David Prahl
11-04-2003, 07:40 PM
PDAMill has just officially released Anthelion 1.0, the first <i>true</i> three-dimensional space shooter. This is new ground for Pocket PCs. "Interstellar Flames", which <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/articles.php?action=expand,13339">we reviewed in June</a>, is similar but lacks the features and graphics that Anthelion has. So is Anthelion the 3D space adventure game we've been waiting for? Read on to hear about how this landmark game performs!<br /><br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/prahl_a_frontpage.jpg" /> <br /><!> <br /><i>Interstellar Flames was pretty cool, but users could only go forward or backward. It was the first step towards full three-dimensional gaming, something that Anthelion 1.0 tries to accomplish. The graphics, music, and sound effects of this new PDAMill game push the Pocket PC to its limits. Is this asking too much of the device, or can it handle it? Does Anthelion really work?</i><br /><br /><b><span>Getting Ready for Battle</span></b><br />Like most games, Anthelion has a main menu that lets you start a game, change the controls and settings, and get some help. If you're like me and like to press down on the directional pad to go up, be sure to go into the "Controls" section and "reverse controls" before starting a game. After that users can tap "Start" and create a pilot.<br /><br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/prahl_a_menu.jpg" /> <br /><i>Figure 1: The Main Menu</i><br /><br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/prahl_a_pilot.jpg" /> <br /><i>Figure 2: Creating a pilot (after this screen shot I switched it to "Easy") :lol: </i><br /><br />After creating or selecting a pilot, the user enters the E-Mail Console and Mission Module. Messages from characters in the game appear as e-mail messages (even in the year 3047!). Before and after each mission you'll receive valuable information in these messages, and I strongly suggest reading them all. You can't send mail, by the way, only receive it. It takes a while to get used to all the pirate speak, lad, but ya git yer sea legs after a few missions.<br /><br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/prahl_a_email.jpg" /> <br /><i>Figure 3: The E-Mail console is where you get information about past and future missions</i><br /><br />The Info screen offers pilot statistics and basic information. Since you don't gain "points" in Anthelion, this is what you'll use to brag to your Pocket PC friends. <br /><br />The Mission Module, which is tucked in with the E-Mail and Information screens, gives you a quick summary of the missions. In the E-Mail Console missions are assigned a number, but here they get a nickname. I found this to be a little annoying, but never got lost or anything. Unread E-Mail messages and unfinished missions are in white text, while those read or completed are in drab green. Select a mission and hit "Start" to move on.<br /><br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/prahl_a_missions.jpg" /> <br /><i>Figure 4: The Mission Module offers a quick summary of vital mission information.</i><br /><br /><b><span>Can't Get Very Far Without a Ship</span></b><br />Players start with only one ship, the Sloop. It may sound like a viscous blob, but it gets you where you need to go until a better ship can be designed (or captured). Each ship is rated as a fighter or bomber, and stats on speed, size, and maneuverability are given. <br /><br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/prahl_a_ships.jpg" /> <br /><i>Figure 5: Selecting just the right ship is pivotal in those life-or-death missions. Choose wisely!</i><br /><br />After selecting a craft, you need to arm it with the necessary weapons. Tap the "Arm" button on the bottom right to pop up an option pane. Most ships have three or four weapons bays, and players need to have something in each one. Every ship always has two or four main guns besides these bays, but the rate of fire varies by the model. In some missions you'll need to equip an EMP (Electro magnetic Pulse) Cannon, which allows you to completely disable a ship. You'll have to find out about the more advanced weapons on your own, but the basic idea is that you can hold a lot of little bombs or a few big bombs. And of course the bombers hold more of everything. When you feel you have the right combination of weapons, press "Launch" to leave the docking bay.<br /><br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/prahl_a_arm.jpg" /> <br /><i>Figure 6: Lock n' Load! Be sure you have the right weapons for the mission.</i><br /><PAGEBREAK> <br /><b><span>Combat</span></b><br />The first mission involves no shooting or evading, and lets you get a feel for the ship and its controls. But that's boring, so I'll skip ahead to the fun parts! It's during the next two or three missions that players can experience a full three-dimensional dogfight or bombing mission in space.<br /><br />In my opinion, the control panels and information displays are very intuitive and help conserve precious screen space. When you only have three to four inches of screen, you need every pixel! The radar screen, which is located at the top of the control panel, gives you the location of ally and enemy ships. Fellow Pirates appear in green, enemies in red, and tentative allies in orange (until someone shoots). The center of the radar oval represents targets directly in front of or behind you. Ships in front of players will be bright colors, while those behind turn a dull green, red, or orange. <br /><br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/prahl_a_action.jpg" /> <br /><i>Figure 7: This enemy ship has been targeted, and I'm about to blow it up.</i><br /><br />Players can target an object by placing the cross hairs on it and pressing in on the directional pad. Once targeted, the craft's statistics and image will appear in the center of your control panel, and it will have a white mark on it on your radar display. The distance to that object is given in kilometers or meters directly beneath. Most weapons work best within 2.5 kilometers, but some work well out to 4.0 km.<br /><br />On the left side of the control panel is weapons information. Players can rotate through the four different weapons bays, and press another button to fire that weapon. The number of remaining missiles is also displayed (EMP Cannons and main guns have infinite ammunition). Holding down on the fire button will make the guns or missiles continue to fire.<br /><br />On the right side is speed and shield information. Ships can come to a dead stop, which is helpful if you're waiting for the bad guys to appear. Shields are slowly weakened by enemy fire, and eventually parts of your ship will turn red on this display as they are damaged. Shields will fully regenerate after thirty seconds, but damage to your ship cannot be repaired until you return to base.<br /><br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/prahl_a_damage.jpg" /> <br /><i>Figure 8: Arrggh! I've been damaged by a ship 598 meters behind and above me. Looks like Natasha has been hit, too.</i><br /><br />During game play a clock keeps track of how long you've been playing. Some missions take three minutes, others take fifteen. To the left of the clock is a space used for the "Jump", "Retreat", and "Home" buttons. "Jumping" is traveling at the speed of light through space ("warp" to Trekkies). In a normal mission you're required to jump from Emerald Cove, the Pirate base, to the battlefield. Once the dirty work is done, you tap "Jump" to get back to base and "Home" to dock.<br /><br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/prahl_a_jump.jpg" /> <br /><i>Figure 9: "Engage!" I mean..."Jump!" </i><br /><br /><b><span>Graphics, Music and Sound</span></b><br />Without a doubt, the most ambitious part of this game is the graphics engine. So how good is it? <i>Very good!</i> Objects move smoothly and normally, and the frame rate only slows down during the largest explosions or battles that involve twenty to fifty ships. Turning off the high resolution graphics does speed up the game, but it's still <b>very</b> playable with engine trails and hi-res models. <br /><br />The background music borders on a copyright infringement with Star Wars - which means it's good! :lol: Sound effects are well timed and sound authentic (even though space is a vacuum).<br /><br /><b><span>Gotchas</span></b><br />I played Anthelion for several hours (:oops:), flew all of the missions, and did not find any serious flaws. Like they say in computer science classes: a well-programmed application with thorough testing has very few flaws.<br /><br />It would've been nice to have the choice of two or three views during combat. Even though the cockpit view is very effective, I usually prefer a "close behind" camera angle. Multiplayer networked games would also be a plus, but this game is still very new - baby steps.<br /><br /><b><span>Where To Buy</span></b><br />Anthelion is <a href="http://www.handango.com/brainstore/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=311&productId=90951">available from Handango for $19.95</a>. [Affiliate] There's a free trial available.<br /><br /><b><span>Requirements</span></b><br />Anthelion is a hungry game when it comes to free RAM - you'll need at least 8MB of free system RAM allocated to programs to run it. The actual download itself, however, is closer to 4.3 MB.<br /><br /><b><span>Conclusions</span></b><br />So does Anthelion really work? Yes it does! Anthelion 1.0 has the honor of being the first fully three-dimensional space shooter game available for the Pocket PC operating system. The graphics look fantastic but yet don't bog down the frame rate, the sound track is excellent, and controlling the ships is simple. This is a revolutionary game, but it lacks the bugs most games would experience. PDAMill has produced another excellent game, and I strongly recommend you download the demo and consider purchasing it.