Autoduel
| Company type | Video game |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | 1985 |
| Founder | Chuck Bueche |
| Products | Autoduel (video game) |
| Parent | Origin Systems |
Autoduel is a role-playing video game released by Origin Systems in 1985, initially available on platforms such as Atari 8-bit computers, Commodore 64, Apple II, and IBM PC compatible systems. Subsequent editions appeared on Atari ST in 1987, followed by versions for Amiga and Macintosh in 1988. The game draws its inspiration from the Car Wars series created by Steve Jackson Games.
Set in a bleak vision of the United States during the year 2030, Autoduel revolves around heavily armed vehicles navigating perilous highways controlled by gangs and vigilante groups.
Gameplay
Players begin by distributing 50 skill points among driving, shooting, and mechanical abilities to develop their character. Starting out in New York City without any vehicle, participants engage in "amateur night" events to earn funds necessary for acquiring and outfitting their own car. Once equipped with a vehicle, players embark on courier assignments along the Atlantic coast, traveling through cities such as Syracuse, Boston, Manchester (home to Origin Systems), and Atlantic City. Additionally, they can compete in arena battles to supplement their income. The gameplay is non-linear but includes a narrative thread involving critical courier missions, like delivering incriminating evidence against the criminal known as "Mr. Big" across dangerous routes.
A significant gameplay element is the extensive vehicle customization system, which permits players to modify their cars with different engines, an array of weapons including guns and rockets, various ammunition types, and defensive tools such as mine-layers, smokescreens, and oil slicks. Multiple chassis options are available for outfitting.
The game presents a top-down viewpoint with two distinct modes: one featuring scrolling highway driving and arena combat that tests driving proficiency, and another with static city screens dedicated to shopping and character interactions.
Reception
In 1986, Computer Gaming World lauded Autoduel for its streamlined design and impressive graphics but pointed out its challenging difficulty level and steep learning curve. The review advised players to circumvent the game's permanent death mechanic and expensive clone replacements by duplicating the character disk to preserve progress. Later evaluations in 1992 and 1994 assigned the game a two-star rating out of five, criticizing its outdated visuals and gameplay mechanics.
The magazine Compute! praised Autoduel for combining role-playing, arcade action, and strategic elements into what it described as "more than a game—a complete system of play," awarding it an "excellent" rating and strong recommendation. Reviewers Hartley and Pattie Lesser in Dragon issue #120 (1987) remarked on the game's unique blend of Road Warrior-style vehicular combat with fantasy role-playing reminiscent of the Ultima franchise.
Steve Fuelleman’s critique in Space Gamer/Fantasy Gamer No. 78 recognized the game's solid concept but expressed disappointment over technical shortcomings, inferior graphics quality, and an unfriendly user interface that detracted from overall enjoyment.
Chuck Bueche, the founder involved with the title, noted that Autoduel was his sole commercial success.
Reviews
- Casus Belli #37 (April 1987)
- Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine v11 n10 (October 1987)
Legacy
In 2018, Steve Jackson made a public appeal for the Autoduel source code, expressing a desire to re-release Autoduel largely in its original form but adapted for contemporary platforms.
See also
External links
- Autoduel featured in Commodore 64 boxed collections
- Articles with short description
- 1985 video games
- Amiga games
- Apple II games
- Atari 8-bit computer games
- Atari ST games
- Car Wars
- Commodore 64 games
- DOS games
- Classic Mac OS games
- Origin Systems games
- Role-playing video games
- Vehicular combat games
- Video games based on board games
- Video games developed in the United States
- Video games set in the United States
- Single-player video games
- Video games set in 2030