Baal (video game)
| Industry | Video game development and publishing |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1984 |
| Headquarters | Liverpool , United Kingdom |
| Products | Video games, including Baal |
Baal is a platform-based shoot 'em up released in 1988 by Psygnosis. Players take on the role of a "Time Warrior" dispatched to hell with the mission of retrieving fragments of "The War Machine," which have been stolen by the demon Baal. The title was adapted for MS-DOS by Tim Ansell from The Creative Assembly.
Plot
Set in 1999, the story begins when archaeologists inadvertently unleash Baal, a demonic force that acquires a potent weapon granting him dominion over humanity. To counter this threat, a futuristic strike team known as the Time Warriors is formed; their objective is to teleport into Baal’s domain, recover the dispersed pieces of the weapon, and prevent human subjugation.
Gameplay
Players guide the Time Warriors through levels featuring multi-directional scrolling, combating various monsters using a laser gun while navigating hazards such as landmines and energy barriers. Advancement hinges on destroying energy generators that maintain these barriers and collecting the weapon fragments scattered throughout. Additionally, players operate a Back Reactor vehicle to facilitate progression.
Vital gameplay elements include power units that upgrade the laser rifle and recharge terminals necessary for maintaining offensive capabilities during the mission.
Development
The game's cover art was crafted by Melvyn Grant, while the logo design was produced by Roger Dean.
Reception
The French publication Tilt commended the game for its impressive production values, maze-like level design, dark satanic theme, and diverse bestiary. Its gameplay drew comparisons to Obliterator, another 1988 action-adventure title from Psygnosis.
Meanwhile, Computer and Video Games emphasized the puzzle-solving aspects involved in disabling energy doors. Reviewer Julian Rignall praised the soundtrack as one of the finest available on the Atari ST, also noting the innovative save system as a positive feature.