Tron 2.0

Richard immerses himself in the alternate world of Monolith's creation.

More Images

include #reader.c
include #ferrago.c
include #thegame.c

Ferrago(return integer = "the_score")
set TITLE = Tron 2.0
set DEVELOPER = Monolith Productions { history_string = "NOLF 2, AvP2" }

BEGIN();

Greetings Programs. I'm a complete geek when it comes to movies and games. If you are as well you will already know the giddy excitement of watching the light cycle sequence in Disney's Tron. I still think that Tron has the most amazing visuals and is as striking today as it ever was. If you've never seen the film then may you be derezed a binary digit at a time because it's a veritable classic. It was also a technical triumph for its time, being one the first uses of computer-generated imagery in a motion picture. (Geek note: The first completely computer-generated sequence ever was the Genesis Effect for Star Trek II, The Wrath of Khan) It is somewhat apt then that a sequel of sorts should arrive in the guise of a video game, another bold new medium. After an utterly brilliant credits sequence you are introduced to the main story. The game takes place some twenty years after the original. Bruce Boxleitner returns to voice his original character Alan Bradley. Having successfully defeated the Master Control Program all those years ago with Tron, he has now managed to replicate the process required to digitise a human being. In keeping with the original's theme of corporate malpractice, this time it is a hostile takeover of the company that brings turmoil. You play as Alan's son, Jet, who inadvertently gets pulled into the computer world and like the film must find your way out and along the way save the computers and humanity of the world as we know it. As you play through the various levels further snippets of the story unfurl as you uncover rather dull emails as the odd cut-scene. The story is fairly un-interesting unfortunately (I might add with the crappiest, corniest end line) for the most part but it provides enough of an excuse to throw you around a number of computer systems, dodging data wraiths and reformat walls. For whatever weaknesses the story has it is completely washed away by the mesmerising world you encounter. From the moment you enter the neon glow of the 'computer' you will be transfixed by the look and feel of the game. The team at Monolith are clearly fans of the film and have been careful to make the world seem true to its origins as well as making the technological metaphors suitable to the modern computing age and also playable. You might think that having to find your way through a bunch of glowing striped walls to be difficult or tedious. But thanks to some great texturing and canny level design each level has a certain distinct quality to separate itself whilst also remaining true to the overall look. One element though does permeate throughout, namely data blocks. These are essentially cubes that litter the game space either for a platform puzzle, for information or upgrades, and for simple aesthetic value. They can also contain parts of a file permission, so that in order to unlock some area you will need to download the right combination of permissions in order to progress. This, alongside the jumping puzzles, are obviously contrived game mechanics but thanks to the diversity and style of their presentation I never really minded falling off that platform or searching for that last key.