BAT
| Developer: ESP | Graphics: |
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| Publisher: Ubi Soft | Sound: |
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| Year: 1990 | Difficulty: |
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| Genre: Adventure-arcade | Lastability: |
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| Number of players: 1 | Rating: |
8/10 | |
The 1990s witnessed a blossoming of iconic science-fiction titles, both in gaming and cinema, heavily influenced by the cyberpunk movement—particularly the film Blade Runner (1982).
On the Amiga, notable examples include Flashback (1992), Syndicate (1993), Beneath a Steel Sky (1994), and DreamWeb (1994) … but before all of them came BAT.
The story takes place on the planet Selenia, specifically in Terrapolis, its largest megalopolis. You play as an agent of the interplanetary FBI (the Bureau of Astral Troubleshooters), tasked with apprehending two terrorists threatening to detonate a bomb. Oh, and you’ve got ten days to do it. No pressure.
You start by creating your character, assigning strengths and weaknesses RPG-style, before being unceremoniously thrown into the adventure. Your first stop? A bustling space station where your contact is waiting … somewhere.
Every action is performed through mouse clicks. The interface adopts a comic-book style, with panels and speech bubbles enabling interactions with the characters you encounter. Your trusty wrist computer (B.O.B.) handles everything from monitoring vital stats to translating alien languages. It even allows for some basic programming, a neat touch that bolsters the player’s sense of autonomy. The game offers complete freedom to explore and engage in activities across this sprawling, perilous futuristic city.
That said, even with a sprinkling of mini-games—including a modest 3D flight simulator—the gameplay can feel rather dull. The environments lack animation, and the combat sequences, while charmingly kitsch, aren’t exactly adrenaline-inducing.
On the bright side, the depth of the story, the cohesive atmosphere, and the comic-book presentation are bound to delight sci-fi fans. Be warned, though: prior study of the manual is highly recommended, as is drawing your own maps on paper. Yes, it’s one of those games.
BAT 2 was released in 1992.
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