Antheads
| Industry | Video game development |
|---|---|
| Founder | David Riordan |
| Products | It Came From the Desert, Antheads (expansion pack) |
Antheads serves as an expansion pack for the 1990 computer title It Came From the Desert, developed and released by Cinemaware.
Plot summary
Taking place in January 1956, five years subsequent to the events of It Came From the Desert, this installment elaborates on the second Ant Queen mentioned in the original game. Players assume the role of Brick Nash, a former soldier turned truck driver who has illicitly acquired an atomic bomb detonator to save his brother Andy—an atomic tester—from fatal radiation effects. Nash’s mission involves uncovering proof of radiation hazards while assisting the local community in combating a renewed ant menace.
In contrast to Dr. Greg Bradley, the first game’s protagonist who was familiar and supported by the inhabitants, Nash arrives as an outsider in Lizard Breath, where he witnesses townsfolk gradually morphing into ants.
Development
David Riordan of Cinemaware detailed that following the original title’s commercial and critical acclaim, Antheads was created as a sequel utilizing the established game world to present a fresh narrative. Programmer Randy Platt suggested integrating this storyline within the existing setting, incorporating features such as villagers transforming into zombie-like entities that aid the ants. This strategy positioned Antheads as a serialized continuation rather than an independent release.
From a technical standpoint, the development team made it possible for players to acquire Antheads as a single-disk enhancement to It Came From the Desert, thereby expanding upon the initial concept and increasing its overall market appeal.
Reception
In Issue 16 of Games International (July 1990), John Scott observed that the game closely resembled its predecessor, commenting: "More varied graphics and a complete new soundtrack would have been nice." Nonetheless, he deemed its affordable price appropriate for an extension chapter, awarding gameplay and visuals a score of 9 out of 10.
Mark Patterson, writing for CU Amiga (May 1990), rated the game at 95%, endorsing it strongly for owners of It Came From the Desert as "One of the best sequels to date."
In The One (June 1990), Gary Whitta gave it a 91% rating, noting that Antheads continues the original’s storyline with additional puzzles and subtle gameplay adjustments. He highlighted that maintaining core mechanics was advantageous since they were already effective.
Phil South from ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment) (June 1990) regarded Antheads as "a superior experience compared to the original," especially praising the sequence depicting ant transformations. He suggested that newcomers might be motivated to purchase both installments.
The Games Machine (June 1990) summarized: "If you enjoyed the first game, this will appeal since it offers more of the same."
The review in Zzap!64 appreciated the narrative and found gameplay differences sufficient to warrant its cost.
Reviews
- ASM (Aktueller Software Markt)
- Datormagazin
- Power Play
- Amiga Joker
- Amiga Action #9 (June 1990)