OverKill (video game)

OverKill
OverKill
	Cover art
Developer(s)	Tech-Noir
Publisher(s)	Epic MegaGames (US); Precision Software Publishing (UK)
Producer(s)	Mark Rein
Designer(s)	Ste Cork
Artist(s)	Martin Holland
Composer(s)	Anthony Williams
Platform(s)	MS-DOS
Release	NA: 1992;
Genre(s)	Scrolling shooter
Mode(s)	Single-player

OverKill, also known as OverKill: The Six-Planet Mega Blast, is a vertical scrolling shooter that was developed by Tech-Noir and published by Epic MegaGames in 1992. The game was designed by Ste Cork with help from Martin Holland. Ste Cork declared the registered version freeware on July 23, 2008.^[1]

Plot

A pilot has been handed a very difficult assignment to destroy the menacing alien forces that have captured six planets in a neighboring allied solar system. The aliens have enslaved all of the inhabitants of the planets and must be killed.

Gameplay

The objective in Overkill is to destroy all enemies on a planet, thus restoring order. The ship has some basic necessities such as fuel, shields, and a weapon, but it can be upgraded by picking up various goodies. Being hit by projectiles or running into enemy ships and walls damages the ship. Once the shield meter is depleted, the ship is destroyed and a life is lost.

Development

After the Commodore 64 market was declining, Martin Holland went on to do art for games that ran on systems of the time. Together with Ste Cork (who came up with the concept), they developed OverKill. Sales for the game were successful due to the solid EGA graphics.^[2] After the game's release, Ste Cork had no plans to do a follow-up.^[3] This was one of the few games that supported the digital gameport on Amstrad PCs for Atari-compatible joysticks.

Reception

Computer Gaming World stated that Overkill "provides a graphically attractive package. Music and sound effects are also handled capably ... those who like challenging play will feel right at home".^[4]

References

^ [1] Ste Cork released Overkill under the Creative Commons NoDerivs license.
^ "Martin Holland – a tribute". Games That Weren't. August 2014. Retrieved 2018-03-29.
^ Bee, Philip (December 1997). "Interview with Ste Cork". World of Stuart. Retrieved 2018-03-29.
^ Miller, Chuck (March 1993). "Totally Spaced-Out". Computer Gaming World. p. 110. Retrieved 6 July 2014.

External links

Overkill at MobyGames

[1] [1] Ste Cork released Overkill under the Creative Commons NoDerivs license.

[MartinHolland-2] "Martin Holland – a tribute". Games That Weren't. August 2014. Retrieved 2018-03-29.

[SteCork-3] Bee, Philip (December 1997). "Interview with Ste Cork". World of Stuart. Retrieved 2018-03-29.

[miller199303-4] Miller, Chuck (March 1993). "Totally Spaced-Out". Computer Gaming World. p. 110. Retrieved 6 July 2014.

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