Game Review: Another World

Posted on the 20 November 2013 by Donnambr @_mrs_b

Review: Another World (Amiga)

Back in 1991 a young scientist by the name of Lester was trying to recreate the birth of the universe when his lab was struck by lightning and he was sent traveling through time to another world. Thus began one of the memorable Amiga games from the early nineties. Another World has one of the most famous introductions to a game. Lester arrives in a new world and emerges from a lake. In the background can be seen a dark silhouette of a wild animal. Controlling Lester you head right through a few screens, the distant creature tracking you until it appears before you. Lester has to run away and is thankfully saved by a race of aliens that kill the predator but then shoot Lester leaving him a prisoner.

Held as a captive to aliens, you must engineer Lester’s escape and you have the help of Buddy, a fellow prisoner who is also an alien. To escape the prison there are some puzzles to solve but most importantly some combat to be had. At one stage Lester acquires a gun which has three very important functions. Firstly, the gun can fire standard laser rounds which will be your most common use for the weapon. Secondly, the gun can create a barrier that repels your enemies’ bullets and keeps you safe. However, the third function is a power charge that is able to penetrate barriers to get to your foes! Whenever you face the aliens you have to fight tactically, protecting yourself and engaging them simultaneously. It’s a very clever system. After escaping the prison, you have to later negotiate a cave network and then a tower before you and Buddy can make your final flight to safety.

Despite its age, Another World is still fantastic. The cinematic sequences stand up well even today and though that opening segment is the best bit of the game, what follows still deserves a lot of merit. The combat is well thought out and more appealing than just the standard hit the button and fire option. The game is not always an easy one though. To progress you are left with trial and error and with your alien captors not speaking English, you can’t ask anyone for help. It’s also easy to be killed so you’ll experience this a few times before the conclusion.

Another World remains one of the great Amiga games from the early nineties. Combining great graphics, fantastic cinematic and some engaging combat, this one still has a lot to offer even today. While that introduction will remain your most vivid memory of the game, the rest is still a pleasure to play through.

Verdict: 4/5

About the Author:

I was born in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England and have always been a bookworm and enjoyed creative writing at school.

In 1999 I created the Elencheran Chronicles and have been writing ever since. My first novel, Fezariu’s Epiphany, was published in May 2011. When not writing I’m a lover of films, games, books and blogging.

I now live in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, with my wife, Donna, and our six cats – Kain, Razz, Buggles, Charlie, Bilbo and Frodo.

David M. Brown – who has written 870 posts on Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave.