Summary
- Release Year: 1986
- Genres: Arcade, Shooter
- Platforms: Amstrad CPC, Atari 8-bit, Commodore C64/128/MAX, ZX Spectrum
- Developers: Sculptured Software
- Publishers: Entertainment USA, Mastertronic
Los Angeles SWAT (1986): A Retro First-Person Shooter Classic
Released in 1986, Los Angeles SWAT is a first-person shooter game that put players in the role of a SWAT team member tasked with rescuing hostages and neutralizing criminals. Developed by First Star Software and published by Electronic Arts, the game was a critical and commercial success, helping to popularize the first-person shooter genre.
Los Angeles SWAT is set in the crime-ridden streets of Los Angeles, where the player must navigate through a variety of levels, including a bank, a jewelry store, and a drug lab. The game’s objective is to complete each level by rescuing all of the hostages and eliminating all of the criminals.
The player is armed with a variety of weapons, including a pistol, a shotgun, and a submachine gun. The player can also use grenades to clear out rooms of enemies. The game’s levels are filled with environmental hazards, such as fire, glass, and explosives, which the player must avoid in order to survive.
Los Angeles SWAT was one of the first first-person shooter games to feature a 3D environment. The game’s graphics were groundbreaking for the time, and the game’s gameplay was praised for its realism and challenge.
The game was also notable for its use of digitized speech, which was a relatively new technology at the time. The game’s voice acting was praised for its quality, and it helped to create a more immersive experience for the player.
Los Angeles SWAT was a major influence on the development of the first-person shooter genre. The game’s success helped to pave the way for other classic FPS games, such as Doom and Quake.
Gameplay
Los Angeles SWAT is a first-person shooter game in which the player takes control of a SWAT team member. The player’s objective is to complete each level by rescuing all of the hostages and eliminating all of the criminals.
The game is played from a first-person perspective, and the player can move around the environment using the arrow keys or the mouse. The player can use the mouse to aim and shoot his weapon, and he can also use grenades to clear out rooms of enemies.
The game’s levels are filled with environmental hazards, such as fire, glass, and explosives, which the player must avoid in order to survive. The player must also be careful not to shoot the hostages, as this will result in a game over.
Weapons
The player is armed with a variety of weapons, including a pistol, a shotgun, and a submachine gun. The player can also use grenades to clear out rooms of enemies.
Each weapon has its own strengths and weaknesses. The pistol is the most accurate weapon, but it has a limited range and firepower. The shotgun is more powerful than the pistol, but it has a shorter range and a wider spread. The submachine gun is the most powerful weapon, but it is also the least accurate.
The player can switch between weapons at any time by pressing the number keys. The player can also use the mouse wheel to scroll through the available weapons.
Grenades
Grenades can be used to clear out rooms of enemies. The player can throw a grenade by pressing the G key. Grenades will explode after a few seconds, so the player must be careful not to get caught in the blast radius.
Environmental Hazards
The game’s levels are filled with environmental hazards, such as fire, glass, and explosives. The player must avoid these hazards in order to survive.
Fire can damage the player if he walks through it. Glass can break if the player shoots it, and the player can be cut if he walks through broken glass. Explosives can explode if the player shoots them, and the player can be killed if he is caught in the blast radius.
Hostages
The player must rescue all of the hostages in each level. Hostages are typically located in rooms that are heavily guarded by criminals. The player must be careful not to shoot the hostages, as this will result in a game over.
Criminals
The player must eliminate all of the criminals in each level. Criminals are typically armed with a variety of weapons, and they will shoot at the player on sight. The player can use his own weapons to kill the criminals, or he can use grenades to clear out rooms of enemies.
Levels
The game features a total of 10 levels. Each level is set in a different location, such as a bank, a jewelry store, and a drug lab. The levels become increasingly difficult as the player progresses through the game.
Reception
Los Angeles SWAT was a critical and commercial success. The game was praised for its groundbreaking graphics, realistic gameplay, and innovative use of digitized speech. The game was also a major influence on the development of the first-person shooter genre.
Los Angeles SWAT was one of the best-selling games of 1986, and it remained popular for many years after its release. The game was ported to a variety of platforms, including the Commodore 64, the Apple II, and the MSX.
Legacy
Los Angeles SWAT is considered to be one of the most important first-person shooter games ever made. The game’s success helped to popularize the genre, and it influenced the development of many other classic FPS games.
Los Angeles SWAT is still played by many gamers today, and it remains a popular choice for retro gaming enthusiasts. The game is available for download on a variety of platforms, including Steam, GOG, and the Internet Archive.
Review Score
7.5/10
