Description
Universal Warrior (or
The Machines, as is the official title of the PC version) is a top-down maze shooter in the vein of
Gauntlet and
Alien Breed, with added economic elements.
The game alternates between equipment management and the actual in-level action, in which a remote-controlled robot runs through maze-like maps and shoots mechanical enemies. With the money earned in these sci-fi contests, improved equipment can be bought in five categories, making the robot more powerful, more maneuverable and less easy to damage. On the other hand, getting damaged means you must spend money on repairs. This encourages careful and effective playing.
The game can be played solo, competitively in two-player hot-seat mode or cooperatively in split-screen mode.
The Amiga and the PC version of the game have the same basic design, but entirely different levels. For a comprehensive list of differences between the versions see the trivia section.
Alternate Titles
- "The Machines" -- PC title
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Trivia
The game was developed by the British software house
Zeppelin Games Ltd. and originally released in 1993 for the Amiga under the name of
Universal Warrior. The PC port (published by
Merit Studios, which had bought Zeppelin in 1994) was renamed to
The Machines. The two versions differ greatly.
Most importantly, the level design is completely unique for each platform. The Amiga version ends at level 40, while the PC port contains 60 levels. The Amiga levels make much more use of the third dimension, featuring climbs and canals. The equipment differs in parts. Its availability is randomized on the Amiga, while the PC has a logical progression.
Here's a list of the most important differences between the Amiga original and the PC port:
AMIGA | PC
-----------------------------------------------------------------
40 unique levels | 60 unique levels
About 10 enemy types | 13 enemy types
Some enemies spawn on the map | All enemies on the map from the
| beginning
Terrain height levels used | Terrain height levels used
frequently | almost never
Goal tokens required in some | Goal tokens required in all
levels | levels
Variable time limit | Fixed time limit (3:00 or 1:00)
No Destruction Zone levels | 10 Destruction Zone levels
Less time bonus and cool bonus | More time bonus and cool bonus
-------------------------------|---------------------------------
About 45 equipment items, some | 49 equipment items, some unique
unique |
Randomized equipment in shops | Equipment becomes available
| progressively
2 chassis (= lives) | 4 chassis (= lives)
Illegal info long and detailed | Illegal info short and mediocre
-------------------------------|---------------------------------
32 color graphics | 256 color graphics
No intro sequence | Short rendered intro sequence
Digitized pics in shop screens | Drawings in shop screen
The PC port improves on the Amiga original in many ways, most notably in level design, fairness, equipment progression, enemy variety and graphics. It can thus be considered the better version, even though it is a lot more bug-ridden than the Amiga game. The game is slightly easier on the PC, mainly because it is less unfair there.
This entry was contributed by
-Chris (7376)
