Steel Harbinger

Last updated
Steel Harbinger
Steel Harbinger front.jpg
Developer(s) Mindscape Group
Publisher(s) Mindscape Group
Platform(s) PlayStation
Release
  • NA: October 30, 1996 [1]
  • EU: December 1996
Genre(s) Multidirectional shooter
Mode(s) Single-player

Steel Harbinger is a video game for the PlayStation, released on October 30, 1996. It is a multidirectional shooter, viewed from a 3/4 perspective, with live action full motion videos used to advance the storyline. Players take on the role of Miranda Bowen, a young woman mutated into a human/alien hybrid, who is humanity's last hope of repelling an alien invasion.

Contents

Plot

In the year 2069 North America is shaken by war. Canada and Mexico are combating the United States. Not long after the start of the war, alien pods rain down from space onto North America, sprouting metallic tentacles upon landing. The tentacles attack humans and animals, transforming them instantly into monstrous alien biomechanisms (half-organic compound, half-machine) bent on destroying any human life they encounter.

Dr. Bowen, a scientist, studies one of these pods in an attempt to learn about the alien species. The pod breaks out of control and attacks his daughter, Miranda Bowen (played by actress Wendi Kenya). Dr. Bowen severs the attacking tentacle, but Miranda is already infected. Thus she transforms into Steel Harbinger: a half-human, half-biomechanical alien, and humanity's last hope for survival. Miranda must battle her way through Kansas, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Houston, Cape Canaveral, Washington, the Antarctic, an alien planetoid, and the Moon in an effort to save the Earth.

Gameplay

Steel Harbinger is an overhead shooter. The game features modern and futuristic weaponry, including handguns, the US M16 rifle, rocket launchers, energy rifles, the Canadian Icarus beam, and more. As a half-alien, Miranda's biology is different from that of a normal human. Miranda can be fatally wounded by saline water as falling into it will rapidly deplete health. To replenish lost health, Miranda is able to consume body parts from slain aliens and human victims. The primary objective is to activate a military satellite that will protect the Earth from falling alien tentacle pods. Other objectives involve killing aliens and saving human survivors.

Credits

Game

Cinematic Sequences

Reception

Reviewers generally praised the uniqueness of Steel Harbinger's player character, particularly her ability to eat the corpses of her victims to replenish energy; [2] [3] [4] the massive levels and overall length of the game; [2] [4] [5] and the use of disappearing walls to enhance the 3D view. [3] [4] Next Generation and Sushi-X of Electronic Gaming Monthly (EGM) both complimented the interweaving of the story with the action, [2] [4] while GamePro complained that the story sequences interrupt the gameplay. [5] GamePro and Shawn Smith of EGM also said the jumping controls are imprecise. [2] [5]

While remarking that the game is flawed, most critics gave it a positive recommendation. On the negative end, GamePro concluded, "It's definitely worth a look, but there are stronger offerings out there." [5] However, Dan Hsu of EGM called it "one of the better mindless shoot-'em-ups out there", [2] Hugh Sterbakov of GameSpot "a grisly, action-packed joyride", [3] and Next Generation "fairly entertaining gameplay well worth a peek or two." [4]

Related Research Articles

<i>Chaos Control</i> (video game) 1995 video game

Chaos Control is a rail shooter developed by Infogrames Multimedia and published by Philips Interactive Media for the CD-i, MS-DOS, Macintosh, Sega Saturn and PlayStation in 1995. The game's cutscenes are rendered in a style reminiscent of anime.

<i>Starsiege</i> 1999 video game

Starsiege is a mecha-style vehicle simulation game developed by Dynamix and released in 1999. Starsiege is set in the Metaltech/Earthsiege universe, which contains its predecessors Earthsiege (1994), Battledrome (1994), and Earthsiege 2 (1996). This universe also includes action game Hunter Hunted (1996), strategy games Mission Force: Cyberstorm (1996) and Cyberstorm 2: Corporate Wars (1998). It also includes the sequelsStarsiege: Tribes and all subsequent Tribes titles. In 2015, this game and the rest of the Metaltech/Tribes series were released as freeware by Hi-Rez Studios, but Battledrome and the Cyberstorm series were not.

<i>The Adventures of Lomax</i> 1996 video game

The Adventures of Lomax is a platforming video game created by Psygnosis in 1996 for the PlayStation and Microsoft Windows. It is a spin-off video game of the Lemmings series. The player takes the role of Lomax, a lemming knight who must save his fellow lemmings who have been brainwashed by the wicked sorcerer Evil Ed.

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

Incoming is a 3D shooter video game developed and published by Rage Software. The game was first released for Microsoft Windows in mid-1998, and was followed by a Dreamcast version, which was released in Japan on December 17, 1998, in Europe on October 14, 1999, and in North America on September 15, 1999. Set in the near-future of 2009, the game primarily revolves around controlling vehicles and turrets to fight alien invaders of Earth in one of the campaign modes, the arcade mode, and with or against another player. Some levels include brief real-time strategy segments.

<i>Contra: Legacy of War</i> 1996 video game

Contra: Legacy of War is a 3D action game produced by Konami and developed by Appaloosa Interactive that was originally released in 1996 for the PlayStation and Sega Saturn. It is a follow-up to Contra: Hard Corps, and was the first of two games in the Contra series that were externally developed by Appaloosa; the second game, C: The Contra Adventure, was released in 1998. Legacy of War marks the series' shift to three-dimensional graphics and gameplay, the game was released packaged with a pair of 3D anaglyph glasses, which enables the player to view the 3D effects incorporated into the game's graphics. Legacy of War bears the distinction for being the first console game in the series to retain both the Contra title and human characters during its release in Europe and Australia. The game was scheduled to be released in Japan as well, but was cancelled.

<i>Disruptor</i> (video game) 1996 video game

Disruptor is a 1996 first-person shooter video game developed by Insomniac Games and published by Universal Interactive Studios and Interplay Productions for the PlayStation. It was the first game developed by Insomniac Games. The game released on November 30, 1996 in North America and in December of that year in Europe. It received positive reviews from critics, but was a commercial failure, selling well below the company’s expectations.

<i>Space Hulk: Vengeance of the Blood Angels</i> 1995 video game

Space Hulk: Vengeance of the Blood Angels is a video game published by Electronic Arts in 1995 for the 3DO, which was later ported to PlayStation, Sega Saturn, and Microsoft Windows. It is based on Games Workshop's board game Space Hulk and is the sequel to the 1993 video game Space Hulk. Like its predecessor, Vengeance of the Blood Angels combines first-person shooter gameplay with real-time tactical elements. Space Hulk: Vengeance of the Blood Angels is part of the Warhammer 40,000 universe.

<i>Project Overkill</i> 1996 video game

Project Overkill is a shoot 'em up game for the PlayStation, developed and published by Konami in 1996. The plot of the game revolves around a group of four mercenaries hired to eliminate a group of humans called the Viscerians.

<i>Ghen War</i> 1995 video game

Ghen War is a first-person shooter video game for the Sega Saturn console. It was developed by American studio Jumpin' Jack Software and published by Sega in 1995. The game centers around a member of a mining crew, with an artificial powered exoskeleton resembling a power-loader. The crew, specifically the protagonist, must fight off a once-friendly alien race known as the Ghen, who suddenly turn on the humans.

<i>Robotica</i> 1995 video game

Robotica, also known as Robotica Cybernation Revolt in Europe and Deadalus (ダイダロス) in Japan, is a first-person shooter video game developed by Micronet for the Sega Saturn.

<i>Loaded</i> (video game) 1995 video game

Loaded is a science fiction-themed top-down multidirectional shooter developed by Gremlin Interactive. Loaded was released on December 15, 1995 on the PlayStation, and was ported to the Sega Saturn the following year. The game had origins in DC Comics as well as the more adult-orientated Vertigo Comics, and there was a small graphic novel based on the game. The six playable characters of the game are a combination of villains, anti-heroes, psychopaths, perverts, mutants, and flamboyant murderers. They are, however, the best hope to stop the intergalactic supervillain nicknamed F.U.B. and save the universe. The characters were created and designed with contributions from Garth Ennis of Vertigo Comics and Greg Staples of 2000AD.

<i>Alien Trilogy</i> 1996 video game

Alien Trilogy is a first-person shooter video game developed by Probe Entertainment and published by Acclaim Entertainment in 1996 for the PlayStation, Sega Saturn, and MS-DOS platforms. The game is based on the first three movies in the Alien film series. One of the first games developed by Probe following their acquisition by Acclaim, it debuted Acclaim's much-hyped motion capture technology. The game was well-received by critics, who praised its recreation of the films' atmosphere and its gameplay depth compared to other first-person shooters, and was a commercial success.

<i>Creature Shock</i> 1994 video game

Creature Shock is a 1994 sci-fi game released for MS-DOS and 3DO. It was developed by Argonaut Software and published by Virgin Interactive Entertainment. The game was later ported to the CD-i, Sega Saturn and PlayStation video game systems.

<i>2Xtreme</i> 1996 video game

2Xtreme is a racing game released for the PlayStation in 1996 and a sequel to ESPN Extreme Games. Unlike the original, the game does not bear ESPN licensing. In it, the player races against others in various events around the world using Rollerblading, skateboarding, biking, and snowboarding. A sequel, 3Xtreme, was released in 1999.

<i>Hunter Hunted</i> (video game) 1996 side-scrolling action computer game released by Sierra On-Line

Hunter Hunted is a side-scrolling action computer game developed by K.A.A. and published by Sierra On-Line on November 8, 1996. The player controls a humanoid creature who fights enemies, completes objectives, and tries to find the hidden exit in each level. Of the two, Garathe possesses superior strength and stamina, while Jake can take advantage of more sophisticated weaponry.

<i>Defcon 5</i> (1995 video game) 1995 action-adventure video game

Defcon 5 is an action-adventure video game developed by Millennium Interactive. It was released for MS-DOS in 1995, and ported to PlayStation, Sega Saturn and 3DO Interactive Multiplayer in 1996. The name refers to the condition used to designate normal peacetime military readiness under the DEFCON system, but which is commonly misused in popular fiction to indicate a state of emergency. The game was originally announced under the title Incoming.

<i>Shockwave Assault</i> 1994 video game

Shockwave Assault is a science fiction combat flight simulation video game developed by Advanced Technology Group and published by Electronic Arts for various home video game consoles and PCs. The player takes control of a futuristic fighter plane to defeat extraterrestrial ships and tripods.

<i>Aliens Versus Predator: Extinction</i> 2003 video game

Aliens Versus Predator: Extinction is a 2003 military science fiction real-time strategy video game developed by Zono and co-published by Fox Interactive and Electronic Arts for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox. Based on the Alien vs. Predator franchise, the game offers three single player campaigns that cover Alien, Predator, and human storylines. Each storyline and species has unique characteristics and gameplay elements that are adapted from film and comic sources.

<i>XCOM 2</i> 2016 video game

XCOM 2 is a 2016 turn-based tactics video game developed by Firaxis Games and published by 2K. It is the sequel to 2012's reboot of the series, XCOM: Enemy Unknown; it takes place 20 years after the events of Enemy Unknown. XCOM, a military organization trying to fight off an alien invasion, has lost the war and is now a resistance force against the occupation of Earth and the established totalitarian regime and military dictatorship. Gameplay is split between turn-based combat in which players command a squad of soldiers to fight enemies, and strategy elements in which players manage and control the operations of the Avenger, an alien ship that is used as a mobile base for XCOM.

<i>NHL FaceOff 97</i> 1996 ice hockey video game

NHL FaceOff '97 is an ice hockey video game developed by Killer Game and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation. It is the second game in the NHL FaceOff series.

References

  1. ↑ "Sony PlayStation Available Software sorted by Release Date @ www.vidgames.com". 1998-06-11. Archived from the original on 1998-06-11. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Review Crew: Steel Harbinger". Electronic Gaming Monthly . No. 88. Ziff Davis. November 1996. p. 88.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Sterbakov, Hugh (December 1, 1996). "Steel Harbinger Review". GameSpot . Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Steel Harbinger". Next Generation . No. 24. Imagine Media. December 1996. pp. 260, 262.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Major Mike (December 1996). "ProReview: Steel Harbinger". GamePro . No. 99. IDG. p. 128.
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.