Zeewolf
Encyclopedia
Zeewolf is a single-player 3D
shoot 'em up
computer game released for the Amiga
platform in November 1994 by Binary Asylum. The player is tasked with flying a helicopter gunship over 32 combat missions. The game has a similar design and appearance to the earlier (but unrelated) Zarch
created by David Braben
. A sequel, Zeewolf 2: Wild Justice followed in 1995, which was notable for the involvement of former Commodore Format
editor Trenton Webb.
(and occasionally other aircraft) over 32 missions. Objectives include locating targets, destroying enemy units and buildings, transporting friendly vehicles and rescuing hostages. Some objectives are time limited. The player is given a finite number of lives
. The player's craft can be destroyed by accumulated damage from enemy fire or from colliding with structures or terrain. The helicopter is equipped with cannon, rockets and guided air-to-air missile
s. Fuel and ammunition are finite and the player has limited funds and locations in which to refuel or buy ammunition.
The game allows control by joystick
or mouse. Under joystick control pressing in a direction causes the aircraft to orient and travel in that direction and the craft automatically maintains altitude. Under mouse control the mouse's motion tilts the aircraft around the axis of the rotors. The aircraft can only pitch and yaw; it cannot roll. The mouse buttons control weaponry and throttle. The game enforces a flight ceiling at which the throttle will not increase altitude. As with Zarch
, the mouse control is difficult to master for beginners. However, control with the mouse offers greater manoeuvrability than is possible with the joystick.
Zeewolf uses a wraparound map in which the landscape endlessly repeats. An in-game map shows the location of the player within the landscape.
composed the title music and sound effects.
The terrain is constructed from an undulating landscape of fixed size tiles. The 3D engine renders vehicles, ships, buildings, trees, hostages and projectiles as solid polygons with shadow effects. The game uses a horizontal camera angle where only a boxed section of the terrain centred on the player's position is visible. This limitation in depth is necessary to achieve an acceptable frame-rate with the stock Amiga hardware.
3D computer graphics
3D computer graphics are graphics that use a three-dimensional representation of geometric data that is stored in the computer for the purposes of performing calculations and rendering 2D images...
shoot 'em up
Shoot 'em up
Shoot 'em up is a subgenre of shooter video games. In a shoot 'em up, the player controls a lone character, often in a spacecraft or aircraft, shooting large numbers of enemies while dodging their attacks. The genre in turn encompasses various types or subgenres and critics differ on exactly what...
computer game released for the Amiga
Amiga
The Amiga is a family of personal computers that was sold by Commodore in the 1980s and 1990s. The first model was launched in 1985 as a high-end home computer and became popular for its graphical, audio and multi-tasking abilities...
platform in November 1994 by Binary Asylum. The player is tasked with flying a helicopter gunship over 32 combat missions. The game has a similar design and appearance to the earlier (but unrelated) Zarch
Zarch
Zarch is a computer game written by David Braben in three months in , for the release of the Acorn Archimedes computer...
created by David Braben
David Braben
David John Braben is a British computer programmer, best known for co-writing Elite, a hugely popular and influential space trading computer game, in the early 1980s.-Life and work:...
. A sequel, Zeewolf 2: Wild Justice followed in 1995, which was notable for the involvement of former Commodore Format
Commodore Format
Commodore Format was a British magazine for users of the Commodore 64 home computer. All sixty-one issues of the magazine were produced by Future Publishing. These came towards the end of the machine's commercial life - from October 1990 until October 1995....
editor Trenton Webb.
Gameplay
The player flies an attack helicopterAttack helicopter
An attack helicopter is a military helicopter with the primary role of an attack aircraft, with the capability of engaging targets on the ground, such as enemy infantry and armored vehicles...
(and occasionally other aircraft) over 32 missions. Objectives include locating targets, destroying enemy units and buildings, transporting friendly vehicles and rescuing hostages. Some objectives are time limited. The player is given a finite number of lives
Health (gaming)
Health is a game mechanic used in role-playing, computer and video games to give value to characters, enemies, NPCs, and related objects. This value can either be numerical, semi-numerical as in hit/health points, or arbitrary as in a life bar....
. The player's craft can be destroyed by accumulated damage from enemy fire or from colliding with structures or terrain. The helicopter is equipped with cannon, rockets and guided air-to-air missile
Air-to-air missile
An air-to-air missile is a missile fired from an aircraft for the purpose of destroying another aircraft. AAMs are typically powered by one or more rocket motors, usually solid fuelled but sometimes liquid fuelled...
s. Fuel and ammunition are finite and the player has limited funds and locations in which to refuel or buy ammunition.
The game allows control by joystick
Gamepad
A gamepad , is a type of game controller held in two hands, where the digits are used to provide input. Gamepads generally feature a set of action buttons handled with the right thumb and a direction controller handled with the left...
or mouse. Under joystick control pressing in a direction causes the aircraft to orient and travel in that direction and the craft automatically maintains altitude. Under mouse control the mouse's motion tilts the aircraft around the axis of the rotors. The aircraft can only pitch and yaw; it cannot roll. The mouse buttons control weaponry and throttle. The game enforces a flight ceiling at which the throttle will not increase altitude. As with Zarch
Zarch
Zarch is a computer game written by David Braben in three months in , for the release of the Acorn Archimedes computer...
, the mouse control is difficult to master for beginners. However, control with the mouse offers greater manoeuvrability than is possible with the joystick.
Zeewolf uses a wraparound map in which the landscape endlessly repeats. An in-game map shows the location of the player within the landscape.
Development
The concept was developed by Andy Wilton with additional programming by Jim Gardner. The levels were designed by Andy Smith and Bob Wade. Allister BrimbleAllister Brimble
Allister Mark Brimble is a video game music composer. Allister has written music and sound effects for the videogame industry since the mid 1980s for a vast array of games, such as Driver, Project-X, Superfrog, Alien Breed, Assassin, Colonization, Descent II, Dizzy series ,Slightly Magic...
composed the title music and sound effects.
The terrain is constructed from an undulating landscape of fixed size tiles. The 3D engine renders vehicles, ships, buildings, trees, hostages and projectiles as solid polygons with shadow effects. The game uses a horizontal camera angle where only a boxed section of the terrain centred on the player's position is visible. This limitation in depth is necessary to achieve an acceptable frame-rate with the stock Amiga hardware.