Carnage Heart

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Carnage Heart
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General Information

• Publisher SCEA (Sony Computer Entertainment of
  America)
• Developer Artdink
• Game Type Strategy
• Release Date January 31, 1997
• Original Japanese Release December 8, 1995
• ESRB Rating K-A (Kids to Adults equivalent to
  todays E rating)

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Hardware

• Standard Hardware
• Playstation
• 1 Controller
• Memory Card with 5 blocks.

• Demonstration
• (On PC)
• Recommended high end PC
• Using P4 3.2 Ghz, Geforce 5200
• ePSXe v1.6 Emulation software
• Pete's OpenGL 1.76 GPU

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What is it?

• Turn-based strategy
• Research and purchase weapons and hardware
• Design your OKEs (Overkill Engines Robots)
• Build OKEs and group them into units
• Defend and capture bases

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So why is this game so special?

• You don't just build your army, you program them.
• Code poorly... watch as your opponent chews up
  your defensive lines.
• (Or you might, if you didn't check for friendlies
  in your forward firing arc)

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Oh did we forget to tell you?

• Manual/Box Excerpt By 2073, war has evolved. The
  battle for domination is now a game fought on the
  moons of Jupiter by warrior mechs armed with
  deadly firepower. You control an army of cyber
  gladiators. More importantly, you design them,
  deal for parts, set up assembly lines and devise
  battle plans. When the game begins, whoever has
  created the most diabolical strategies and
  deadliest mechs wins!
• What programming?
• Frequently shows up on Most overlooked/underrate
  d games lists
• Game ratings are all over the board, as many
  players expected a fast paced action game
• Good game design, bad marketing

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Game Modes

• Single Player Campaign
• 4 Campaigns of increasing difficulty
• Each has more levels, a more ruthless opponent,
  and less funding than the last.
• Versus Mode
• Load saved games from campaigns and place your
  OKE designs in tournaments.

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Gameplay Interface

• All control is through menus
• Player does not control combat
• Command your units and See what happens

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Research and Purchase Parts(Negotiate)
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Design
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Command your Units (Tactics)
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Destroy the Enemy
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Destroy the Enemy

• During testing of new designs, a representation
  of the CPU is shown and current execution is
  highlighted
• Temperature, fuel, armor remaining, ammo
  remaining... all data on the screen should be
  considered in your software for an efficient OKE
• For example A highly defensive OKE could run out
  of fuel before it destroys the enemy
• Only control of battle is with a debug mode cheat

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Gameplay - Continued

• If either side is destroyed in the battle, the
  winner moves to the contested space on the map
• Game continues until all bases on the map are
  captured

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Artwork / Graphics

• Drab colors
• Low resolution textures
• Low detail models
• Even at the time of its release, the graphics
  were sub-par.

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Sound and Music

• Limited music
• Five synthesized, somewhat repetitive music
  tracks for the menus.
• One CD audio for battle, but its barely music.
• Unusual contrast of music If you've played
  other Artdink games you should expect this.

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Special Features

• Huge number of hardware designs
• 4 OKE types, each with advantages and
  disadvantages
• 2 Leg (Maneuverable, weak)
• 4 Leg (Slower than 2 leg, but heavier armor and
  weapons)
• Tank (lots of armor, massive firepower, but cant
  dodge)
• Flying (fast, weakest armor, flies)
• 3 Body designs for each
• 3 types of main weapons (cannon, laser, shotgun)
• 3 types of secondary weapons (missiles, rocket,
  mine)
• Dozens of muntions
• Several special parts and armor types
• Unlimited software/AI designs

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Manual

• 30 page instruction book
• 60 page 'strategy guide' primarily how to
  program
• Second CD is a half hour video tutorial
• Manual and tutorial are very tedious, but
  complete.

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Bugs

• Occasional inexplicable loss of funding
• Even when you're winning
• Uncommon
• Can happen to the computer too
• May just be a design flaw, means random chance of
  loss
• Otherwise no obvious bugs / glitches

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What is good?

• Truly unique gameplay
• Customizable Units
• Versus mode for 2 player competition extends
  replay time

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Bad!

• Drab graphics
• Campaign levels may end prematurely, due to
  inexplicable funding loss
• No true two player campaign / strategy mode
• No Sandbox mode very difficult to get chance
  to design with all parts or bodies

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Why is it better than other games?

• Strategy mode is simple yet enjoyable
• Designing units
• Programming!
• Similar games are rare and usually are simplistic
  toy games. The ability to program something in
  an already functional game is rare if not unique.

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Design Mistakes

• Marketing and Packaging do not match gameplay
• Unexplained loss of funding (maybe a bug it is
  uncommon)

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Overall

• Strengths
• Unique Gameplay
• Functional yet simple strategy game its more
  about the designing
• Weaknesses
• Unique Gameplay
• How many people will play a game that requires
  programming?
• May be why marketing left out that aspect of play
• Japan has had three re-releases (better
  marketing?)

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Overall

• Is it worth purchasing?
• Yes, provided you like programming
• Can be difficult to find original materials
• Game is uncommon

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Improvements?

• Graphics at least make it less drab
• Multiplayer strategy mode
• Randomized Campaigns?