Commander Blood
Encyclopedia
Commander Blood is a science fiction
adventure game
that was developed by Cryo Interactive
, a French
company that also created Captain Blood
(released in 1988). Designed to run on DOS
, Commander Blood was released in 1994. Big Bug Bang, the sequel to Commander Blood, was released in 1996, but is only available in French.
mastermind, is the founder of a massive company called Kanary. Thanks to scientific advances, Morlock is the oldest being in existence. Knowing his time in this universe is nearing an end, he would like to see the Big Bang
and the beginning of the universe
. Kanary's Clone
Consortium branch builds Commander Blood in order to help Morlock achieve his goal. Commander Blood is placed on a high-tech ship, the Ark, and aided by Honk, Blood’s onboard computer personality; the ORXX, Blood’s biomechanical 'clone'; Olga, Blood’s onboard translator; a radio
, television
set; and other technology.
utilized UPCOM (icon-based communication system), while Commander Blood makes use of a multiple-choice conversation system, in which players click through word-choices in order to learn more information. Players traverse both time and space as they enter black holes in the search for the Big Bang.
sequences that depict orbiting planetary systems, expressive characters, and an onboard television with different channels to watch. The animations of the non-CGI
characters were created by performing live action puppeteering in front of a chroma key
screen.
, and the various planetary inhabitants each make distinctive sounds during the game.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
adventure game
Adventure game
An adventure game is a video game in which the player assumes the role of protagonist in an interactive story driven by exploration and puzzle-solving instead of physical challenge. The genre's focus on story allows it to draw heavily from other narrative-based media such as literature and film,...
that was developed by Cryo Interactive
Cryo Interactive
Cryo Interactive Entertainment is a French video game development and publishing company founded in 1992, but existing unofficially since 1989 as a developer group under the name Cryo...
, a French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
company that also created Captain Blood
Captain Blood (video game)
Captain Blood is the name of a French video game from 1988 made by ERE Informatique and released by Infogrames. It was later re-released in the UK by Players Premier Software...
(released in 1988). Designed to run on DOS
DOS
DOS, short for "Disk Operating System", is an acronym for several closely related operating systems that dominated the IBM PC compatible market between 1981 and 1995, or until about 2000 if one includes the partially DOS-based Microsoft Windows versions 95, 98, and Millennium Edition.Related...
, Commander Blood was released in 1994. Big Bug Bang, the sequel to Commander Blood, was released in 1996, but is only available in French.
Story
Bob Morlock, a biomechanicalBiomechanics
Biomechanics is the application of mechanical principles to biological systems, such as humans, animals, plants, organs, and cells. Perhaps one of the best definitions was provided by Herbert Hatze in 1974: "Biomechanics is the study of the structure and function of biological systems by means of...
mastermind, is the founder of a massive company called Kanary. Thanks to scientific advances, Morlock is the oldest being in existence. Knowing his time in this universe is nearing an end, he would like to see the Big Bang
Big Bang
The Big Bang theory is the prevailing cosmological model that explains the early development of the Universe. According to the Big Bang theory, the Universe was once in an extremely hot and dense state which expanded rapidly. This rapid expansion caused the young Universe to cool and resulted in...
and the beginning of the universe
Universe
The Universe is commonly defined as the totality of everything that exists, including all matter and energy, the planets, stars, galaxies, and the contents of intergalactic space. Definitions and usage vary and similar terms include the cosmos, the world and nature...
. Kanary's Clone
Cloning
Cloning in biology is the process of producing similar populations of genetically identical individuals that occurs in nature when organisms such as bacteria, insects or plants reproduce asexually. Cloning in biotechnology refers to processes used to create copies of DNA fragments , cells , or...
Consortium branch builds Commander Blood in order to help Morlock achieve his goal. Commander Blood is placed on a high-tech ship, the Ark, and aided by Honk, Blood’s onboard computer personality; the ORXX, Blood’s biomechanical 'clone'; Olga, Blood’s onboard translator; a radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
, television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
set; and other technology.
Gameplay
Communication with the game’s characters is carried on clicking on a series of words that serve as topics. Captain BloodCaptain Blood (video game)
Captain Blood is the name of a French video game from 1988 made by ERE Informatique and released by Infogrames. It was later re-released in the UK by Players Premier Software...
utilized UPCOM (icon-based communication system), while Commander Blood makes use of a multiple-choice conversation system, in which players click through word-choices in order to learn more information. Players traverse both time and space as they enter black holes in the search for the Big Bang.
Graphics
The game focuses on Commander Blood’s interactions with the denizens of the worlds players travel to in search for the Big Bang. Thus, the game makes use of complex FMVFull motion video
Full motion video based games are video games that rely upon pre-recorded TV-quality movie or animation rather than sprites, vectors, or 3D models to display action in the game. In the early 1990s a diverse set of games utilized this format...
sequences that depict orbiting planetary systems, expressive characters, and an onboard television with different channels to watch. The animations of the non-CGI
Computer-generated imagery
Computer-generated imagery is the application of the field of computer graphics or, more specifically, 3D computer graphics to special effects in art, video games, films, television programs, commercials, simulators and simulation generally, and printed media...
characters were created by performing live action puppeteering in front of a chroma key
Chroma key
Chroma key compositing is a technique for compositing two images together. A color range in the top layer is made transparent, revealing another image behind. The chroma keying technique is commonly used in video production and post-production...
screen.
Sound
The game makes use of original scores by the French composer Stephane PicqStéphane Picq
Stéphane Picq is a French composer of computer game music, primarily for ERE Informatique/Exxos and then Cryo Interactive.-History:Picq first began composing in 1987. He retired from the industry in 1998 and moved to Madagascar...
, and the various planetary inhabitants each make distinctive sounds during the game.