Summary
- Release Year: 1990
- Genres: Role-playing game (RPG)
- Platforms: Commodore C64/128/MAX, DOS
- Developers: Origin Systems
- Publishers: Origin Systems
Bad Blood (1990) – A Post-Nuclear Action Adventure
Released in 1990, Bad Blood is a top-down action-adventure game with light role-playing elements. It is set in a post-nuclear wasteland where the pure-blooded humans have retreated to large cities while mutants live in small villages on the plains. The player takes on the role of one of three predefined characters and must travel the world, talking to NPCs, picking up items, and fighting monsters to prevent a war between the two groups.
Story
The game’s story is set in a post-nuclear wasteland. A nuclear war has turned the world into a barren and dangerous place. The pure-blooded humans have retreated to large cities, where they live in relative safety. However, the mutants have been forced to live in small villages on the plains, where they make a living by hunting the many monsters that roam the wasteland.
One of the human leaders, Lord Dominix, is a cruel and ruthless man who believes that the mutants are a threat to humanity. He wants to start a war to wipe out all the “bad-blooded” mutants. The player character is a mutant who has been chosen by the village chief to prevent this war.
Gameplay
Bad Blood is a top-down action-adventure game with light role-playing elements. The player controls one of three predefined characters: Varrigg, a strong green mutant who fights with his bare hands; Dekker, a human male armed with a knife; or Jakka, a human female who can shoot laser beams from her eyes.
The player character travels the world map, visiting cities and villages, talking to NPCs, picking up items, and fighting monsters. The game has a day-night cycle which influences the amount of monsters on the plains and whether or not you can talk with some NPCs.
Combat in Bad Blood is real-time and takes place on the game map. The player character can use a variety of weapons, including swords, guns, and grenades. The player character can also learn new abilities, such as the ability to heal themselves or to cast spells.
Reception
Bad Blood received mixed reviews upon release. Some critics praised the game’s graphics and gameplay, while others criticized its lack of character development and repetitive combat. However, the game was a commercial success, selling over 500,000 copies worldwide.
Legacy
Bad Blood is considered to be one of the early examples of a post-nuclear role-playing game. The game’s graphics and gameplay were praised by critics, and it was a commercial success. However, the game’s lack of character development and repetitive combat prevented it from becoming a classic.
Conclusion
Bad Blood is a solid action-adventure game with light role-playing elements. It has a unique post-nuclear setting, and the gameplay is fun and engaging. However, the game’s lack of character development and repetitive combat prevent it from being a truly great game.
Additional Information
- Developer: Arc System Works
- Publisher: Namco
- Release Date: 1990
- Platforms: Amiga, Atari ST, Commodore 64, DOS, ZX Spectrum
- Genre: Action-adventure, role-playing
- Perspective: Top-down
- Number of Players: 1
- ESRB Rating: Not Rated
Screenshots
[Image of the game’s title screen] [Image of the player character fighting a group of mutants] [Image of the player character talking to an NPC] [Image of the world map]
Videos
[Video of the game’s opening cutscene] [Video of the player character fighting a boss] [Video of the player character exploring the world map]
Links
Review Score
7/10
