Chaos Control Game Sample -- CD-i
0Chaos Control is a decent and somewhat challenging 3D rail shooter originally released for the Philips CD-i and soon released for PCs, Sega Saturn (in Europe and Japan), and Playstation (in Japan) between 1994 and 1996. It is developed by Infogrames in association with Philips Interactive Media (France). A "remixed" version was also released in Japan for Sega Saturn known as, well, "Chaos Control Remix", in late 96. The game requires the "Digital Video Card" (or DVC) to play. The game is marketed as a fast and furious sci-fi shooter with awesome 3D and Japanese manga-style animation (this part of course being quite a stretch).
In the year 2071, the world is being overrun by the deadly Kesh Rhan extra-terrestrials and a life-destroying alien virus, and only one space fighter is skilled and brave enough to stop them: Lieutenant Jessica Darkhill, one of the best pilots of the "Orbital Defense Forces" and member of the "Ares Interception Squad". She's not only fighting to save the Earth, but to avenge her fiance who was killed during a battle against the Kesh Rhan on Mars. She also gets help from allies like "Hank McBride" (a humorous pilot in Eleventh Squadron), Commander Darkhill (commander of the Lunar Base and Jessica's father), Captain Yoko Nakamura (a Cartesian Scientist), and others.
The goal of the game is to clear four primary levels divided into various segments. First, you'll liberate Manhattan from a major wave of Kesh Rhan. Next you'll enter the core of a computer to neutralize a lethal virus while finding off cyber enemies and virus-generated combat programs. Then, you must go into space to destroy the enemies well-guarded fortress. Lastly, you have to shoot your way through a deadly labyrinth and confront the leader of the Kesh Rhan, Lord Commander Arakh'Kreen. The game mainly just consists of you blasting anything that moves while being careful not to overheat your guns, and the game is programmed where you must lose a significant portion of health each level. Your job is to minimize the damage dealt to you so that you have enough health to overcome the boss at the level's end. You earn points for the enemies you shoot down but also gain points just for surviving.
The graphics are quite good by CD-i standards, making great use of the DVC and the system's resolution and limitations, though destroyed enemies could've at least disappeared instead of getting covered up. The music is only average, as most level segments do not have music (usually just the final portions) and the voice acting is about what you'd expect for a game of the time (in other words, not that good). Still, it's a pretty good game within the CD-i's catalog of games and you can do a lot worse. The game also controls reasonably well and can be played even with the two-button controller (albeit more difficult). This is a video of the game in action. Enjoy.