I like game concepts that dare to bridge the gap between polar opposites in nerd culture.
It's a good way to bring both sides to the table, like ninjas versus pirates or Mario
versus Sonic.
It certainly leaves more than enough room for creativity.
Back in the dizzay, Electronic Arts was doing two things right: action and sports games.
It's the way they built their foundation that eventually grew into one of the tallest trees
in the video game forest.
But when you think of EA, the action RPG theme is probably not the first thing that comes
to mind, unless you have had the opportunity to play Technoclash, developed by Blue Sky
Software, the now defunct gamemaker probably most famous for the Vectorman series, but
also made games as far back as the Atari 7800.
What's Technoclash, you might ask?
It's developed loosely upon the concept of two nerd subcultures: steampunk and cyberpunk.
In more simple terms, it's the battle of wizardry and magic against advanced technology and
computers.
The good ol days of sword and staff swinging against an entire army of evil machines hell
bent on the institution of machinery and the destruction of arcanery and more natural technological
pursuits.
Normally, most wizards and knights would lay down their weapons in unconditional surrender,
but a brave hero named Ronaan and his team of wizards and warriors have taken it upon
themselves to save the Inner Realm from the invasion of the Engine Men by sealing the
portals popping up everywhere.
What results is an interdimensional battle through familiar present day locations like
Las Vegas and more outside realms where every corner must be traversed with the ultimate
care.
Technoclash is in essence an action RPG, and a damn difficult one at that.
Dodge and shoot is the name of the game as you come into contact with the various monstrosities
in your way.
The spell layout is what you should start getting used to first.
Each has a name represented by a letter, and each of them are limited except a basic bullet
spell.
Healing, invincibility, and levitation spells are especially limited, but damn near necessary
to pass through each level if you don't intend on being diligent.
Accompanying you are two bodyguards, Faarg and Chaz, a barbarian and a wizard, respectively.
You must be smart in how you choose to use them, since they must follow what you do.
For example, if you need to levitate over the clouds in the sky level, the barbarian
Faarg cannot follow you, and you must instead take Chaz along for
the ride.
Technoclash is beautifully designed, and stands tall in the pantheon of early nineties EA
titles.
Just taking a look around the junkyard level will prove how much work the developers put
into the detail in level design as well as enemies and player characters.
In it, you must find find passcards that will shut the gates of the Inner Realm off to the
cybernetic bastards that are trying to poke through.
Although it may be one of the more lesser known titles as compared to the illustrious
collection of EA's premier 16-bit masterpieces, Technoclash is simply not to be missed if
you're looking out for a good challenge.
I love the literary concept behind the plot that is man vs machine, and it makes you feel
like you are truly up against the wall as you stick to the old ways of magic and human
courage as opposed to the artificially threatening Engine Man scourge.