Summary

Release Year: 1993
Genres: Role-playing game (RPG)
Platforms: Amiga, DOS
Developers: DMA Design
Publishers: Psygnosis

Hired Guns: A Mercenary Odyssey Through Alien Worlds

Released in 1993, Hired Guns is a top-down, squad-based, science fiction strategy game that puts you in command of a team of elite mercenaries. Your mission: to battle your way through over 20 treacherous theaters of engagement, collecting weapons, scanners, and food, and ultimately test the limits of your military prowess.

Set in the far reaches of the Luyten planetary system, Hired Guns immerses you in a high-tech battle adventure that’s both thrilling and challenging. As the commander of your mercenary squad, you’ll need to carefully plan your strategies, manage your resources, and adapt to the ever-changing battlefield conditions.

One of the standout features of Hired Guns is its split-screen multiplayer mode, which allows up to four players to compete against each other or team up to take on the AI. This adds a whole new level of excitement and replayability to the game.

Another unique aspect of Hired Guns is its custom digital terrain processor, which generates realistic 3D views of the battlefield. This allows you to scout the area, plan your attacks, and anticipate enemy movements with greater precision.

Gameplay

Hired Guns is played from a top-down perspective, and you control your squad of mercenaries using the mouse and keyboard. The game features a variety of different missions, each with its own unique objectives. In some missions, you’ll need to capture enemy bases, while in others you’ll need to escort VIPs or defend strategic locations.

Your mercenaries are equipped with a variety of weapons, including laser rifles, shotguns, and rocket launchers. They can also use a variety of gadgets, such as grenades, mines, and medkits.

As you progress through the game, you’ll earn money that you can use to purchase new weapons, equipment, and upgrades for your mercenaries. You’ll also need to manage your food and water supplies, as your mercenaries will become fatigued and hungry if they don’t eat and drink regularly.

Mercenaries

There are four different types of mercenaries in Hired Guns:

Assault: Assault mercenaries are the backbone of your squad. They’re armed with laser rifles and are proficient in close-quarters combat.
Heavy: Heavy mercenaries are armed with shotguns and rocket launchers. They’re ideal for taking down enemy vehicles and structures.
Sniper: Sniper mercenaries are armed with sniper rifles and are capable of taking down enemies from a distance.
Medic: Medic mercenaries are unarmed, but they can heal your other mercenaries and revive them if they’re killed.

Each type of mercenary has its own strengths and weaknesses, so it’s important to choose the right mix of mercenaries for each mission.

Weapons and Equipment

Hired Guns features a wide variety of weapons and equipment that you can use to outfit your mercenaries. Some of the most common weapons include:

Laser rifles: Laser rifles are the standard weapon for assault mercenaries. They’re accurate and powerful, but they have a limited range.
Shotguns: Shotguns are ideal for close-quarters combat. They’re powerful, but they have a short range and are inaccurate at long distances.
Rocket launchers: Rocket launchers are powerful weapons that can take down enemy vehicles and structures. However, they’re slow to reload and have a limited range.
Grenades: Grenades are explosive devices that can be used to damage enemy units or destroy structures.
Mines: Mines are explosive devices that can be placed on the ground to damage enemy units.
Medkits: Medkits can be used to heal your mercenaries.

Strategy

The key to success in Hired Guns is to carefully plan your strategies and adapt to the ever-changing battlefield conditions. Here are a few tips to help you get started:

Use cover: Cover is your friend in Hired Guns. Use buildings, trees, and other obstacles to protect your mercenaries from enemy fire.
Flank your enemies: Flanking your enemies gives you a significant advantage in combat. Try to position your mercenaries so that they can attack the enemy from multiple sides.
Use your special abilities: Each type of mercenary has its own special abilities. Make sure you’re using these abilities to your advantage. For example, assault mercenaries can use their grenades to flush out enemies from cover, while heavy mercenaries can use their rocket launchers to take down enemy vehicles.
Manage your resources: Resources are scarce in Hired Guns, so it’s important to manage them carefully. Make sure you’re collecting food and water for your mercenaries, and that you’re not wasting ammo or other supplies.

Conclusion

Hired Guns is a classic strategy game that still holds up today. With its challenging gameplay, variety of missions, and split-screen multiplayer mode, Hired Guns is a game that will provide you with hours of entertainment.

So what are you waiting for? Assemble your squad of mercenaries and embark on a thrilling adventure through the far reaches of the Luyten planetary system!