Code-Name: Iceman

aka: Code Name: Iceman, Code-Name: Iceman - a 3-D Animated Adventure Game, Codename: Iceman
Moby ID: 436
DOS Specs
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Description official description

In the beginning of the 21st century, Earth is experiencing a global oil shortage. Surprisingly, Tunisia remains one of the few countries still in possession of large quantities of high-quality oil. USA and Soviet governments race each other in their attempts to purchase as much oil as possible. Finally, the Soviets take a step further and kidnap the US ambassador, hoping to provoke an international incident. Naval Officer Johnny Westland is sent to Tunisia with the order of rescuing the ambassador and preventing further escalation of the conflict.

Code-Name: Iceman is primarily an adventure game similar to Sierra's other works in that genre. The player navigates the protagonist in eight different directions from third-person view, and types text commands to interact with the environment. The command "Look" may be typed separately and lead to different text descriptions depending on where on screen the protagonist is positioned. The game is similar to Police Quest series in that it relies on realistic procedures, in this case military instructions, first aid, etc. The player may reach dead ends and resort to restoring an earlier save if some of these procedures are not followed properly. In addition, a considerable portion of the game consists of submarine simulation, requiring the player to navigate a submarine and fight enemy craft.

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Credits (DOS version)

25 People (24 developers, 1 thanks) · View all

Reviews

Critics

Average score: 66% (based on 20 ratings)

Players

Average score: 3.3 out of 5 (based on 61 ratings with 9 reviews)

Great promise, good begining, and terrible everything else

The Good
Well as the summary hints at this game started out great. When this game came out my brother was a 30 year old Army officer (and gamer) that had this new exciting game. However he could never beat it. So I the younger brother (15) gave it a shot. I loved the opening and though that the sound was good. I liked the grapics and the gameplay. But the best part of this game had to be the plot. It had so much potiental I could hardly wait to find out what happend next.

The Bad
.... And then I got to the sub part of the game. On the way to the sub I had a hard time and resorted to my usual tatic when I cant figure out something... I cheated. I bought the hint book and after much effort got in the sub. But once in the sub not even the hint book could save me. I very very rarely not finish a game. For me it is more important to finish than to stay true to the gaming experience. But in this game I could never ever get that sub working. To this day this game sits on my hard drive. (Now 3 computers later) I dont remember all the problems it had but I do remember the game getting worse and worse as it went on.

The Bottom Line
First of all no offence to the first reviewer but I wonder if they have the right game. I can not immagine it only took 2 hours to beat this game. I cant say that I would recommend this game but for the die-hards and can-do gamers here is a good challenge.

DOS · by William Shawn McDonie (1131) · 2000

A brave, innovative Sierra adventure that ultimately doesn't accomplish much.

The Good
Designed by Jim Walls as a potential spinoff of his Police Quest series, Iceman was way ahead of its time in terms of plot. The game had you take on the role of a Bond-esque military guy on a quest to stop some nasty political business (in the middle east, if I recall correctly). I remember being delighted (at age 12) when I managed to get the girl in bed for the first time (score!).

The Bad
Then again, it is INSANELY difficult and far too obtuse for its own good. Walls' philosophy with the Police Quest games he designed was to simulate actual police protocol, and to a large extent he succeeded (although I never liked the Police Quest games). Cops are "real world" enough that the average, literate person can reasonably be expected to slip into the shoes of a police officer after the minimal instruction booklet briefing. But a super secret military agent guy? Last I checked, not too many of those guys and gals were around, and as such, I had a hard time getting anywhere in this game. How am I supposed to know how to plot waypoints on a nuclear submarine's navigation computer? Yet this is just one of numerous onerous tasks that Iceman thrusts upon you, the gamer. Good luck. This became one of many Sierra adventures for which I had to buy a hintbook (a cottage industry which Sierra started and has since blossomed into a major arm of several publishers).

The Bottom Line
Interesting plot, damn hard adventure gaming, and piloting a submarine. Don't hit the icebergs!

DOS · by Lucas Schippers (57) · 2001

Police Quest meets Military Quest? Pretty fun game, somewhat of a let down.

The Good
This game was sort of a change of pace from the usual police quest's in that all of the sudden you graduated from the Police force to military intelligence. Changes of pace are often a very good thing but don't always live up to its predecessors. The main thing I liked about this game was that it wasn't a Police Quest or any other kind of quest. It was a new kind of character in a new kind of scenario and sometimes thats all that is required in a game to be deserved to be checked out and given a try. Graphics and Sound were pretty good for the day too...

The Bad
The storyline just wasn't that interesting to me. I thought it was kind of blah... but that is just personal thing. One thing I thought was ridiculous was the little arcade kind of sequences you must to do move on through the game like playing boss dice or controlling that submarine. I felt like throwing the game away when I had to stop, refer to the manual (as sierra always does as copy protection) and learn how to play boss-dice before I could get on with the real game. Just one more annoyance from Sierra because of copy-protection. Copy-protection is fine! But just don't let it interfere with game play for example... King's Quest 3 and its spells. This is probably one of the only sierra adventure games I did not finish due to the fact that it was just kinda boring to me.

The Bottom Line
A decent breath of fresh air for classic Sierra adventure games... not all that exciting and probably will leave you bored after awhile. None the less, still worth a try from the creator of the amazing Police Quest series. Definitely worth a try!

DOS · by OlSkool_Gamer (88) · 2004

[ View all 9 player reviews ]

Trivia

Cancelled sequel

A sequel was mentioned as forthcoming in Sierra's news magazine, but it was never released.

Comic

There was a comic based on the game published in Sierra's magazine. A page of it can be seen at SierraPlanet.

Information also contributed by Giygas 8

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Contributors to this Entry

Game added by Eurythmic.

Amiga added by POMAH. Windows added by Cavalary. Atari ST added by tbuteler.

Additional contributors: MAT, Jeanne, jean-louis, Martin Smith, formercontrib, Patrick Bregger.

Game added November 15, 1999. Last modified August 21, 2023.