Archipelagos (video game)
| Industry | Video game development |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
| Products | Archipelagos |
Archipelagos is a first-person action-strategy video game created by Astral Software and released in 1989 by Logotron for the Amiga, Atari ST, and MS-DOS platforms.
Plot
The storyline unfolds across numerous islands fashioned by the Ancients. Following a revolt led by the Visitors—another race brought into existence—the Ancients were overthrown, resulting in environmental contamination. The player's mission involves purifying and reclaiming these tainted islands from corruption.
Gameplay
Players experience the game from a first-person 3D perspective, assuming control of a disembodied consciousness that explores procedurally generated island terrains. Each stage includes stone obelisks and oval-shaped boulders scattered among threats such as animated trees and hostile creatures. The core task is to eliminate all boulders, which initiates a 90-second timer to locate and destroy the obelisk. Areas affected by pollution inflict damage, and adversaries grow more aggressive once boulders are cleared. The title features an extensive set of 9,999 procedurally generated levels.
Reception
Upon its launch, Archipelagos received favorable critiques. The Atari ST edition earned ratings of 92%, 84%, and 9/10 from The One, ST/Amiga Format, and Atari ST User, respectively. The Amiga version was awarded 79% by CU Amiga and 90% in Zzap!64. Reviewers commended its sophisticated 3D visuals, immersive atmosphere, and innovative gameplay.
Computer Gaming World praised the game's impressive graphics and creative mechanics, endorsing it as a unique import title. Compute! characterized it as "unusual and addictive," appealing especially to enthusiasts of challenging puzzle-solving with high-quality animation. STart highlighted its originality and haunting environment, recommending it to puzzle fans seeking unconventional experiences. In 1991, Dragon magazine rated it 4 out of 5 stars.
Reviews
- Jeux & Stratégie issue #60
Legacy
A Windows remake named Archipelagos 2000, developed by Anthill Studios, was launched in 1999.