Editing Chaos Control (video game)

{{Short description|1995 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
|title          = Chaos Control
|image          = Chaos Control PC CD-ROM Cover.jpg
|caption        =
|developer      = [[Infogrames Multimedia]]
|publisher      = '''Europe'''<br>[[Philips]] (MS-DOS, CD-I)<br>[[Infogrames]] (Saturn)<br>'''North America'''<br>[[Infogrames|I•Motion]]<br />'''Japan'''<br>[[Virgin Interactive Entertainment]]
|series         = 
|engine         =
|platforms      = [[CD-i]], [[Mac  (computer)|Mac ]], [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]], [[Sega Saturn|Saturn]], [[MS-DOS]]
|released       = July 2, 1995<br>October 4, 1996 (PlayStation, Japan)
|genre          = [[Rail shooter]]
|modes          = [[Single-player]]
|designer       = Bruno Bonnell<br>Jean-Claude Larue
|artist         = 
|composer       = Thierry Caron
}}

'''''Chaos Control''''' is a [[rail shooter]] developed by [[Infogrames Multimedia]] and published by [[Philips Interactive Media]] for the [[CD-i]], [[MS-DOS]], [[Mac (computer)|Mac]], [[Sega Saturn|Saturn]], and [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]] in 1995. The game's cutscenes are rendered in a style reminiscent of [[anime]].<ref name="NGen7"/> An enhanced remake was released exclusively for the Saturn in 1996. In PAL regions it kept the name ''Chaos Control'', but the later Japanese release, published by [[Virgin Interactive Entertainment]], was retitled ''Chaos Control Remix'' to avoid confusion with the previous year's Japanese release that had no lightgun support. Both the PAL ''Chaos Control'' and the Japanese ''Chaos Control Remix'' included a two-player option.

==Gameplay==
''Chaos Control'' is a sci-fi themed [[rail shooter]] which puts the player inside the cockpit of a fighter ship. Although the spaceship flight is automated, the player may target freely using an on-screen reticule, timing their shots so that the fighter's guns do not overheat. Targets across the game's four levels include mech suits, other spaceships and [[virtual reality]] constructs, most of which will return fire in an effort to drain the player's shields. There are no bonuses or re-charge [[power-up]]s for these shields, and play must restart from the beginning of the level if the player's ship is destroyed.

Enemy positions are predetermined and unchanging. This - in combination with fixed flight paths - means that the player can seek to learn the game's deployment pattern for each level, defeating them through [[memorization]].

''Chaos Control Remix'' supports the Saturn's Virtua Gun.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Chaos Control: Help! The Martians Are on to Us! They're Going to Attack!|magazine=[[Sega Saturn Magazine]]|issue=10|publisher=[[Emap International Limited]]|date=August 1996|page=22}}</ref> The CD-i version requires the CD-i's Digital Video Cartridge to play.<ref name="NGen7"/>

==Plot==
[[Image:Chaos control.jpg|thumb|left|Manhattan level: three Kesh Rhan ships surround the Statue of Liberty]]

In the year 2050, the alien Kesh Rhan species discovers the [[Pioneer 10]] space probe. When they decipher the coordinates of [[Earth]] from the [[Pioneer Plaque]], Lord Commander Arakh'Kreen orders the fleet to invade and destroy the planet.

The player controls Lieutenant Jessica Darkhill, a human pilot in the Orbital Defence Forces. She seeks revenge for the death of her fiancé, Morgan Kain, who was killed during an earlier battle with the Kesh Rhan on [[Mars]]. With the Kesh Rhan flagship having appeared above Earth for a final attack, Darkhill is promoted to Major and ordered to [[Manhattan]] to lead an attack against the Kesh Rhan forces and prevent the destruction of the planet.

==Reception==
Reviewing the CD-i version, ''[[GamePro]]'' commented that "''Chaos Control'' is a looker, a fun way to waste some time. As far as depth and challenge, though, it doesn't deliver the chaos that it should." They criticized the lack of multiple weapons and rail shooter gameplay as too limited, but praised the heavily detailed backgrounds and the high level of onscreen action.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=ProReview: Chaos Control|magazine=[[GamePro]]|issue=81|publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]]|date=June 1995|page=84}}</ref> ''[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]'' admired the "spectacular visual results" of the [[full motion video]] and stylish animations, but advised that the game would bore anyone who does not enjoy the "straightforward and mindless" gameplay of full motion video-based rail shooters. They scored the game two out of five stars.<ref name="NGen7">{{cite magazine|title=Chaos Control|magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=7 |publisher=[[Imagine Media]] |date=July 1995|page=70}}</ref> ''GamePro'' later awarded it Best CD-i Game of 1995.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Editor's Choice Awards 1995 |magazine=[[GamePro]] |issue=89 |publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]]|date=February 1996|page=26}}</ref> [[Power Unlimited]] gave the CD-i version a score of 85% summarizing: "Chaos Control is a beautiful shoot 'em up for the CD-i, finally with a woman in the leading role. It looks fantastic, it sounds good and the story is compelling. Too bad that, like most games for CD-i, it is very slow."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Power Unlimited Game Database |url=http://www.powerweb.nl/database/index.php?&query%5border%5d=platform&ending=DESC&query%5bstart%5d=3920 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030831162832/http://www.powerweb.nl/database/index.php?&query%5border%5d=platform&ending=DESC&query%5bstart%5d=3920 |archive-date=August 31, 2003 |access-date=December 12, 2024}}</ref>

Rob Allsetter gave ''Chaos Control Remix'' 56% in ''[[Sega Saturn Magazine]]''. Like reviews for the CD-i version, he was pleased with the graphics, citing the polished rendering and sense of depth, but found the gameplay monotonous, since the unrelenting pace prompts the player to simply fire indiscriminately at the screen. He also judged the longevity to be exceptionally low, since the game can be finished in roughly half an hour and the absence of scoring features such as an accuracy ratio leaves it with no replay value.<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Rob|last=Allsetter |title=Review: Chaos Control|magazine=[[Sega Saturn Magazine]] |issue=14|publisher=[[Emap International Limited]]|date=December 1996|pages=76–77}}</ref>

''[[Computer Game Review]]'' was sharply critical of ''Chaos Control''{{'}}s computer version, dubbing it a substandard copy of ''[[Star Wars: Rebel Assault]]''.<ref name=cgr>{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961221184033/http://www.nuke.com/compent/reviews/separc/chaoscon/chaoscon.htm | url=http://www.nuke.com/compent/reviews/separc/chaoscon/chaoscon.htm | title=Intruder Alert! | date=September 1995 | author1=Snyder, Frank | author2=Chapman, Ted | author3=Kaiafas, Tasos | work=[[Computer Game Review]] | archive-date=December 21, 1996 | url-status=dead }}</ref> In 1996, ''[[Computer Gaming World]]'' declared ''Chaos Control'' the 38th-worst computer game ever released.<ref name=cgw150>{{cite magazine | author=Staff | title=150 Best (and 50 Worst) Games of All Time | magazine=[[Computer Gaming World]] | date=November 1996 | issue=148 | pages=63–65, 68, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 84, 88, 90, 94, 98 }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{moby game|id=/chaos-control}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1995 video games]]
[[Category:CD-i games]]
[[Category:Classic Mac OS games]]
[[Category:DOS games]]
[[Category:Fiction set in 2050]]
[[Category:Full motion video based games]]
[[Category:Infogrames games]]
[[Category:Piko Interactive games]]
[[Category:PlayStation (console) games]]
[[Category:Rail shooters]]
[[Category:Science fiction video games]]
[[Category:Sega Saturn games]]
[[Category:Single-player video games]]
[[Category:Video games developed in France]]
[[Category:Video games featuring female protagonists]]
[[Category:Video games set in New York City]]
[[Category:Virgin Interactive games]]