Another World 15th Anniversary Edition (PC)

The game cannot be reviewed under the normal criteria, the AI was rudimentary, simple stuff and the strength of Another World’s game-play came from its mix of lethal/fiendish puzzles, evil pixel-jump timing and clever use of the game’s special weapon.

The alien blaster pistol is capable of churning out rapid shots, a power shot or if you hold down the button and release it quickly a particle wall that can block the enemies’ shots at you. By mastering this particular skill you can make short work of the enemies in the game and get back to solving the puzzles and reaching the climax of the story.

It wouldn’t be fair to even score it against the games of today, so that’s exactly what I am not going to do. I scored Another World on its game-play, the re-mastered sound. The graphics are as I mentioned still true to the original, there are some upgrades but they won’t blow your mind.

The animation and use of clever cinematic camera, action sequences and dramatic timing is excellent. Another World used Rotoscoped animation techniques to capture the athletic scientists’ motions and those of his lumbering friend, evil alien bad guys. It stands with Karateka and Prince of Persia as one of the truly groundbreaking titles of yester-year in that respect.

If you have ever wondered what people like me were raving about all those years ago, when we mention Another World in the same breath and the excellent X-Com series, then you can now forgo the emulators and get your hands on this shiny new version of the game.

It stays true to the original, has a nicely re-mastered score and by using the save system (of passwords and checkpoints) allows you to play it, leave it for a few days, come back and play it again.

All in all I think that this Director’s cut of the game is worth the price tag for a slice of the:

“Highest rated game ever” Computer Games Review

And I actually agreed with them, and still do. You can’t go far wrong by getting this; you are in for a treat if you have a desire to experience a re-make of retro-gaming at its finest.

You just need to have more than Popcorn gamer’s attention span, no blinkers in regards to graphical quality and a desire to play the game for what it was and not what it could have been if they’d have spent millions remaking it.

If you can get past that, then you’re going to have a good time with Another World.

So with that in mind Another World gets a resounding 8/10 from me because it's a classic that you should own (along with Pitfall damn-it Ed.)

There's also a bonus in the package (on the CD are some AW related goodies) and for £14.99 you can't grumble (though some people will Ed.)

Fin.