Off-World Interceptor

Off-World Interceptor
Developer(s)	Crystal Dynamics
Publisher(s)	Crystal Dynamics
Platform(s)	3DO, Sega Saturn (Extreme version only), PlayStation (Extreme version only)
Release date(s)	3DO NA: 1994 EU: 1994[1] Sega Saturn JP: 1995 NA: 1995 EU: 1995 PlayStation JP: November 22, 1995 NA: 1995 EU: November, 1995[2]
Genre(s)	Racing, Vehicular Combat, third-person
Mode(s)	Single-player, Two player

Off-World Interceptor is a third-person vehicular car combat game, released only for the 3DO. An alternate version of the game was later released for the Sega Saturn and PlayStation consoles, named Off-World Interceptor Extreme. The two versions of the game have identical core gameplay elements, though the Extreme version is tweaked to feel more like the arcade mode in the original Off-World Interceptor.

The game was developed under the title "Orion Off-Road".^[3]

Gameplay

Off-World Interceptor is a rail-based off-road vehicular combat game, giving the player to drive (and in some cases, fly) anywhere he so chooses. The player takes the role of a "trashman", a bounty hunter who chases after fugitives in order to earn money. A core element of the game is that the player's car can navigate unrealistically steep slopes, and can move infinitely to the left or right of the environment. The car itself is not explicitly locked to a rail, though the player cannot turn around or back up. Two other unusual features of the game, is that every car is armed with jump jets, devices that allow the car to both jump and fly, and all cars can pitch up or down for aiming purposes. In all stages of Off-World Interceptor, there are numerous items to be collected. Some items can be purchased within the game's shop. The player also has numerous special weapons at their disposal to aid them in surviving the various levels of the game. Like pickups, special weapons can also be acquired on the battlefield. There are a total of six cars in Off-World Interceptor, each with its own unique attributes and abilities. Each one has five attributes, all of which can be upgraded. Most enemies in Off-World Interceptor are generally the same and range from stationary gun turrets to attack planes. The most common enemy in the game is the "Cash Cop", and stronger variations of each general enemy are encountered within each passing level. Each level also includes native objects to the environment, usually in the form of trees and boulders—while posing as a driving hazard to the player, they do not do any actual damage.

The game is divided into six levels, each with multiple stages. The objective in each stage is simply to get from the beginning of level to the finish line. Each stage is populated by various objects and enemies that are relative to the environment—the most common of these enemies are the cash cops; mercenary-like enemies similar to that of the player. Throughout each stage, the player is given the opportunity to pick up items within the level, such as missiles, nitros, air-strikes, fuel cans, and money to purchase upgrades for their car. After so many stages, the player then fights an end level boss. Another element of each stage, including boss fights, is the chase timer. The premise behind the timer is that should the player take too long in any stage, the criminal that is being pursued escapes from the area and an air-strike is called in. The air-strike obliterates everything in the level, including the player. Before each level, the player visits the repair shop, where they can purchase the fore mentioned items (except for fuel) and clones for extra lives. The player can also use his money to purchase new a vehicle, or upgrade his current one.

In arcade mode, the player is given the ability to play on any level he or she desires, except for the final level. All vehicles in arcade mode all equal in price and attributes, giving the player the ability to purchase the car he desires rather than needs (unlike in story mode). Battle mode is simply a two player deathmatch mode. A level is selected and the players choose their cars. Upon entering the level, the goal is to eliminate the other player on the track. Training mode is only found in the alternate version of Off-World Interceptor, Off-World Interceptor Extreme. In this mode, a random level is chosen, and the player is given the ability to drive through the stage without interference from enemies.

Reception

Reception
Review scores Publication Score EGM 7.4/10 (3DO)[4] Next Generation (3DO, SAT)[5][6] Sega Saturn Magazine 65% (SAT)[7]

Off-World Interceptor received mostly mixed reviews. Reviewing the 3DO version, Sarah Nade of GamePro criticized the music and "slightly hokey" sound effects, but praised the graphics and cutscenes, and concluded "Once any early frustration wears off, OWI's great graphics and game play will drive you wild."^[8] Electronic Gaming Monthly's Mike Weigand commented, "The unusual perspective takes some time getting used to, but the graphics and sound effects really show off the 3DO capabilities."^[4] A reviewer for Next Generation said of the gameplay that "It's a little more fast and furious than usual, and addictive in a mindless way, but nothing you haven't seen before." However, he felt that the Mystery Science Theater 3000-style commentators were effectively funny and added freshness and originality to the game.^[5]

Reviewing the Saturn version, Rob Bright of Sega Saturn Magazine commented that the game's premise is interesting but the actual gameplay is poor, especially the "unrealistic" movements of the player's vehicle.^[7] A reviewer for Next Generation argued that the inclusion of futuristic action makes the already exciting genre of off-road racing more interesting, and that the bizarre physics of the game come to feel perfectly natural. He nonetheless concluded that "OWI is a solid action game, if not much beyond that."^[6] GamePro's The Axe Grinder criticized the split-screen of Battle mode as too confining and the graphics as suffering from slowdown and overcrowded battlefields, but praised the combination of racing and shooting, the accurate controls, and the commentators in the cutscenes. He concluded, "While far from perfect, Off-World Interceptor Extreme provides good thrills and a nice combination of racing and shooting."^[9]

References