Captain Blood (1988 video game)
| Company type | Video game |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | 1988 |
| Founder | Didier Bouchon, Philippe Ulrich |
| Headquarters | France |
| Products | Captain Blood (video game) |
Captain Blood (known in France as L'Arche du Captain Blood) is a French-developed video game created by ERE Informatique under the Exxos brand and published by Infogrames in 1988. The title was subsequently reissued in the United Kingdom by Players Premier Software.
Originally released for the Atari ST, the game was later adapted for multiple platforms, including Commodore 64, Macintosh, Amiga, Apple IIGS, IBM PC, ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, and both the Thomson TO8 and Thomson MO6. Notably, the Atari ST edition contains the full range of alien language audio effects.
The soundtrack features a simplified rendition of "Ethnicolor," composed by the acclaimed musician Jean-Michel Jarre.
Plot
The storyline follows Bob Morlock, a video game designer from the 1980s who adopts the alias "Captain Blood." He becomes trapped within his own space-themed game after a hyperspace accident results in him being cloned thirty times, with each clone siphoning away his life essence. Over a span exceeding eight centuries, he has eliminated twenty-five of these clones. The narrative commences as he pursues the last five clones, whose destruction is essential to reclaiming his humanity.
Gameplay
Players are tasked with identifying and annihilating five clones of Captain Blood by engaging in communication with various alien species. Interaction occurs through an icon-driven language system called UPCOM, which comprises approximately 150 conceptual symbols. Each alien civilization possesses its distinct language and manner of response, requiring players to modify their negotiation approaches accordingly.
As the game advances, the protagonist’s health deteriorates, manifested through increased instability of the mouse cursor, thereby intensifying difficulty. Successfully disintegrating clones temporarily restores cursor control stability.
The experience begins aboard the bridge of a living spacecraft named Ark, positioned near one of four planets inhabited by alien lifeforms. Players deploy a biological probe known as OORXX to traverse fractal-generated terrains and initiate conversations with aliens via UPCOM, collecting data such as coordinates for other inhabited worlds.
The Ark is equipped with capabilities including hyperspace jumps, planetary defense scanning, planet destruction, and teleportation of cooperative aliens to a location called the Fridgitorium for either disintegration or relocation.
Development
The creation of Captain Blood was led by Didier Bouchon and Philippe Ulrich, both contributing to design and narrative development. Bouchon took charge of graphics and programming specifically for the Atari ST version. Initially involved in designing covers for ERE informatique’s Gazoline Software label, Bouchon acquired assembly programming skills for the Atari ST after Ulrich provided him with an assembler tool. He then developed fractal-based real-time graphics that inspired their science fiction game concept.
Following the acquisition of ERE by Infogrames in mid-1987—partly influenced by early versions of Captain Blood—Ulrich and Bouchon secluded themselves in the Landes forest to finalize the project in time for Christmas release. Subsequent versions for 16-bit and 8-bit systems were largely direct conversions from the original Atari ST edition in terms of visuals, audio, and music.
Reception
Computer Gaming World lauded the title for its innovative concept, execution quality, and graphical presentation. In Compute!, Orson Scott Card praised its EGA graphics and science fiction narrative but noted shortcomings in its interface design and cryptic gameplay elements. Info magazine awarded it a perfect score of 5 out of 5 stars, emphasizing its immersive setting alongside superior graphics and sound design.
Worldwide sales of Captain Blood exceeded 100,000 units.
Reviews
- Casus Belli issue 46 (August 1988)
- Jeux & Stratégie issue 50 (titled "L'Arche du Capitaine Blood")
Legacy
The game Captain Blood was followed by its sequel, Commander Blood, released in 1994, and subsequently by Big Bug Bang in 1997, a title that was distributed solely within France.