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Bio F.R.E.A.K.S. | |
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North American Nintendo 64 cover art | |
Developer(s) | Midway Studios San Diego Saffire |
Publisher(s) | Midway Games |
Director(s) | Dave Simon |
Producer(s) | Michael Gollieb |
Designer(s) | Dave Simon |
Programmer(s) | Dave Wagner |
Composer(s) | Aubrey Hodges |
Platform(s) | PlayStation, Nintendo 64, Windows |
Release | 1998 |
Genre(s) | Fighting |
Mode(s) | Single player, multiplayer |
Bio F.R.E.A.K.S. is a 3D fighting video game released by Midway in 1998. It was originally planned for arcades. Prototypes of the game were tested at arcades, but the final arcade release was canceled (although a ROM image of the prototype was eventually dumped and works in MAME) and the game was later released for the PlayStation, Nintendo 64 and PC.
Plot
In the not-too-distant future, the United States fell like all great empires throughout history. Fifty states were broken into private territories after the Techno-Industrial Civil Wars. Technology and bio-engineering accelerated at such an incredible rate, and forced an industrial competition of corporate espionage. The government tried to keep control of the country by a single thread, but the effect of the giant corporations' white collar wars drove the economy into a tailspin. Neo-Amerika rises as the result of the government bankruptcy and technological companies takeover. To maintain order, The Secret Games Commission (SGC) is formed to organize tournaments deciding which organization gets to control all of Neo-Amerika, leading to the creation of Biological Flying Robotic Enhanced Armored Killing Synthoids (Bio F.R.E.A.K.S.) serving as the champions for each participating organization.
Gameplay
The game uses a fully polygonal fighting engine, with 8 different fighters, and 2 boss fighters.
Bio F.R.E.A.K.S. uses a mix of hand-to-hand and long range combat. Each character has an assortment of special attacks, both close and long range, as well as "finishing attacks". Much like the Fatalities of the Mortal Kombat games, these moves can execute the player's opponents while some, like in Time Killers, will remove limbs. Also damage from powerful attacks can add up causing a limb to be destroyed as well.
The game takes place in 3D fighting arenas. Emphasis was placed on mobility giving dashes a great range and in multiple directions.
The face buttons are assigned to specific limbs. The shoulder buttons are used for dodging, flying, and basic long range attacks.
Reception
ReceptionPublication | Score |
---|---|
AllGame | PS1: |
Electronic Gaming Monthly | PS1: 4.5/10 |
GameFan | N64: 72/100 PS1: 53/100 |
GamePro | N64: 4/5 PS1: 3.5/5 |
GameRevolution | N64 & PS1: B- |
GameSpot | N64: 6/10 PS1: 5.7/10 |
Hyper | PS1: 69/100 |
IGN | N64: 6.4/10 PC: 4/10 PS1: 6.5/10 |
N64 Magazine | N64: 76% |
Nintendo Power | N64: 7.8/10 |
Official Nintendo Magazine | N64: 70% |
PlayStation Official Magazine – UK | PS1: 7/10 |
PC Gamer (US) | PC: 79% |
PC PowerPlay | PC: 72% |
PlayStation: The Official Magazine | PS1: |
Bio F.R.E.A.K.S. received mixed reviews upon release. The PlayStation version currently has a rating of 60% on GameRankings while the Nintendo 64 version has a rating of 68%.
Notes
- In Electronic Gaming Monthly's review of the Playstation version, four critics gave it different scores: 5.5/10, 3.5/10, 5/10, and 4/10.
- In GameFan's review of the Nintendo 64 version, three reviewers gave it different scores: 70/100, 78/100, and 69/100.
- In GameFan's review of the Playstation version, three reviewers rated it differently: 56/100, 54/100, and 49/100.
- GamePro gave the Nintendo 64 version two 4/5 scores for graphics and fun factor, a 4.5/5 for sound, and a 3.5/5 for control.
- GamePro scored the Playstation version 3.5/5 in all of its four categories: graphics, fun factor, sound, and control.
References
- "Last-Minute Update". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 95. Ziff Davis. June 1997. p. 94.
- Lewis Jones Jr., Frederick. "Bio F.R.E.A.K.S." AllGame. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
- Smith, Shawn; Davison, John; Hsu, Dan; Sushi-X (August 1998). "Bio F.R.E.A.K.S.". Electronic Gaming Monthly. Vol. 11, no. 8. p. 135.
- "BioFreaks". GameFan. Vol. 6, no. 8. August 1998. pp. 17, 29.
- "Bio-Freaks". GameFan. Vol. 6, no. 6. June 1998. pp. 20, 41.
- Major Mike (July 1998). "Bio F.R.E.A.K.S.". GamePro. No. 118. p. 60.
- The Rookie (July 1998). "Bio F.R.E.A.K.S.". GamePro. No. 118. p. 68.
- Cooke, Mark. "Bio FREAKS – Nintendo 64 Review". GameRevolution. Archived from the original on January 28, 1999. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
- Cooke, Mark. "Bio FREAKS – Playstation Review". GameRevolution. Archived from the original on May 8, 1999. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
- Mac Donald, Ryan (June 4, 1998). "Bio F.R.E.A.K.S. Review". GameSpot. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
- Mac Donald, Ryan (May 14, 1998). "Bio F.R.E.A.K.S. Review for PlayStation". GameSpot. Archived from the original on October 11, 2003. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
- Cheung, Kevin (July 1998). "BioFREAKS". Hyper. No. 57. p. 72.
- Casamassina, Matt (May 20, 1998). "Bio F.R.E.A.K.S." IGN. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
- Harris, Craig (August 13, 1998). "Bio F.R.E.A.K.S." IGN. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
- Perry, Douglas (May 22, 1998). "Bio Freaks". IGN. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
- Price, James (August 1998). "Bio Freaks". N64 Magazine. No. 18. pp. 84–87.
- "Bio Freaks". Nintendo Power. Vol. 109. June 1998. p. 95.
- "Bio Freaks". Nintendo Official Magazine. No. 73. October 1998. pp. 44–45.
- Weaver, Tim (October 1998). "Bio Freaks". Official UK PlayStation Magazine. No. 37. pp. 136–137.
- Williamson, Colin (October 1998). "Bio Freaks". PC Gamer. Vol. 5, no. 10. p. 209a.
- Robinson, Brett (September 1998). "Bio Freaks". PC PowerPlay. No. 28. p. 96.
- "Bio F.R.E.A.K.S.". PlayStation Magazine. No. 11. July 1998. p. 35.
External links
Categories:- 1998 video games
- 3D fighting games
- Cancelled arcade games
- Fighting games
- Midway video games
- Mortal Kombat clones
- Multiplayer and single-player video games
- Multiplayer video games
- Nintendo 64 games
- PlayStation (console) games
- Saffire games
- Versus fighting games
- Video games about death games
- Video games developed in the United States
- Windows games