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FutureCop LAPD Preview:
Published: 10/9/98

Summary:

  • Pros: Easy to learn and play. Great graphics, lighting effects and explosions. Support for software, RAVE and 3Dfx render modes (all look great - but I could not run RAVE on the PB G3). Co-op and head to head play via LAN (network). Light system RAM/Video card demands. Low cost.

  • Cons: No 1st person perspective. Can't play against Windows users. Modem play lacking.

  • Requires: 603e CPU at 180MHz or better recommended. Supports all Mac video cards capable of at least 640x480, thousands color mode. Software only, RAVE (QD3D) and 3Dfx rendering modes. 32MB min. installed RAM (preferred RAM allocation for the game was 12MB). 26.6 MB of disk space required for the demo.

  • Cost: Under $20 for hybrid Mac/PC CDROM. Available in November.

Over a month ago I posted a note that FutureCop was coming to the Mac. I received a ton of mail on that post from Mac magazine editors to marketing people wanting to know more. Yesterday the Mac FutureCop demo was officially released. Many were surprised that EA would develop a Mac game - and I think it's important to spread the word on the game and let EA know Mac gamers want more.

I'm sure someone will write a better/more complete review later, but I wanted to post this preview to inform readers what I've learned and think of the game and to let them know how well it works on various hardware configurations. This game's hardware requirements are much less stringent than many 3D games of recent vintage (Unreal, Quake) so more Mac owners will be able to enjoy it.

This 'preview' is not a complete list of the game's features or gameplay - far from it. I just wanted to share some comments on the game and a few screenshots of the 3Dfx and Software Renderer mode screens. I don't get a lot of time for games but this one was easy to learn, had minimal system/RAM requirements (12MB RAM allocation preferred and used 26MB of disk space) and thankfully does not require a special video card to look great. I was impressed at the quality of the images using the software renderer on the RageII equipped Powerbook G3. And another area where FutureCop is light on requirements is cost - it is said to retail for under $20 for the hybrid Mac/PC CDrom.

Important: as with all hybrid Mac/PC Cdroms - make sure you return the registration card and indicate you bought it for the Mac. This is critical to letting developers know that it's a Mac sale.

FutureCop is a 3rd person perspective game that reminded me a bit of the Origin PC game "Crusader: No Remorse" in many ways. However FutureCop was easier to control in my opinion. The audio and graphics were very well done, with some humor spread in as well. Links in the text below will take you to that specific area of the Futurecop.com web site for more details on that topic/area/mode of the game.

Two Games in One:
The game has two modes - Precinct Assault and Crime War, almost two separate games in one. Crime War is the normal mode of play (you vs. the computer) has 8 levels (Griffith Park, Zuma Beach, La Brea Tar Pits, Venice Beach, Hell's Gate Prison, Studio City, LAX Spaceport and Long Beach).

Precinct Assault is the head to head mode of play, where you try to take over your opponents base. There are 4 levels/areas available - Urban Jungle, Hollywood Keys, Venice Beach and Proving Ground.

There's even a split screen mode for two player games on a single Mac but the issues of keyboard control would make that less than ideal I think. Multiplayer mode requires a LAN (network connection) currently for best results according to the readme file that's included with the demo. There may be updates to the game in the future for improved modem play (I'm hoping).

Your Role:
You play the role of a Cop riding in a armoured mechwarrior-like robot called the Walker. You can also transform into a Hovercraft vehicle and fly around the area depending on the situation. You do battle with a variety of foes both in both human and mechanized form. You often have to be careful to avoid harming innocent citizens that are running about screaming and flailing their arms. Exercise care in blowing up certain buildings as well (the hot dog stand for instance) as that can result in innocent lives lost and a reprimand from the dispatcher. You are often constantly assaulted by men with machine guns, rocket launchers, gun turrets, huge tanks and even arial assualts from hovercraft. Gameplay was fast and furious in many areas.

Your constant companion (verbally) is the Dispatcher, a pleasant female voice that keeps you apprised of status and events and scolds you if you get too carried away with destroy public property or harm innocent citizens (I did this by accident several times). Like Crusader No Remorse, blowing up buildings like the Hot Dog Stand will result is civilians screaming and fleeing in flames. I'm sure this will be seen as politically incorrect by some but it's no more violent than many other popular games. There is animated blood and gore, so it may not be suitable for younger children unless you enable the 'Parental Control' feature which reduces this type of detail.

For more information see the Meet Your Partner page at Futurecop.com

The Enemies and Weapons:
There are 9 different Enemies you'll face in the game, each with their own stength/weaknesses and personality as shown in EA's Villian Dossier.

The weapons at your disposal are divided into three groups:

Guns:

Heavy Weapons:

Special Weapons:


Configuration:

The image below shows the main configuration screen where you can set display mode and driver (Software, RAVE 3D, 3Dfx), keyboard commands, etc.. The game uses Apple's gamesprockets, so I want to see how it plays with the VOrb controller. The readme notes the game was originally developed for the Playstation and suggests keyboard or gamepad control instead of joysticks or mice. I used the keyboard (I'm an old Doom player), but I suspect that a gamepad would also work well.

As noted previously, the game supports software rendering mode, RAVE (i.e. ATI RagePro cards) and 3Dfx Glide mode. Those with 3Dfx Voodoo II cards can run the game as high as 1024x768 mode (I suspect a 6MB or 8MB Voodoo I card could also run 800x600 mode). I used 800x600 on the Apple G3 with Game Wizard Voodoo II card and it looked great and was glass smooth. 640x480 mode on the PowerBook G3/250 (software render) was very responsive as well. Explosions are very well done even in software mode - as is shown in the PB G3 captured screens below. Compare them to the 3Dfx screens to see how well they compare. On the PB I can't run rave - maybe due to the fixed at 1024x768 resolution there may not be enough buffer space. However software mode looked great and plays well (see screenshots below).

Tips:
Here's a bit of info direct from Chris Conway, the game's programmer at EA:

" The things about the Crime War level that most people don't get are:

1. You need to change into the hovercraft and go charging up the ramp to get into the next area where you fight the boss. [Use the Action + change Target keys to do this-Mike]

2. You can't get to the power-up near the elevator with the switch around the corner unless you're playing 2-player (one guy hits the switch, the other rides the elevator to get to the power-up). "

RAVE/VM Patch: I've also received a patch to fix the RAVE issues some have seen. [Update: 2:30AM 10/12/98 - new combined Patch for VM bug] download the 265K patch here. First check out the readme file included with the patch that addresses gamesprocket missing files that are said to be the cause of immediate crashes.

Screen Shots:
(Clicking on any image below will load a larger view of the screenshot for further inspection)

Configuration Screen

Compare 3Dfx to Software mode: Here are two sets of comparison images - note with the exception of text on the side of the cars (mip mapping) the software mode looks pretty good. Check some of the other images for better shots of 3Dfx lighting. [Click images for larger views]


Other 3Dfx Screenshots:

Related Links:

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