South Park (video game)

Last updated
South Park
South Park N64.jpg
Developer(s)
Publisher(s) Acclaim Entertainment
Producer(s) David Dienstbier
Designer(s)
  • Jeff Everett
  • Neill Glancy
Composer(s) Darren Mitchell
Platform(s) Nintendo 64, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation
ReleaseNintendo 64
Microsoft Windows
PlayStation
  • NA: September 30, 1999 [5]
  • EU: 1999
Genre(s) First-person shooter
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

South Park is a first-person shooter video game based on the American animated sitcom of the same name. The game was developed by Iguana Entertainment, using a modified version of the game engine used in Turok 2: Seeds of Evil , and published by Acclaim Entertainment for the Nintendo 64 in 1998 for North America and in 1999 for Europe. It was later ported to Microsoft Windows and PlayStation (port developed by Appaloosa Interactive) in 1999 for the release year to coincide with the film South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut .

Contents

While the Nintendo 64 version's reception was fairly lukewarm, the PC and PlayStation versions of South Park received generally negative reviews. Acclaim later released South Park: Chef's Luv Shack in 1999 and South Park Rally in 2000.

Gameplay

The player uses snowballs to attack enemy turkeys in an early level. South Park 1998 gameplay.png
The player uses snowballs to attack enemy turkeys in an early level.

South Park is a first-person shooter. The game's single-player mode places the player in control of one of the four main characters of South Park (Cartman, Kyle, Stan or Kenny). The player must defeat a variety of enemies using the various weapons found throughout each stage in order to reach the exit point at the end.

In addition to completing levels, the player must also prevent large enemies in the stage (dubbed 'Tanks') from reaching the exit before they do. If they fail to do so, they will be forced to defend South Park from the 'Tanks' in a short minigame called the 'Penalty Round' after the stage.

Multiplayer

In Head-to-Head mode, the players select a level, characters, and game style (time-limited, damage limited, or unending). The Microsoft Windows version allows for online head-to-head play.

In the PlayStation and Nintendo 64 versions, upon reaching select stages in single player mode, codes are revealed. These can then be input into the "Cheesy Poofs Decoder" to unlock additional characters for Head-to-Head play. All characters are unlocked in the Microsoft Windows version.

In the Nintendo 64 version, the player can choose between 20 characters and 17 multiplayer levels, while on the PlayStation version, Only 2 players can play and are limited to 6 multiplayer levels and 20 characters. The Microsoft Windows Version adds 4 new levels titled Mustard Block, Sartin Dippity!, Tabun Dance, and Soman Go!. Four extra characters were also added in the Microsoft Windows version, such as Shelly, Satan, Jesus, and Santa.

Premise

A mysterious comet is approaching the earth, described by the opening narration as a force of concentrated evil that no force of good can stand against. As it comes closer, South Park is beset by enemies, including rabid mutant turkeys, deformed clones of the townsfolk, alien visitors, berserk robots, and sentient killer toys. Stan, Kyle, Cartman and Kenny hear about the dangers from Chef, and take up arms to investigate their sources and defend the town.

Reception

South Park's reception depended on the platform. Overall, the game was met with negative critical reception with the PC and PlayStation versions, while the Nintendo 64 version generally received mixed to positive reviews from critics. The PlayStation and PC versions received poor reception due to the bad graphics, poor visuals and bad voice acting. The Nintendo 64 version received the best reviews upon release. Aggregating review website GameRankings gave the Nintendo 64 version 67.11%, [6] the PC version 51.72% [7] and the PlayStation version 41.22%. [8]

Next Generation reviewed the PC version of the game, rating it three stars out of five, and stated: "once the initial chuckles wear off, whether in multiplayer or single-player mode, you're left with a first-person shooter much like any other, and in fact, not as well-designed as most. It's as fun as the show it's based on, but its appeal is just as fleeting." [25]

GameSpot gave the PlayStation version a 1.4/10, stating: "South Park is definitely one of those games that is bound to come up when you start thinking about the worst game you've ever played." [21] IGN called the PlayStation version "frustrating" due to poor graphics, repetition of the voice acting, and lack of play value for the head-to-head mode. [24] GameSpot stated of the PC version: "A good license and good graphics aren't enough." [20] The voice acting, done by the original voice actors, was criticized for being repetitive, isolated, and old. [24] [20] The weapons of the game were also criticized for being unprofessional. [21] [24]

Despite the negative reception from the Windows and PlayStation versions, the Nintendo 64 version was praised for its 3D graphics and storyline, with IGN calling the game "just as funny as the Comedy Central series." [22] GameSpot stated in the Nintendo 64 version that the level design was "really not very good on its own, but given the license, it at least makes sense." [19] By June 1999, the Nintendo 64 version had shipped nearly one million units worldwide. [29]

Cancelled sequels

A sequel, tentatively titled South Park 2, was announced at the time of the release of the first South Park game, with a prospective 2000 release date. However, it was cancelled prior to release, instead focusing on cheaper, simpler releases in the franchise like South Park: Chef's Luv Shack (1999) and South Park Rally (2000). [30] [31]

A separate followup in the style of a sandbox action-adventure game was in development for the PlayStation 2, GameCube and Xbox, but also went unfinished and unreleased. Little was known about the game until a build was found on an Xbox development kit. No playable version has been released, though video footage has leaked onto the internet, including a cutscene showing Cartman in a mental hospital. [32]

Related Research Articles

<i>Turok 2: Seeds of Evil</i> 1998 video game

Turok 2: Seeds of Evil is a first-person shooter video game developed by Iguana Entertainment and published by Acclaim Entertainment. It was released for the Nintendo 64 console in 1998 and ported to Microsoft Windows computers in 1999. Seeds of Evil is the second game in the Turok video game series and a sequel to Turok: Dinosaur Hunter. The game follows the story of a Turok and his efforts to stop a powerful alien entity from escaping the confines of his Lightship. A different game set in the same fictional universe, also titled Turok 2: Seeds of Evil, was released for the Game Boy Color alongside the Nintendo 64 game.

<i>NASCAR 2000</i> 1999 video game by EA Sports

NASCAR 2000 is a racing simulator video game developed by Stormfront Studios and published by EA Sports.

<i>Star Wars Episode I: Racer</i> 1999 video game

Star Wars Episode I: Racer is a 1999 racing video game based on the podracing sequence in the film Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. The game features all of the racers and race course on Tatooine from The Phantom Menace. It adds several new courses, on Tatooine and various planets. It has several single player modes, including a tournament mode. The format of multiplayer mode varies by platform. Jake Lloyd and Lewis MacLeod, who portrayed Anakin Skywalker and Sebulba in The Phantom Menace, reprise their film roles in the game.

<i>Bio F.R.E.A.K.S.</i> 1998 3D fighting video game

Bio F.R.E.A.K.S. is a 3D fighting video game released by Midway in 1998. It was originally planned for arcades. Prototypes of the game were tested at arcades, but the final arcade release was canceled and the game was later released for the PlayStation, Nintendo 64 and Microsoft Windows.

<i>FIFA 99</i> 1998 association football video game

FIFA 99 is a football simulation video game developed by EA Canada and published by Electronic Arts under the EA Sports label. It is the sixth game in the FIFA series and was released in 1998 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation and Nintendo 64.

<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>NBA Live 99</i> 1998 basketball video game

NBA Live 99 is the fifth installment of the NBA Live video games series. The cover features Antoine Walker of the Boston Celtics. The game was developed by EA Sports and released on November 4, 1998, for the Nintendo 64, and then on November 10, 1998, for the Windows and PlayStation. Don Poier is the play-by-play announcer. It was the first NBA Live game released for Nintendo 64. NBA Live 99 was followed by NBA Live 2000.

<i>S.C.A.R.S.</i> (video game) 1998 video game

S.C.A.R.S. is a racing video game developed by Vivid Image and published by Ubi Soft for PlayStation, Nintendo 64, and Microsoft Windows in 1998.

<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>Rugrats in Paris: The Movie</i> (video game) 2000 video game

Rugrats in Paris: The Movie is a video game based on the 2000 animated movie of the same name. The game follows the adventures of the Rugrats in a European theme park. A console version of the game was released in 2000, for the PlayStation, Nintendo 64, and a handheld version for Game Boy Color. A version for Microsoft Windows was later released in 2001. The console version's gameplay is similar to Rugrats: Studio Tour, but Paris’ attractions sometimes have minigames too. The handheld gameplay is a side-scrolling platformer. The Windows version's gameplay is an adventure game in which the player must find Chuckie's Wawa Bear.

<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>Shadow Man</i> (video game) 1999 video game

Shadow Man is an action-adventure video game developed by Acclaim Studios Teesside and published by Acclaim Entertainment. It is based on the Shadow Man comic book series published by Valiant Comics. The game was announced in 1997 and was originally slated for a late 1998 release on Nintendo 64 and an early 1999 release for Microsoft Windows, but was delayed to August 31, 1999. A PlayStation version was also released on the same day. A Dreamcast version was released three months later on December 1.

<i>NHL 99</i> 1998 video game

NHL 99 is an ice hockey video game developed by Electronic Arts Canada. It was released in September 1998 and was the successor to NHL 98. The game boasted great improvements to the game from NHL 98. However the next two editions feature small improvements from this game thus making this game similar to NHL 2000 and NHL 2001. It was the first and only installment of the NHL series to be released on Nintendo 64.

<i>F-1 World Grand Prix</i> 1998 video game

F-1 World Grand Prix, developed by Paradigm Entertainment, is a Formula One racing game/sim first released in 1998 for the Nintendo 64 game console and to later platforms including the Sega Dreamcast, Microsoft Windows, Sony PlayStation, and Game Boy Color. The Nintendo 64 version is based on the 1997 Formula One season, featuring each of the 17 circuits from the season and all 22 drivers, with the exceptions of Jacques Villeneuve and the MasterCard Lola team.

<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>Triple Play 2000</i> 1999 video game

Triple Play 2000 is a baseball sports game released for the PlayStation, Nintendo 64 and Microsoft Windows in 1999. It is the only game of the Triple Play series released for the Nintendo 64 where it was released in North America. It features the 1999 rosters and 1998 stats which included Sammy Sosa's 66 HR and Mark McGwire's 70 home runs.

<i>Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue</i> 1999 video game

Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue! is a platform game developed by Traveller's Tales and published by Activision and Disney Interactive. Based on Disney/Pixar's 1999 computer animated film Toy Story 2, it was released for the Nintendo 64, PlayStation, Microsoft Windows, and Macintosh in late 1999, while a Dreamcast version followed in 2000. The computer versions were released under the title Disney/Pixar's Action Game, Toy Story 2. A different version, a side-scrolling platform game titled Toy Story 2, was also released for the Game Boy Color in 1999.

<i>NFL Blitz 2000</i> 1999 video game

NFL Blitz 2000 is a video game released in the arcades in 1999 and then ported to the PlayStation, Nintendo 64, Dreamcast, Microsoft Windows, and Game Boy Color. It is the third game in the NFL Blitz series.

<i>Tom and Jerry in Fists of Furry</i> 2000 video game

Tom and Jerry in Fists of Furry is a fighting video game for the Nintendo 64 and Microsoft Windows. It was developed by VIS Interactive and published by NewKidCo on November 12, 2000. It is based on the classic Tom and Jerry animated television series.

<i>NFL Blitz</i> (1997 video game) 1997 video game

NFL Blitz is an American football video game developed and published by Midway for the arcade in 1997, the first game in the NFL Blitz series. The development team was headed by Mark Turmell and Sal Divita, who were known for being behind NBA Jam, and NFL Blitz was a deliberate attempt to translate the exaggerated arcade-style approach of NBA Jam to the football realm. The game was ported to the PlayStation, Nintendo 64, Windows, and Game Boy Color in 1998. The cover athlete for the game was then Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kordell Stewart.

References

  1. ↑ "Acclaim Ships South Park-tm December 21 for the Nintendo 64; Highest-rated Cable Series On Comedy Central-tm arrives On N64 for the Holidays". Business Wire . November 19, 1998. Archived from the original on March 13, 2016. Retrieved August 1, 2021– via The Free Dictionary.
  2. ↑ Cove, Glen (November 19, 1998). "South Park Ship Date". Archived from the original on August 26, 2004.
  3. ↑ Cove, Glen (February 24, 1999). "South Park PC". Archived from the original on August 26, 2004.
  4. ↑ "Gone Gold : EuroGold". 2001-02-10. Archived from the original on 2001-02-10. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
  5. ↑ Cove, Glen (September 30, 1999). "South Park PlayStation Ships". Archived from the original on August 26, 2004.
  6. 1 2 "South Park (N64)". GameRankings. Archived from the original on 2004-01-15. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
  7. 1 2 "South Park (PC)". GameRankings. Archived from the original on 2004-11-25. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
  8. 1 2 "South Park for PlayStation". GameRankings.
  9. ↑ Penniment, Brad. "South Park (PC) - Overview". AllGame . Retrieved 2012-09-27.
  10. ↑ Marriott, Scott Alan. "South Park (N64) - Review". Allgame. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
  11. ↑ Baker, Christopher Michael. "South Park (PS) - Review". Allgame. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
  12. ↑ Edge staff (February 1999). "South Park (N64)". Edge . No. 68.
  13. ↑ "South Park - Nintendo 64". Game Informer . January 1999. pp. 34–35. Archived from the original on 2000-10-26. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
  14. ↑ "Game Informer Magazine - Reviews (N64)". Game Informer . Archived from the original on 2000-10-16. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
  15. ↑ The Burn Out. "South Park Review for PlayStation". GamePro . Archived from the original on 2005-02-12. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
  16. ↑ Elektro, Dan. "South Park Review for N64". GamePro. Archived from the original on 2005-11-20. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
  17. ↑ Knibbe, Willem. "South Park Review for PC". GamePro. Archived from the original on 2005-02-09. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
  18. ↑ Colin (1999-01-01). "South Park Review". Game Revolution . Retrieved 2012-09-27.
  19. 1 2 Gerstmann, Jeff (1998-12-28). "South Park Review for Nintendo 64". GameSpot . Retrieved 2013-10-20.
  20. 1 2 3 Kasavin, Greg (1999-03-11). "South Park Review for PC". GameSpot. Retrieved 2013-10-20.
  21. 1 2 3 Gerstmann, Jeff (1999-10-15). "South Park Review for PlayStation". GameSpot. Retrieved 2013-10-20.
  22. 1 2 Schneider, Peer (1999-01-12). "South Park (N64)". IGN .
  23. ↑ Blevins, Tal (1999-03-13). "South Park (PC)". IGN.
  24. 1 2 3 4 Austin, Dean (1999-10-20). "South Park (PS)". IGN.
  25. 1 2 "Finals". Next Generation . No. 51. Imagine Media. March 1999. pp. 84–85. Retrieved 2019-10-08.
  26. ↑ "South Park". Nintendo Power . Vol. 116. January 1999.
  27. ↑ Osborn, Chuck (May 1999). "South Park". PC Accelerator . Vol. 2, no. 9. Imagine Media. p. 81.
  28. ↑ "South Park". PC Gamer . June 1999. Archived from the original on 2000-03-06. Retrieved 2014-11-28.
  29. ↑ "ACCLAIM TO DEVELOP "SOUTH PARK" FOR PLAYSTATION". The Free Library (Press release). Acclaim Entertainment. June 1, 1999. Archived from the original on April 19, 2023. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  30. ↑ https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/01/14/south-park-sequel-confirmed
  31. ↑ https://www.ign.com/games/south-park-2
  32. ↑ Crawley, Dan (2015-09-30). "The inside story of the long-lost South Park game". VentureBeat . Archived from the original on 2018-09-09. Retrieved 2017-01-02.
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.