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Mass Destruction (video game)

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Mass Destruction
Developer(s)NMS Software
Publisher(s)ASC Games
BMG Interactive
Platform(s)Saturn, MS-DOS, PlayStation
ReleaseMS-DOS
Saturn
  • EU: March 27, 1997[2]
  • NA: November 14, 1997
  • JP: November 20, 1997[3]
PlayStation
  • NA: November 26, 1997[4]
  • EU: November 1997
Genre(s)Action
Mode(s)Single-player

Mass Destruction is a 1997 third-person action game developed by NMS Software[5] and published by ASC Games and BMG Interactive. Released for MS-DOS,[6] the Sega Saturn,[7] and the PlayStation,[8] the game puts players in control of a tank, and tasks them with destroying enemy forces.[9] It has often been likened to Return Fire.[10][11][12]

The MS-DOS version was developed first, with the console versions following later.[5] BMG Interactive initially stated that the game would be retitled "Tank" for its European release,[5] but the game ultimately retained its original title of Mass Destruction on all releases. BMG closed down its U.S. operations shortly before the game was to be released,[13] and subsequently sold the U.S. publication rights for Mass Destruction to ASC Games.[14][15]

Gameplay

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Mass Destruction is a single-player only game.[16] The player takes control of a tank, which is viewed from an overhead perspective, and undertakes various missions in which the objective is to destroy a specific object in their environment, while avoiding being killed by the enemy forces. The player chooses from three models of tank: one which moves fast but has weak armor, one which moves slowly but has heavy armor, and one which is a moderate mix of both assets.[17] The tank has a selection of weapons, some with limited ammunition. The gun turret can be rotated independently of the tank's movement, allowing the player to proceed in one direction while firing in another.[16]

In addition to a primary objective, each mission has optional secondary objectives which award the player bonus points if completed.[17] These points may also unlock bonus missions.

Reception

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While some reviewers described the game as "simplistic" and "mindless",[9][7][30] most found its stripped-down action enjoyable.[7][27][28][29][31][6][32][33] The lack of a multiplayer option was widely criticized.[7][30][31] GamePro said the missions eventually become somewhat monotonous, but the game is "uninhibited destructive fun that's worth at least a shot as a weekend rental."[33][d] Next Generation similarly stated that "MD is a solid, beautiful, and fun game to play, but only if played in short, controlled bursts."[29] James Price of Saturn Power criticized that much less strategy is required to survive missions than in similar games such as Soviet Strike,[30] while Lee Nutter argued in Sega Saturn Magazine that Mass Destruction is intended as a game of achieving high scores rather than simple completion of the campaign.[31] Jeff Gerstmann commented in GameSpot, "The mission-based gameplay brings a method to the madness, but one still gets the happy feeling of cruising around aimlessly in a tank and blowing up as many things as possible, friend or foe."[27] IGN said the game's best aspect is the fact that virtually everything in it is destructible.[28]

Though most reviewers did not compare versions of the game, three of Electronic Gaming Monthly's four reviewers scored the Saturn version higher than the PlayStation version, saying it has much sharper graphics and shorter load times.[7] Next Generation said the Saturn version has better control and animation effects, though they noted it lacks the building transparencies seen in the PlayStation version.[29] GamePro's review said that the game was "fast, fun, and stress-relieving. If hardcore war sims [...] are too peaceful for you, Mass Destruction will fire you up for combat again."[32][e] CNET Gamecenter and GameFan gave the game favorable reviews, while Edge gave it a mixed review, many months before it was released.[21][25][22]

Notes

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  1. ^ In Electronic Gaming Monthly's review of the PlayStation version, one critic gave it a score of 7.5/10, two of them gave it each 5.5/10, and the other one gave it 6.5/10.
  2. ^ Four critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the Saturn version each a score of 8.5/10, 7/10, 6/10, and 5.5/10.
  3. ^ In GameFan's early viewpoint of the Saturn version, two critics gave it each a score of 84, and the other 82.
  4. ^ GamePro gave the PlayStation version 3/5 for graphics, 2.5/5 for sound, and two 3.5/5 scores for control and fun factor.
  5. ^ GamePro gave the Saturn version 4/5 for graphics, two 4.5/5 scores for sound and control, and a perfect 5/5 for fun factor.

References

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  1. ^ "Now Shipping". PC Gamer. Imagine Media. November 11, 1997. Archived from the original on February 18, 1998. Retrieved December 6, 2019. ASC Games has begun shipping its action title Mass Destruction.
  2. ^ "sega-europe.online". 1998-12-02. Archived from the original on 1998-12-02. Retrieved 2023-05-04.
  3. ^ "ソフトウェア一覧（ソフトライセンシー発売 - セガサターン - セガ SEGA" (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-09-17.
  4. ^ "VGS Game Calendar [date mislabeled as "April 26, 2000"]". GameSpot. Red Ventures. November 26, 1997. Archived from the original on April 27, 1999. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  5. ^ a b c "Tank: It's Monster Mechanised Mayhem!". Sega Saturn Magazine. No. 11. EMAP. September 1996. p. 16. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  6. ^ a b c Williamson, Colin (May 1998). "Mass Destruction". PC Gamer. Vol. 5, no. 5. Imagine Media. Archived from the original on March 12, 2000. Retrieved October 13, 2010.
  7. ^ a b c d e f Elliot, Shawn; Hsu, Dan; Richards, Kelly; Kujawa, Kraig (December 1997). "Review Crew: Mass Destruction". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 101. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on January 21, 1998. Retrieved October 13, 2010.
  8. ^ a b Elliot, Shawn; Hsu, Dan; Richards, Kelly; Kujawa, Kraig (December 1997). "Mass Destruction (PlayStation)". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 101. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on January 21, 1998. Retrieved October 13, 2010.
  9. ^ a b c Shamma, Tahsin (March 1998). "Mass Irritation (Mass Destruction Review)" (PDF). Computer Gaming World. No. 164. Ziff Davis. p. 151. Archived from the original on August 16, 2000. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  10. ^ "NG Alphas: Mass Destruction". Next Generation. No. 23. Imagine Media. November 1996. p. 170. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  11. ^ "E3: Mass Destruction". GamePro. No. 95. IDG. August 1996. p. 49. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  12. ^ "Mass Destruction: Makes Libya Look like Sunday School". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 89. Ziff Davis. December 1996. pp. 280–81.
  13. ^ "Cleaning Time: Corporations Slim Down". Next Generation. No. 31. Imagine Media. July 1997. p. 23.
  14. ^ "In the Studio". Next Generation. No. 32. Imagine Media. August 1997. p. 19.
  15. ^ Johnston, Chris (June 16, 1997). "Mass Destruction Moves To Consoles". GameSpot. Archived from the original on February 20, 1999. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  16. ^ a b Nutter, Lee (April 1997). "Tank-Tastic!!!". Sega Saturn Magazine. No. 18. EMAP. pp. 42–45. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  17. ^ a b "Mass Destruction: Learn to Love the Smell of Hot Napalm". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 95. Ziff Davis. June 1997. p. 82.
  18. ^ Sutyak, Jonathan. "Mass Destruction (PS) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 16, 2014. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  19. ^ Broesder, Chris. "Mass Destruction (Saturn) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 16, 2014. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  20. ^ Ham, Tom (January 30, 1998). "Mass Destruction (PS)". Gamecenter. CNET. Archived from the original on August 16, 2000. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  21. ^ a b Brumley, Doug (May 30, 1997). "Mass Destruction (Saturn)". Gamecenter. CNET. Archived from the original on August 19, 2000. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  22. ^ a b "Mass Destruction (Saturn) [release date mislabeled as "Out now"]" (PDF). Edge. No. 44. Future Publishing. April 1997. p. 90. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  23. ^ "マスデストラクション 〜お父さんにもできるソフト〜 [セガサターン]". Famitsu (in Japanese). Enterbrain. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  24. ^ a b "Mass Destruction (PS, Saturn)". Game Informer. No. 56. FuncoLand. December 1997.
  25. ^ a b Griffin, Mike "Glitch"; Jevons, Dan "Knightmare"; Hobbs, Michael "Substance D" (June 1999). "Mass Destruction (Saturn)". GameFan. Vol. 5, no. 6. Metropolis Media. p. 19. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  26. ^ East, Mark (January 15, 1998). "Mass Destruction Review". GameSpot. Red Ventures. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  27. ^ a b c Gerstmann, Jeff (March 6, 1998). "Mass Destruction Review". GameSpot. Red Ventures. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  28. ^ a b c IGN staff (November 5, 1997). "Mass Destruction (PS)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  29. ^ a b c d "Mass Destruction". Next Generation. No. 36. Imagine Media. December 1997. p. 168. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  30. ^ a b c d Price, James (June 1997). "Review: Mass Destruction". Saturn Power. No. 1. Future Publishing. p. 73.
  31. ^ a b c d Nutter, Lee (April 1997). "Review: Mass Destruction". Sega Saturn Magazine. No. 18. EMAP. pp. 70–71. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  32. ^ a b Scary Larry (June 1997). "Saturn ProReview: Mass Destruction". GamePro. No. 105. IDG. p. 74. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  33. ^ a b Dr. Zombie (December 1997). "PlayStation ProReview: Mass Destruction". GamePro. No. 111. IDG. p. 168.
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