
	Platform PC Genre Action Developer Origin Publisher Electronic Arts Year released 1995
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Bioforge

Bioforge is one of those action adventure titles that had top of the line graphics and pushed CPUs to the breaking point. Origin had this nasty habit of pushing hardware to the next level every time they brought out a game.

Bioforge followed Origin’s pattern in more ways than one: it was set in a science fiction world of sinister organizations. Your character awakens in a cell with no memory of how he got there. His body has been implanted with various mechanical parts, giving him the necessary tools to regain his memory and beat the hell out of practically anything that gets in his way. The only clues as to what happened – the base has been evacuated – are scattered around the facility in various log books. It’s a standard science fiction story setup.

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What is not standard is the crummy control. There are numerous moves to perform – different types of kicks and punches (After entering combat mode.) He can even pick up items to use as weapons. One early confrontation with a blue skinned cyborg allows you to try this out – by repeatedly bashing the cyborg over the head with his severed arm. (All the while saying, "We should be fighting together!") The problem arises in

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executing any of the moves. The chances of landing a punch or roundhouse kick are an extreme matter of timing. Allow about one second for a roundhouse kick to be completed. If you’re in the middle of performing a kick you can get your ass whopped very quickly. Add to that, there’s a slight delay between hitting the keys and the on-screen response and fights quickly turn into key mashing frenzies! And to further compound this issue, the more damage you take, the more you slow down.

The graphics are fantastic (considering the time period) and are the highlight of the game. The main character is extremely detailed. When he takes a lot of damage he limps along, his torso covered in blood, until you recharge him. The actions all look natural, even though it seems some of them are performed in slow motion. The bad guys are fairly imaginative – there’s a bionic raptor that’s a lot of fun to beat the tar out of. A huge problem arises with the camera. It suffers from the same problems of the Blair Witch games – fixed camera angles that make fighting a pain in the ass. If you aren’t directly lined up with your target you can punch and kick all you want but you won’t do any damage. It’s supposed to center on the bad guys but damned if I could ever get it to work!

The puzzles fit right in with the game – there are no chess puzzles! But some are hard as hell. For example, at one point you must pick up a ticking bomb and jump across several rocky platforms to plant the bomb in front of a metal door. The time limit is severe. One misstep and you’re screwed – you won’t have enough time to 1) plant the bomb or 2) get far enough away so the explosion doesn’t blow you to bits.

Bioforge pushed the technology of its time but poor control and camera angles made it more difficult than it should have been. Only hardcore gamers would see this one through right to the end. Still interesting to see its influence working in the industry today.

- Omni