Spectre (1991 video game)

{{short description|1991 video game}} {{Unfocused|date=May 2020|reason=it is mixing information about two games in the series}} {{Infobox video game | title = Spectre | image = Spectre (video game).jpg | alt = | caption = | developer = Peninsula Gameworks | publisher = Velocity Development | designer = Sam Schillace Steve Newman Craig Fryar Celia Fryar | released = 1991 (Mac OS) 1992 (DOS) 1993 (Win) 1994 (SNES) 2010 (iOS) | genre = Vehicular combat, first-person shooter | modes = Single-player, multiplayer | platforms = Macintosh, MS-DOS, Windows, SNES, iOS }} '''''Spectre''''' is a video game for the Macintosh, developed in 1990 by Peninsula Gameworks and published in 1991 by Velocity Development. It is a 3D vector graphics tank battle reminiscent of the arcade game ''Battlezone''. One sequel, ''Spectre VR'', appeared on a number of lists{{Which|date=May 2020}} of best video games.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Top 100 Games of All Time |magazine=Next Generation|issue=21 |publisher=Imagine Media |date=September 1996|page=55}}</ref>

==Gameplay== thumb|left The goal of the game is to drive the tank around the playfield, collecting ten flags by driving over them, while avoiding obstacles (including rotating windmills) and the shots of computer-generated enemy tanks.

In single player mode, the player can choose four types of tanks, each one having different stats for shields, speed and ammo: Balance, Speedy, Strong and Custom. Each stage passed increases the game's difficulty (quantity and speed of enemy tanks). Furthermore, from level 6 appear orange cone-shaped tanks (which are faster and more resistant than normal enemy red tanks) and every 10 levels the shields of all enemy tanks are increased by 1. After level 9 is passed, the player can throw grenades, which cost 10 ammo and damage all enemy tanks in explosive range.

The game supported multiplayer operation over an AppleTalk network. Each player used a single Mac, and the other players were depicted as enemy tanks.

== Reception == {{Video game reviews | Allgame = 2.5/5 (Mac)<ref>{{cite web |last= Savignano |first=Lisa Karen |title=Spectre VR (Macintosh) - Review |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=22807&tab=review |publisher=AllGame |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115052323/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=22807&tab=review|archive-date=November 15, 2014 |access-date=January 3, 2024}}</ref> |Dragon=5/5<ref name="Dragon184">{{cite journal|title=The Role of Computers |last1=Lesser|last2=Lesser |last3=Lesser|first1=Hartley|first2=Patricia|first3=Kirk |name-list-style=amp|journal=Dragon |issue=184|date=August 1992|pages=57–64}}</ref> |EGM=28/50<ref name = "EGM">{{cite magazine|last=Weigand|first=Mike|url=https://archive.org/details/Electronic_Gaming_Monthly_58/page/n31/mode/2up|title=Spectre|magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly|issue=58|date=May 1994|page=31|accessdate=January 2, 2022}}</ref> |GamePro=18.5/20<ref name = "GamePro">{{cite magazine|last=LaMancha|first=Manny|date=May 1994|url=https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_058_May_1994/page/n67/mode/2up?q=spectre+snes|title=Spectre|magazine=GamePro|issue=58|page=66|accessdate=January 2, 2022}}</ref> |MG=61%<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/MANIAC.N009.1994.07-DURiAN/page/n61/mode/2up|title=Spectre|language=de|magazine=MANiAC|issue=5|date=July 1994|page=63|accessdate=January 2, 2022}}</ref> |ONM=84/100<ref name = "ONM">{{cite magazine|author1=Andy|author2=Paul|date=June 1994|url=https://archive.org/details/nms-21/page/92/mode/2up|title=Spectre|magazine=Nintendo Magazine System|issue=21|pages=92–93|accessdate=January 2, 2022}}</ref> |TOT=81%<ref name = "TOT">{{cite magazine|author=Frank|date=June 1994|url=https://archive.org/details/total-30/page/n43/mode/2up|title=Spectre|magazine=Total!|issue=30|pages=44–45|accessdate=January 2, 2022}}</ref> |VGCE=6/10<ref name = "VGCE">{{cite magazine|last=Hallock|first=Betty|date=June 1994|url=https://archive.org/details/Video_Games_The_Ultimate_Gaming_Magazine_Issue_65_June_1994/page/n63/mode/2up|title=Spectre|magazine=VideoGames - The Ultimate Gaming Magazine|issue=65|page=66|accessdate=January 2, 2022}}</ref> |rev1=''Super Action'' |rev1Score=88%<ref name = "SuperAction">{{cite magazine|author=Alex|date=July 1994|url=https://archive.org/details/super-action-23/page/30/mode/2up|title=Spectre|magazine=Super Action|issue=23|pages=30–31|accessdate=January 2, 2022}}</ref> }} ''Spectre'' was reviewed in 1992 in ''Dragon'' #184 by Hartley, Patricia, and Kirk Lesser in "The Role of Computers" column. The reviewers gave the game 5 out of 5 stars.<ref name="Dragon184"/> It was nominated for an award at the 1993 Game Developers Conference.<ref name="cgw199307">{{cite news | url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1993&pub=2&id=108 | title=The 7th International Computer Game Developers Conference | magazine=Computer Gaming World | date=July 1993 | accessdate=12 July 2014 | pages=34}}</ref>

''Computer Gaming World'' in May 1994 stated that "despite the ... pretensions of cyberspace spread throughout the documentation", ''Spectre VR'' "is distilled essence of video game ... The action is pure and uncluttered by anything like plot, depth or even realism". The reviewer approved of the new enemies and playfield features, but reported that the game "was released too soon" without IPX compatibility, level editor, and other features.<ref name="cirulis199405">{{Cite magazine |last=Cirulis |first=Martin E. |date=May 1994 |title=Shoot-out At The VR Corral |url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1994&pub=2&id=118 |magazine=Computer Gaming World |pages=28, 30}}</ref>

In 1996 ''Next Generation'' listed the Macintosh version of ''Spectre VR'' as the 44th best game of all time, citing the "minimalist, hi-res, flat-shaded polys", excellent control even with a keyboard, hundreds of one-player mode levels, and the "fast and furious multiplayer combat".<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Top 100 Games of All Time |magazine=Next Generation|issue=21 |publisher=Imagine Media |date=September 1996|page=55}}</ref>

In a retrospective review ''AllGame'' editor Lisa Karen Savignano criticized the graphics, noting that the game was "due for a remake" and that the game "is not a game you would want to spend money on".<ref>{{cite web |last= Savignano |first=Lisa Karen |title=Spectre VR (Macintosh) - Review |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=22807&tab=review |publisher=AllGame |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115052323/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=22807&tab=review|archive-date=November 15, 2014 |access-date=January 3, 2024}}</ref>

==Sequels== A sequel, ''Spectre Supreme'', was released in 1993. A Japan-exclusive sequel, ''Mega Spectre'', was released for the FM Towns in 1993.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/Neo_Kobe_Fujitsu_FM_Towns_2016-02-25|title=FM Towns ROM Archive}} Mega Spectre FM Towns ROM.</ref>

thumb|The 1994 release of ''Spectre'' for the SNES

The 1994 ''Spectre VR'' is an enhanced network-oriented version of the game. It and ''Spectre Supreme'' were also available for IBM PC compatibles.

The original ''Spectre'' was released as ''Spectre Classic'' in the late 1990s.

Brilliant Bytes Software released ''Spectre 3D'' (also known as ''Spectre: Cybertank Wars'') for the Apple iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad in May 2010. This version includes levels from ''Spectre Classic'' and ''Spectre VR'', four multiplayer games including Arena, Capture the Flag, Flag Rally and Base Raid, adds 3D visuals, and Bluetooth, Internet and WiFi multiplayer support for up to 16 players. Dedicated hosted servers are also available for online play.

A browser game titled ''Spectre WEB'' was later released by the developers of ''Spectre 3D''. As of June 2022, it was in alpha test status.<ref>{{Cite tweet |user=spectre3d |number=1538897547930087427 |date=20 June 2022 |title=The multiplayer should be working again on the web version (this is still considered to be an alpha test) |language=en}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.atarimagazines.com/compute/issue157/108_REVIEWS2_SPECTRE.php 1993 advertising text describing ''Spectre''] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20110811232921/http://worldvillage.com/spectre-vr Review of ''Spectre VR''] * {{moby game|id=/spectre|name=''Spectre''}} * [http://www.gamespot.com/snes/action/spectre/index.html ''Spectre''] for SNES at GameSpot * [http://www.spectre3d.com/ iPhone and iPad versions] since 2010 (latest version 1.3.0) * [https://spectre3d.com/web-alpha ''Spectre WEB''] browser game (alpha test version)

Category:1991 video games Category:DOS games Category:FM Towns games Category:IOS games Category:Classic Mac OS games Category:Super Nintendo Entertainment System games Category:Tank simulation video games Category:Video games developed in the United States Category:Windows games Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games