From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Obsidian (1986 video game)
Obsidian (1986 video game)
Obsidian school pupil at the time. Due to concentrating on Obsid-
ian’s development rather than revising he failed all of
his exams. The game received a postitive response from
journalists, it was praised for the quality of its graph-
ics, reviewers held mixed views on the game’s ability
to maintain player interest. The jet pack was criticized
for being too sensitive when responding to the player’s
movement inputs.
Gameplay
Obsidian is an action-adventure presented in two dimen-
sions, spread across approximately 50 game screens.[1]
Locations contrast between spaceship interior and rock
surfaces. Players control a jet pack wearing astronaut
who must deactivate the five engines of the titular
spacestation Obsidian, which is located in the hollow cen-
tre carved out of an asteroid.[2] Objects are stored in
gravity boxes on the station’s ceilings, only one object
can be held at a time. These are used to solve the game’s
puzzles and allow the player to continue further into the
game.[3][4] Each object’s purpose must be discovered as
they are not labelled.[1]
The game world is filled with traps, laser defence
Artic Computing magazine advert with Obsidian’s artwork
mechanisms and security robots, all of which kill the as-
as the main image
tronaut on contact, resulting in the loss of one of his
Developer(s) Tony Warriner five lives. These defences must be shut down with objects
Publisher(s) Artic Computing obtained from gravity boxes in order to progress,[1] as
the player has no weapon to directly attack the robots
Platform(s) Amstrad CPC with.[4] The jet pack enables the astronaut to travel more
Release date(s) • EU 1986 quickly, but has a limited supply of nitro fuel. Should this
fuel run out then the astronaut will lose a life. The space-
Genre(s) Action-adventure ship contains points at which the jet pack can be refu-
Mode(s) Single-player elled, though these can be difficult to locate.[3][4]
Rating(s)
Media distribution
Media/distribution Cassette
Plot
The crew of the Obsidian have temporarily abandoned
Obsidian is an action-adventure computer game for the the vessel in order to allow it to pass through a black
Amstrad CPC personal computer published by Artic Com- hole. The Obsidian’s internal systems are capable of with-
puting in 1986. The game is set on the titular space sta- standing the black hole, but the station cannot shield
tion located within the centre of an asteroid, which is out its human inhabitants from the gravitational forces. The
of control and drifting towards a black hole. The play- crew have taken refuge in a smaller craft which has been
er must guide an astronaut with a jet pack around the shielded, intending to return to the Obsidian when both
station and re-activate its engine shields to prevent the vessels have passed through the black hole.[4] A radiation
Obsidian’s destruction. This involves collecting items and storm has damaged the Obsidian’s engine protection sys-
using them to solve puzzles, while avoiding the Obsidi- tems and erased its flight path, leaving the station drift-
an’s reactivated security systems. ing towards the black hole where it will be destroyed. On-
Obsidian is the first game that was developed by Revo- ly one member of the crew has the skills necessary to re-
lution Software co-founder Tony Warriner, who was a turn to the Obsidian and prepare it to pass through the
1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Obsidian (1986 video game)
black hole, this is the game’s player character. The astro- "The trouble was that it became all very predictable and
naut is forced to contend with the Obsidian’s re-activat- easy to solve once a few puzzles had been solved."[2] Both
ed security system which has resulted in security robots reviewers stated that the jet pack’s controls are too sen-
being deployed, the space station’s internal doors seal- sitive, making its usage difficult.[2][3]
ing and defensive laser grids becoming active.[2] Once the Computer and Video Games’ reviewer gave the game a
player has restored power, reactivated the Obsidian’s en- score of 7 out of 10 in each of the magazine’s scoring cri-
gines and reset the station’s flight path, there is a limit- teria — graphics, sound, value and playability. The re-
ed time to teleport back to the smaller shielded craft be- viewer stated that the game’s premise is unoriginal, but
fore the Obsidian’s engines carry the astronaut through that the game is enjoyable and makes "...full use of the
the black hole without being shielded.[1] Amstrad’s colour graphics..."[1] The reviewer also stated
"...the smooth movement of objects and characters
Development makes this game a pleasure to watch and play."[1] The
game was reviewed again in Amtix! by Massimo Valducci,
Obsidian is the first game developed by Tony Warriner, several months later when Obsidian was re-released on
one of three founders of the adventure game developer the budget label Americana. Valducci stated it had been
Revolution Software. Warriner was introduced to home one of his favourite titles when it was originally released,
computers at the age of 13, as a result of which he devel- giving the game a rating of 70% and stating "Everyone
oped an interest in game development. This interest re- should have this game in their software collection."[4] He
sulted in him creating Obsidian when he should have been praised the game for adding a twist to the maze theme by
studying for his school exams, resulting in him failing disallowing the player from fighting back against threats.
every exam. The game was published, however, resulting He added "...a lot of thought and planning is needed to
in the young developer’s entry into the video game in- make your way around the various sections, deactivating
dustry. Revolution Software was formed 4 years later.[5] the security systems as you go."[4]
Reception References
The reviewer for Amtix! magazine awarded the game a [1] ^ "C+VG May Software Reviews – Obsidian".
score of 64%, calling it "...an average, if rather simple, ar- Computer and Video Games (EMAP) (55): 37. May
cade adventure."[2] The same reviewer stated that Obsidi- 1986.
an’s graphics are its most striking feature. The lack of en- [2] ^ "Reviews – Obsidian". Amtix! (Newsfield
emies and objects to manipulate in some screens and low Publications) (5): 14. March 1986.
number of sound effects received were criticized. The re- [3] ^ Wade, Bob (January 1986). "Action Test –
viewer for Amstrad Action, Bob Wade, awarded the game a Obsidian". Amstrad Action (Future Publishing) (4):
score of 81% and a ’A A Rave’ award, praising the game’s 56.
graphics and animations. He listed the game’s robotics [4] ^ Valducci, Massimo (January 1987). "Reviews –
enemies as "annoying as you flick between screens".[3] Budget – Obsidian". Amtix! (Newsfield Publications)
The reviewers differed in opinion on how the game pro- (15): 130.
gressed. Wade stated "...as the playing area opens up it [5] Dickens, Evan (20 September 1999). "Interview:
soon becomes clear that many objects will be required to Tony Warriner". Adventure Gamers.
complete the game and that some hard thinking as well http://www.adventuregamers.com/article/id,242.
as trial and error will be needed." Amtix!’s reviewer stated Retrieved 2010-11-12.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Obsidian_(1986_video_game)&oldid=445095100"
Categories:
• 1986 video games
• Action-adventure games
• Amstrad CPC games
• Europe-exclusive video games
• Science fiction video games
• Video games developed in the United Kingdom
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