayStation Vita on January 6, 2015. A PlayStation 4 version was released on March 31, 2015. Said PS4 version of Woah Dave! was released with two new levels, six new characters, boss battles, new enemy types, UFOs players can hitch a ride on, other hidden Easter eggs and the ability to play the original version of the game. The added features were patched onto Woah Dave! on all of the platforms it was released on.

<i>Five Nights at Freddys 4</i> 2015 video game

Five Nights at Freddy's 4 is a 2015 point-and-click survival horror video game made and published by Scott Cawthon. It is the fourth installment of the Five Nights at Freddy's series. The game takes place in the bedroom of a child, where the player must avoid attack by nightmarish animatronics that stalk them. Unlike previous games in the series, the player does not have access to a network of security cameras to monitor animatronic progression, and instead must rely on audio cues. In-between nights, the player is able to play Atari-styled minigames that tell the story of a young boy that is consistently tormented by his older brother.

<i>Worms W.M.D</i> 2016 video game

Worms W.M.D is a 2D artillery turn-based tactics video game developed and published by Team17. It is the nineteenth installment in the Worms series, and was released on 23 August 2016 for Linux, OS X, PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, and Xbox One. It was later released on 23 November 2017 for Switch, and on 1 July 2022 for Stadia. Its gameplay resembles that of Worms Armageddon more than subsequent installments, while adding new features that range from interactive vehicles such as tanks, to buildings that the worms can enter for protection. It is also notable for being the first major redesign the worm characters have received since Worms 3D.

Gunslugs is an action and 2D shooter video game. It was released by Dutch developer OrangePixel in 2013 for iOS, Android and Ouya, in 2014 for PlayStation Vita, in 2015 for Microsoft Windows, OS X, and Linux, in 2016 for Nintendo 3DS, and in 2020 for Nintendo Switch. In 2022 it was released for Atari VCS.

<i>Hollow Knight</i> 2017 video game

Hollow Knight is a 2017 Metroidvania video game developed and published by independent developer, Team Cherry. The player controls the Knight, an insectoid warrior exploring Hallownest, a fallen kingdom plagued by a supernatural disease. The game is set in diverse subterranean locations, featuring friendly and hostile insectoid characters and numerous bosses. Players have the opportunity to unlock new abilities as they explore each location, along with pieces of lore and flavour text that are spread throughout the kingdom.

<i>Knights of Pen & Paper</i> 2012 role-playing video game

Knights of Pen & Paper is a role-playing video game developed by Behold Studios and published by Paradox Interactive and Seaven Studio. It was released on October 30, 2012, for iOS and Android, and on June 18, 2013, for Windows, OS X and Linux. A Nintendo Switch version, entitled Knights of Pen & Paper: +1 Deluxier Edition, was released on May 29, 2018, in North America and Europe and on November 21, 2019, in Japan. Similar versions for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One were released on May 29 and May 30, 2018, respectively.

<i>Please, Dont Touch Anything</i> Puzzle video game

Please, Don't Touch Anything, later re-released as Please, Don't Touch Anything: Classic on the Nintendo Switch in Europe and North America, is a puzzle video game developed by Russian indie studio Four Quarters and published by Bulkypix and Plug In Digital. It was released on March 26, 2015 on Steam for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux, and on October 21, 2015 for iOS. It received a remake with virtual reality support, Please, Don't Touch Anything 3D, that was co-developed with Escalation Studios and released on December 7, 2016 on Steam for Windows and Mac OS X. An enhanced port of Please, Don't Touch Anything was released for Nintendo Switch on November 22, 2018 with updated graphics and more solutions.

<i>Final Fantasy XV: Pocket Edition</i> 2018 video game

Final Fantasy XV: Pocket Edition is a 2018 action role-playing game co-developed by XPEC Entertainment, SummerTimeStudio and publisher Square Enix. The title is an abridged version of the 2016 title Final Fantasy XV, remaking its storyline, graphics, and gameplay for mobile devices. Originally released for Android and iOS, it was later released for Windows 10 through the Microsoft Store, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. The console versions were released under the title Final Fantasy XV: Pocket Edition HD. Split into ten chapters, the game follows protagonist Noctis Lucis Caelum and his party across the world of Eos, with players navigating semi-linear environments and fulfilling quests to advance the story. The first chapter is available for free, while subsequent chapters must be purchased.

<i>Dicey Dungeons</i> 2019 video game

Dicey Dungeons is a roguelike deck-building game developed by Irish game designer Terry Cavanagh. It was released for Microsoft Windows, macOS, and Linux in August 2019, for Nintendo Switch in December 2020, for Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S in November 2021, and for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 in February 2023. Ports for iOS and Android were released in July 2022.

References

  1. ↑ Gamasutra on Eufloria coming to PSN
  2. ↑ Eufloria HD Now Available for BlackBerry PlayBook - N4BB
  3. ↑ "PlayStation Official Site: Consoles, Games, Accessories & More".
  4. ↑ "Eufloria HD for Nintendo Switch - Nintendo Game Details".
  5. ↑ Steam - Eufloria
  6. ↑ "Eufloria". Archived from the original on 5 May 2012. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
  7. 1 2 "Eufloria review on Resolution". Archived from the original on 1 May 2010. Retrieved 23 August 2010.
  8. 1 2 Anthony Burch (24 October 2009). "Review: Eufloria - Destructoid". Destructoid. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  9. ↑ "Eufloria FAQ". Archived from the original on 5 May 2012. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
  10. ↑ "Eufloria HD for Nintendo Switch - Nintendo Game Details".
  11. 1 2 Mike Rose (23 August 2010). "Eufloria Review". gamezebo. Archived from the original on 18 April 2012. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  12. ↑ Eufloria Manual
  13. ↑ Mothertree:The growers depend on us for new colonies. We must find out more, or they may not return
  14. ↑ Mothertree:These creatures.. They are mad with violence and anger. Why do they fight us?!
  15. ↑ Mothertree:The greys... they are corrupted seedlings... A disease has driven them mad! They infect our empire, and must be dealt with
  16. ↑ "Dyson blog - prototype game level". Archived from the original on 17 December 2010. Retrieved 8 September 2010.
  17. ↑ "Dyson blog- contest to rename Dyson". Archived from the original on 10 July 2011. Retrieved 8 September 2010.
  18. ↑ "Competition winner". Archived from the original on 22 April 2012. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
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.