Pyrotechnica

Infobox VG
title =
developer = Psygnosis
publisher = Psygnosis
released= 1995
genre= 3D shooter video game
platforms= DOS
media = CD-ROM
input= Keyboard

"Pyrotechnica" is a 1995 3D first-person and third-person shooter video game developed and published by Psygnosis for the DOS platform.

The game was not as successful as peers such as Descent, but was notable for its highly-regarded soundtrack.

toryline

The action is set in the cores of ancient stars, where information capsules have been placed by ancient civilisations. Space stations have been built at these locations. However, "wingmen", adventurers hired by the "Terran Hardlight Corporation" who have been working in these locations using their own individual craft, have been captured by "adherents", alien cyborgs programmed to defend the precious capsules. The player must pilot his or her own ship and battle the adherents in a bid to free the captured wingmen.

Gameplay

Gameplay takes place in a zero-G 3D environment, a stylised representation of a space station. Players must use their ship's weaponry to destroy enemy ships and complete certain tasks before using an exit portal.

Graphical style

The environment has a somewhat retro feel due to the use of right-angles, a black background, and squares filled with a single colour. These evoke earlier eras of video gaming, and contrast with similar 3D games of the time which attempted a high degree of realism. "Pyrotechnica" bears a particular similarity to the 1989 title Interphase.

Development

The game runs on DOS and Windows 95 and requires at least a 486DX processor. The game doesn't run on 386 or 486SX machines due to the lack of a floating-point unit co-processor. Graphics techniques used include gouraud shading.

External links

* [http://www.mobygames.com/game/pyrotechnica "Pyrotechnica" at MobyGames]
* [http://www.psygnosis.org/games/pyrotechnica/ "Pyrotechnica" at psygnosis.org] a non-official Psygnosis site