Game Info
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Developer: Eric Chahi/Delphine Software
Publisher: US Gold
Year of Release: 1991
Game Review & Impressions
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Despite covering the Amiga version of Eric Chahi's seminal masterpiece previously on this channel, Another World one of games I specifically wanted to revisit. I wanted to create an upscaled version at higher resolution, but after losing the original footage in a disk crash, the only option was to play through the game again and capture new footage.
On reflection, the significance of this game is even more profound on this subsequent revisit. Much like Prince of Persia, Another World is the singular vision of Chahi, who scripted, directed and programmed the game by himself. It's a cinematic masterpiece which lasts a mere 30 minutes, telling the story of unlikely protagonist Lester Knight Chaykin, physicist and professor, who finds himself stranded on a hostile alien planet when his latest experiment goes awry. What makes the game so fascinating is Chachi's ability to craft a believable world without any dialogue, no written text, and only half a meg of memory in which to achieve the impossible.
The game's opening act, with Lester and the remnants of his particle accelerator suddenly materialising in the midst of a huge reservoir, makes for one of gaming's most iconic introductions, but it's the introduction of the alien society at the beginning of the second act where the game's world truly comes to life. The humanoid creature with which he is caged, not to mention similar beings engaged in back-breaking labour in the background of the scene, are the first nod to a hierarchical, caste-like society where, much like Earth, equality is far less important that power and wealth. The ensuing gun-fight through the corridors of this penitentiary speaks volumes, with Lester fleeing under a hail of laser-fire, as the occupants of numerous tiny cells observe the violence from the confines of their cramped incarceration. It is the backdrop of this civil unrest in which Lester and his alien companion forge an unlikely alliance, which is centre-stage for the remainder of the game.
The lack of exposition is, in my opinion, why the game is such a success. This is definitely an example where "less is more" holds true; neither the planet, nor the aliens or creatures which inhabit it, are ever explored in any depth, and the mystery of the setting is one of its major successes. The 1994 sequel, Heart of the Alien, explored some of the themes and characters in more depth, but were certainly never a consideration at the time Another World was conceived.
As a piece of of interactive storytelling, Another World ranks as one of the pivotal moments in gaming history. It's significance might seem overshadowed by the likes of Doom and Wolfenstein 3D, but it's a title that, despite not being the most accomplished game in purely conventional terms, remains a uniquely beautiful piece of digital entertainment, which remains worth celebrating.
Chapters
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00:00 Intro
02:57 Act 1
05:26 Act 2
21:37 Act 3
24:01 Ending
25:58 Death Sequences