The History of… Blake Stone: Aliens of Gold (1993)
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In Blake Stone: Aliens of Gold, players step into the shoes of Blake Stone, a British agent in the year 2140. The villain, Dr. Pyrus Goldfire, has discovered a way to turn ordinary humans into mutants and plans to take over Earth with his army. Blake’s mission is to infiltrate Goldfire’s secret bases, thwart his plans, and save humanity from impending doom.
Game: Blake Stone: Aliens of Gold
Developer: JAM Productions
Publisher: Apogee Software
Designer: William H. Allen III
Programmer: Jason Blochowiak
Platforms: MS-DOS, Windows
Release date: December 3, 1993
Genre: First-person shooter
Mode: Single-player
RRP when released: $39.95
Gameplay
This game is a first-person shooter, where players navigate through various levels, each a floor of Goldfire’s bases. The objective is to find key cards, unlock doors, and gather intel while fighting off enemies like mutants, guards, and robots. Players can collect different weapons and ammo and occasionally interact with friendly non-playable characters (NPCs) for assistance. Health and ammo can be replenished by finding items scattered throughout the levels.
Development
Developed by JAM Productions and published by Apogee Software, Blake Stone: Aliens of Gold was built on an enhanced version of the engine used for Wolfenstein 3D. This allowed for added features like textured ceilings and floors, more enemy types, and environmental interaction, which were not present in Wolfenstein 3D.
Apogee published several hit titles that left a lasting impact on the gaming industry. Among its most famous releases are Duke Nukem and Wolfenstein 3D, the latter of which was developed by id Software and is often credited with popularizing the first-person shooter (FPS) genre. Duke Nukem, in particular, became a flagship series for Apogee, known for its action-packed gameplay and humorous protagonist.
Release Details
The game was released on December 3, 1993, for MS-DOS computers. It was distributed as shareware, a common practice at the time, where the first episode was available for free, and players could purchase the remaining episodes.
Reception and Reviews
Upon its release, Blake Stone: Aliens of Gold received a warm reception, with players and critics praising its advancements over previous first-person shooters. However, its impact was somewhat overshadowed by the release of Doom just a week later, which set new standards for the genre.
Reviews of Blake Stone: Aliens of Gold often highlighted its improved graphics and sound over Wolfenstein 3D, as well as the inclusion of helpful NPCs and a variety of enemies. Despite these praises, some criticized it for not deviating enough from the Wolfenstein 3D formula, feeling more like an evolution rather than a revolution in the genre.
Sequels
The direct sequel, Blake Stone: Planet Strike, was released in 1994, continuing the story and introducing new gameplay elements. However, no further sequels or official spin-offs were developed, leaving Planet Strike as the last chapter in Blake Stone’s saga. Despite this, the series has retained a cult following and is considered an important piece of video game history.
Tips and Trivia
- Conservation is Key: Ammo and health can be scarce, so make sure to conserve resources as much as possible. Use the auto mapping feature to avoid missing any hidden rooms that might contain supplies.
- Know Your Enemies: Different enemies have different strengths and weaknesses. Learning these can help you decide when to fight and when it might be smarter to run.
- Secret Walls: Like many games of its era, Blake Stone is full of secret walls that can be pushed open to reveal hidden rooms, often containing extra ammo, health, or even special weapons.
- Listen Carefully: Sound cues can alert you to the presence of enemies, secret doors opening, or other important events, even if you can’t see what’s happening.
- Background: The game was developed using an enhanced version of the Wolfenstein 3D engine, making it one of the first games to build on the success of Wolfenstein 3D with more advanced features like textured floors and ceilings.
Cheats
- God Mode: Typing “JAM” in the game activates God Mode, making you invincible to attacks.
- All Weapons and Ammo: Typing “GUNS” gives you all weapons and ammo.
- Full Map: Typing “MAP” reveals the full map, showing you the entire level layout.
- No Clipping Mode: Typing “CLIP” enables no clipping mode, allowing you to walk through walls.
Easter Eggs
- Developer Cameos: The game includes portraits of the development team that, when activated, sometimes speak or make noises.
- Secret Messages: Certain levels contain hidden messages or jokes from the developers, often tucked away in remote or hard-to-find areas.
- The Informant: Not exactly an Easter egg but an interesting gameplay element; some enemies are actually informants. If you shoot an informant, you lose points, adding a layer of complexity to the “shoot everything that moves” strategy typical of the genre at the time.
Blake Stone: Aliens of Gold is a first-person shooter where players assume the role of Blake Stone, a secret agent tasked with thwarting the evil Dr. Goldfire’s plans for world domination by battling hordes of aliens in futuristic environments.
Blake Stone: Aliens of Gold is a first-person shooter where players assume the role of Blake Stone, a secret agent tasked with thwarting the evil Dr. Goldfire’s plans for world domination by battling hordes of aliens in futuristic environments.