Another World (video game)

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{{Infobox CVG |title = Another World |image = Image:Another World 1.PNG |developer = Delphine Software International |publisher = U.S. Gold/Interplay |distributor = |designer = Eric Chahi |engine = |version = |released = 1991 |genre = Action game |modes = Single player |ratings = |platforms = Amiga, Atari ST, Apple IIGS, Apple Macintosh, 3DO, Windows, DOS, IBM PC, Sega Genesis, SNES, Sega CD, Gameboy Advance |media = |requirements = |input = }} Another World (published in the USA as Out of this World) is an action-adventure video game, developed by Delphine Software International, released in 1991. Though not as famous as some other games, it was groundbreaking, achieving cult status, and introducing a new, somewhat cinematic style and feeling for computer games. The game was first developed for Amiga, Atari ST and PC, and later converted for many other formats.

Contents

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Storyline

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

The protagonist of the game is Lester Knight Chaykin; a young, brilliant, athletic, red haired physicist. Chaykin is transported to a barren alien planet after lightning strikes his particle accelerator during a unique experiment in his high-tech underground laboratory.

After evading some dangerous encounters, Lester is enslaved by a local race of primitive humanoid extraterrestrials and taken to a subterranean mine/prison system (although seemingly primitive, the aliens have in their possession some amazing technology; such as laser guns and anti-gravity devices, however this may have been stolen from a previous civilization).

Lester befriends a fellow alien slave, with whom he communicates via hand gestures and facial expressions (fans often refer to the alien friend as Buddy). Subsequently escaping, and separated from his new companion, Lester must continue to evade capture whilst travelling through dangerous environments, battling wild extraterrestrial creatures and solving puzzles to survive natural hazards. Your last hope may be your fellow alien friend with whom you have no method of communication, and who you will have to locate.

The ending is legendary for being ambiguous. Lester is severely wounded by an alien guard but manages to help his buddy before expiring. The Buddy then carries Lester and manages to mount a pterodactyl and escape. According to Chahi, this ending was the best he could give since there is no way for Lester to return to Earth; whether Lester finally dies by his wounds or survives and lives with Buddy, is left as a possibility for the player's perception. Lester's fate is revealed in the 'sequel' (see below) but since Chahi had no relation to it, it is considered non-canon.

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What makes the game unique

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Mood

The game's graphics, sound, surprising cutscenes and in-game events all come together to create a very rich and special atmosphere. Small background animations give the feeling of a real, living world. For example, in the jungle at the beginning of the game, birds fly in the distance, vines sway in the wind and a lion-like creature lurks in the background, silently stalking the player. At any given moment the player can expect a sudden death (usually with a short close-up cut-scene). This is not typically recommended in game design, but in Another World this is used to great effect. Fortunately, the player is provided with an unlimited number of chances to continue from the beginning of the current section of the game upon dying.

The characters communicate through their facial features, gestures and actions. At times the alien guards and prisoners will aurally communicate in their own language, though not all versions of the game support this feature. The game successfully conveys the casual brutality and inhuman cruelty of the alien guards; the fear of the defenseless alien prisoners who are threatened by both the guards and the player; and the feeling of panic and impending doom, and ultimately of liberation, felt by the player and his alien companion as they attempt to escape from their captors.

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Gameplay

The game frequently breaks the limits set by its own game interface. For example, at one point in the game, an alien guard knocks the player down and kicks away his weapon. He then picks the player up by the throat, holding him aloft in the air. The player, having no idea how to handle the situation without the weapon, may instinctively press the fire button, causing Lester to kick the guard in the crotch. Now free, he can run for his gun and pick it up while rolling on the floor. The game often puts the player in an entirely new situation, wherein the player's only way to escape may be button mashing.

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Technical aspects

The game took two years to develop (hence the tagline "It took six days to create the Earth. Another World took two years") beginning in 1989 and completing it in 1991. Unusually, the game was developed by a single person, Eric Chahi. Chahi designed, programmed, and did the artwork for the entire game (sound effects were done by Jean-Francois Freitas).

For the motion capture he needed to make his protagonist's movements seem more natural and fluid, Eric Chahi used his little brother as a model by having him to run and jump about in their garden. He recorded it and used the energetic movements for rotoscoping. As a result, the protagonist's movements are very realistic.

The game is the first to use 2D polygons for all of its graphics. As a result, the game has a distinctive visual style. Furthermore, it was possible for hardware at that time (notably 286s) to display the full-screen animation, which adds to the 'film-feel' of the game. The extensive use of sound and animation made the game feel like the early CD-ROM games becoming available at the time, yet the whole game fit on a single 1.2-megabyte floppy disk.

The idea and technology of using 2D polygons for games was implemented by Chahi six years before Macromedia Flash made it popular. Interestingly, at a distance, the animations appear three dimensional, even though not really being so.

The sound engine was quite advanced for its time too, being capable of producing realistic sounds on the PC speaker, even without a sound card.

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Releases

  • On April 14th 2006, a Windows XP/ME/2000/98 version of Another World, with high-resolution support and more detailed background graphics, was released as a tribute to the original game on the Another World website. The port is shareware; to unlock the full version, a special key must be bought from here for €7.
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Sequels

It is a common misconception that Another World spawned a number of sequels. Eric Chahi has previously stated that he wishes the game to have no sequel as he wants the ending to the original to remain ambiguous so that fans could make their own conclusion to the franchise.

Another World spawned a interquel or midquel in 1994, entitled Heart of the Alien, which was only released for the Sega Mega-CD. The game which was very similar in visual style, but much less successful than Another World. The player takes control of the alien who befriends the protagonist in the original game; the backstory to the game is more elaborated on; however the storyline mostly runs simultaneous to the original and is therefore mainly a side story to the original. It is commonly mistaken for a prequel/sequel as it briefly shows earlier events in the alien world, and also shows Lester's (presumed) fate.

Heart of the Alien was not canon. Eric Chahi had nothing to do with the development of this game and stated that he did not like it because it made a definite conclusion to the story, and Chahi had deliberately left the original open-ended. See Chahi's interview here

The 1992 game Flashback, or the 1995 game Fade to Black (both also from Delphine), were often mistaken for sequels because of similar gameplay and graphics. However these games have nothing to do with Another World, except said similarity in graphics or gameplay, and had completely different stories.

Eric Chahi returned to the concept after leaving Delphine. In 1998 he and his new company Amazing Studio made Heart of Darkness, which is in many ways very similar in spirit to Another World, although it too has a different storyline.

Eric Chahi disappeared from the game industry for some years, but may have recently regained interest in making games. He attended the Game Developer's Conference in 2005 (see here), perhaps indicative of his renewed interest. Despite criticizing the games industry for no longer supporting much creativity, Eric Chahi says he is "still very excited" to start working on an entirely new game.

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Trivia

  • The game was released in the United States under the title Out of this World to avoid confusion with the popular, and totally unrelated, soap opera called Another World. Another World, however, is the game's original title. Ironically, a science fiction sitcom called Out of This World aired at the same time of the game's US release.
  • The game was conceived, written, programmed, drawn, and rendered by one individual - Eric Chahi. Chahi was meticulous with detail, and even drew the artwork on the game's box.
  • The game is often credited as having sparked off the survival horror genre in video games, seeing as Lester has to face off inhuman opponents and attempt not only to escape, but just to survive.
  • There is a cutscene in the second area which many people miss, because it is not required to see it to finish the game: In the prison, when you and your alien companion reach the elevator, take the elevator up instead of down. You'll arrive at a room; look out the window by walking to the right.
  • It has also been released as freeware for play on the GP32 on May 31, 2005 and the Dreamcast on December 31, 2005, via a game engine recreation by Gregory Montoir (cyx) entitled raw (Rewritten engine for Another World)
  • The (1997) Amiga game OnEscapee, while not directly connected to either Another World or Flashback, features practically identical gameplay and graphics but with an independent story. OnEscapee won "Game of the year 1997 - Amiga Flame", "Game of the year 1997 - Amiga Max" and "1997 CU Superstar - CU Amiga". Template:Fact
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External links

de:Another World fr:Another World it:Another world ja:アウターワールド pl:Another World (gra komputerowa) sv:Another World

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