Absolute Zero

Obviously, I'm very enthusiastic about Absolute Zero. It's got great sound, great graphics, a great storyline, and great follow-ups from Domark (via updaters). The only way, however, to display this greatness is to have a high-end PowerMac (PowerMac 100 MHz+) or have at least 11 MB of RAM and 100 MB of hard disk space you can give AZ to run on. If you have lots of time on your hands, this is the game for you. If you decide to get AZ, I recommend reading the manual first!! I know, playing first then reading manuals is the usual order of gaming, but AZ is so complex that in order to get the full effects of the game (not to mention lots of keys to learn) the manual is essential. Remember: nothing is Absolute. Winning isn't everything. Survival is. I recommend trying to survive Absolute Zero!

Spelet engagerar nästan otrevligt mycket och känns som en stor utmaning.

On the plus side, the game looks quite good, the sound is very atmospheric, and the ongoing story (told through the personal diaries and e-mail of the seven characters in the game) is better than average. Some of the missions have some puzzle aspects to them (again reminiscent of X-Wing) and Domark has seen fit to include "auto-hints." These pop up whenever you lose a mission, and offer some advice towards success. Absolute Zero isn't a serious sim, but it's quite entertaining, at least until you hit a mission that you fly over and over again and can't beat. Then it just becomes frustrating.

The starfighter genre has been around since Star Raiders debuted on the Atari 800, and few significant improvements have been made since. The same basic game design is retread again and again, and even high profile titles like Wing Commander IV offer little more in the way of gameplay than their predecessors. With Absolute Zero, Domark seems intent on taking a completely different approach to the genre. The problem is that while Absolute Zero's design concepts are unique, the game interface is poorly executed.

Absolute Zero ist keine ernstzunehmende Flugsimulation, aber das sind Wing Commander und Tie Fighter auch nicht unbedingt. Grafisch kann sich Domarks Weltraumballerei durchaus mit diesen beiden Referenzprodukten messen. Der Unterschied liegt im Detail: die vielen kleinen Unstimmigkeiten führen letztendlich zu mehr Frust als Lust. Absolute Zero ist ein Spiel, dem ein paar Monate zusätzliche Designarbeit gut getan hätten.

Hade det varit lite mer rakt på sak hade betyget blivit högre.

Nicht Fisch (sorry, Henrik!), nicht Fleisch, ist das, was uns Domark hier auftischt. Schön und gut: Die Story ist liebevoll ausgearbeitet, wird aber in allzu kleingestückelten Häppchen serviert. Bis sich das zum Ganzen fügt, kühlt die Spannung ab und was bleibt ist ein eher laues Spielgefühl.