Interphase

Title		Interphase
Game Type	3D Combat Sim
Players		1
Compatibility	Not AGA
Submission	angus@angusm.demon.co.uk

Review
First of all I didn`t get very far with this game, and it was a long time
ago that I played it, but with that in mind, here is my review. Interphase,
it seems, is very much a computer game based on the cult Cyberpunk novel
Neuromancer by William Gibson. Having said that, Interphase is nothing like
the computer game Neuromancer, which is essentially an adventure. In
Interphase the game  rather cleverly takes place in two forms. Firstly in a
2D plan view of the building you`re attempting to infiltrate with your basic
hero type bloke, and secondly in a 3D context which represents how your
computer hacker type bloke sees the computer environment that he is trying
to hack. For anyone not familiar with this Cyberpunk concept of �jacking in�
it`s simply that in the future, hackers will no longer be gazing into
monitors and frantically bashing the keyboard, they will, (we are told) by
means of a headset and portable deck, experience the sprawling network of
cyberspace in a 3D representation, flying from one area of interest to
another almost effortlessly.  Sound good to me. Okay so these two aspects
are incooporated as follow: Your agent moves from one are of the building to
another, coming to a halt whenever he encounters a security door etc. Then
you (in Cyberspace) track down the 3D polygon that represents the sofware
controlling the security door and erm..... delete it. This causes the door
to open and your agent proceeds until encountering another obstacle. There
are plenty of wrinkles to make this more interesting however; sometimes it
is essential to remove a security camera before your agent can be seen,
and the zoom facility on the 2D map is essential to appreciate what you`re
facing and how to deal with it. There are some nice logical puzzles to
solve where you are going to have think laterally, and timing is often
critical. I`d have to say though, that the game is rather let down by the
3D side of things. It`s not bad, or anything, the engine and design are
fine providing some unusual objects and of imaginative design. The problem
for me is that the gameplay is just rather unsatisfying. You move around
basically �blatting� things, and while some of the 3D tasks demand a
little more finesse, I felt it should have been further developed to give
a greater sense of achievement and build a stronger Cyberspace atmosphere.
The 2D side of the game is beautifully functional though, and just about
perfect. In essence then, an imaginatively designed game offering some
nice logical challenges, flawed slightly by the 3D tasks which do not
quite deliver the fulfillment I would have hoped for.

Alphabetical list.