Impossible Mission 2025
| Industry | Video game development and publishing |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1982 |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Video games, including Impossible Mission 2025 |
Impossible Mission 2025 is a side scrolling platform and action title developed for the Amiga platform, launched by MicroProse in 1994. It serves as a remake of the 1984 classic Impossible Mission and was released in two distinct editions: one tailored for the Amiga 500 and Amiga 600, and another optimized for the AGA-powered Amiga 1200, Amiga 4000, and Amiga CD32. Although versions for the Super NES and Sega Genesis consoles were planned, they never reached the market.
Characters
The game allows players to select from three distinct characters, each possessing unique skills:
- Tasha: Natassia Tambor, who earned her PhD in Applied Cybernetics in 2023 from Moscow Republic University, chose to pursue a career in Augmented Gymnastics—a sport combining human capabilities with mechanical enhancements—instead of continuing in academia.
- RAM 2: This robot belongs to the SORIU series, created by Elvin Enterprises for the Pacific Alliance's Automated Defence Force. RAM 2 features a metallic body capable of changing states and seeks retribution following the destruction of its predecessor, RAM 1.
- Felix Fly: A distinguished alumnus of the Pacific Alliance Military Academy and former hero from Nova Tigers: The 8th Squadron, Orbital Marine Corps, Felix retired due to injuries sustained during the Algarski Conflict.
Each protagonist delivers a distinct gameplay approach within the single-player action platform environment.
Development
Producer Stuart Whyte explained the driving force behind the creation of Impossible Mission 2025:
Due to an earthquake destroying the original source code, programmers Tim Cannell and Paul Dunning extracted assets by reverse-engineering the Commodore 64 version to incorporate into Impossible Mission 2025. Lead designer Scott Johnson intended to introduce scrolling elements while maintaining the core gameplay experience, focusing on preserving original animations by constructing characters as 3D meshes in 3DS software and converting animations into bitmap images.
Artist Drew Northcott encountered difficulties designing Elvin Atombender’s powersuit, aiming to capture its "blend of restriction and empowerment" by physically attaching bricks to boots and microphone stands to arms during filming overseen by art director Andy Cook.
Although initially planned for release on the Super NES and Genesis, with Amiga versions slated afterward, neither console edition was published. Whyte noted that Microprose’s late entry into the console market coincided with declining interest in 16-bit systems, making cartridge production financially risky and limiting distribution. A 1994 Nintendo Power preview commended the unreleased Super NES version for its enhanced graphics complexity and smoother control mechanics compared to earlier iterations.
Technical information
Three editions of Impossible Mission 2025 were made available: a standard release for Amiga 500 and 600 models; an advanced AGA variant for Amiga 1200 and 4000; and a CD32 edition based on the AGA version. These versions required between 1 and 2 MB of RAM and supported installation on hard drives. The game implemented manual copy protection necessitating input from a physical manual and included a built-in utility designed to facilitate legitimate backups. The CD32 iteration featured additional animations during introduction, conclusion, inter-level sequences, along with CD-quality audio tracks.