Spear of Destiny (video game)

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title = Spear of Destiny


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developer = id Software
publisher = FormGen Corporation Activision/Valve Corporation (Steam)
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engine = Wolfenstein 3D engine
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released = September 18, 1992 2007 (Steam)
genre = First-person shooter
modes = Single player
ratings = OFLC: MA15+
platforms = PC
media = 720k floppy disks (3), CD (1)
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"Spear of Destiny", often also called "Spear", "Wolfenstein: Spear of Destiny" or just "SoD", is a 1992 first-person shooter computer game developed by id Software and published by FormGen Corporation, and is the prequel to id Software's "Wolfenstein 3D". As in "Wolfenstein 3D", the player assumes the role of allied spy William "B.J." Blazkowicz, on a mission trying to recapture the Spear of Destiny from the Nazis after it was stolen from Versailles.

Gameplay

The game consists of one 21-level episode, 18 of which need to be completed in order to win the game; graphics, gameplay, etc., are very similar to those of "Wolfenstein 3D". The game's levels can be divided into four blocks ("Tunnels", "Dungeons", "Castle", and "Ramparts"), each ending with the player having to defeat a "boss" in the final level. The player encounters Trans Grosse, older brother of Hans and Gretel Grosse, Barnacle Wilhelm, a chief general in the obtaining of the spear, the Ubermutant, greatest creation of Dr. Schabbs, and the Death Knight, a battle-suit, missile equipped commander who is responsible for guarding the spear. After defeating the Death Knight in level 18, the player can obtain the Spear of Destiny and proceed to defeat a last boss, the Angel of Death, on the game's 21st level. The remaining two levels of the game are secret levels that can be accessed from within the first 17 levels. Unlike "Wolfenstein 3D", the game did not include a shareware version; however, a 2-level playable demo was distributed.

Enemies that players have to face include German soldiers and officers, attack dogs and mutants with built-in machine guns.

Bosses

* Trans Grosse
* Barnacle Wilhelm
* Ubermutant
* Death Knight
* Angel of Death

Releases

Two further missions for "Spear of Destiny", titled "Return to Danger" and "Ultimate Challenge" were also created and published by FormGen Corporation in May 1994; these are collectively known as the "lost episodes", due to the fact that their existence is not widely known. Each of these, too, consists of 21 levels, with a layout similar to that detailed above; they introduced some new graphics to "Spear of Destiny", but are otherwise mostly a collection of more levels for the game. A CD version containing all three episodes, titled the "Spear of Destiny Super CD Package", was also released in late 1994. The Steam release includes the lost episodes.

The bosses in both packs are Submarine Willy, Professor Quarkblitz, Major Hans "the Axe" von Schlieffen, Robot Sentry, and Death Incarnate.

The source code to "Spear of Destiny" was released in 1995 and ports to other platforms, such as Linux, were made.

References

External links

* [http://www.idsoftware.com/games/wolfenstein/spear/index.php Official "Spear of Destiny" website]
* [http://www.mac-archive.com/wolfenstein/ Wolfenstein 3D Archive] , has a section on "Spear of Destiny"
* [http://icculus.org/wolf3d/ Icculus.org/Wolf3D]
* [http://wolfgl.sourceforge.net/ WolfGL] , an open source OpenGL port of Wolfenstein 3D
* [http://www.belowe.com/lostep.htm The "Spear/Lost Episodes" Maps]