''Defiance'' is a 1997 video game for

Microsoft Windows Windows is a group of several proprietary graphical operating system families developed and marketed by Microsoft. Each family caters to a certain sector of the computing industry. For example, Windows NT for consumers, Windows Server for serv ...

, developed by American studio Logicware and published by Visceral Productions of

Avalon Hill Avalon Hill Games Inc. is a game company that publishes wargames and strategic board games. It has also published miniature wargaming rules, role-playing games and sports simulations. It is a subsidiary of Hasbro, and operates under the company' ...

. The game is a

first-person shooter First-person shooter (FPS) is a sub-genre of shooter video games centered on gun and other weapon-based combat in a first-person perspective, with the player experiencing the action through the eyes of the protagonist and controlling the pl ...

, with a sci-fi/

futuristic The future is the time after the past and present. Its arrival is considered inevitable due to the existence of time and the laws of physics. Due to the apparent nature of reality and the unavoidability of the future, everything that currently ...

setting.

Gameplay

''Defiance'' is a first-person shooter with primitive 3D graphics, playing very similarly to ''Doom'' (1993). The graphics of ''Defiance'' use the 2.5D style, a way to make 2D graphics look 3D. It also includes a dynamic aim feature, where the camera bobs based on movement input. Defiance uses technology called Ncircle to make more realistic three-dimensional sound. The game boast MMX and 3D-accelerated support but it only makes realistic explosions. Defiance manages to successfully imitate its insipid color palette with plenty of brown and gray. The player controls an elite unnamed fighter pilot who rides the LAV-6 SABER, a weaponized mech, as they traverse through Calchona, a military complex. The first level of ''Defiance'' acts as a tutorial stage, introducing several of the game's core mechanics, such as the thruster, and setting up the plot. From that point on, the levels, which there are 13 of, play much like ''Descent'' (1995). In game, there are a plethora of enemies to fight. The player must also manage lift fuel, shields, hull durability, and weapons. Enemies often swarm the player through the complex, labyrinth like level setup of the game.

Setting

The action takes place on the planet Calchona, in a military complex. There is a war raging between Hegemonistic Core of Planets and the Anterran Premacy Worlds, but it is being waged in space so no civilians are killed and no planets rendered uninhabitable. Unfortunately, both sides have reached a stalemate, forcing the player and the rest of the "good guys" to resort to planetary warfare.

Reception

''Defiance'' received reviews from publications including ''

GameSpot ''GameSpot'' is an American video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information on video games. The site was launched on May 1, 1996, created by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. In addition ...

'', '' GameStar'', '' Adrenaline Vault'', '' PC Player'', and ''

Computer Games Magazine ''Computer Games Magazine'' was a monthly computer and console gaming print magazine, founded in October 1988 as the United Kingdom publication ''Games International''. During its history, it was known variously as ''Strategy Plus'' (October 1 ...

''. A 1998 review from

stated that "Although this is not a terrible game, there's nothing here that would merit someone to really consider buying it when there are so many other 3D games of such a higher caliber."

Gameplay

Setting

Reception

References

Further reading