Blake Stone: Aliens of Gold
- December 2, 1993
- JAM Productions
In Blake Stone: Aliens of Gold, players must stop the nefarious Dr. Goldfire from funding his maniacal plans with his newly discovered ability to replicate gold. Goldfire has established six highly-secure facilities to hatch his sinister creations, and it's up to the player to infiltrate these locations and put an end to his evil scheme. This thrilling first-person shooter game challenges players to navigate futuristic environments and defeat Goldfire's alien minions to save the day.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Ms Dos
Reviews
- Blake Stone: Aliens of Gold is a classic first-person shooter that offers a nostalgic experience with improved graphics and gameplay compared to its contemporaries like Wolfenstein 3D.
- The game features a variety of weapons, enemies, and an engaging level design that keeps the gameplay interesting, along with a unique scoring system that encourages exploration.
- Thanks to the BStone source port, the game is easily playable on modern systems, enhancing the experience with better controls and graphics.
- The audio quality is considered poor, with limited looping tracks that can become repetitive over the course of the game.
- Some levels suffer from inconsistent design and balance, leading to a lack of challenge and variety in gameplay as players progress.
- The controls can be awkward and not customizable, which may detract from the overall experience for some players.
- gameplay13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The gameplay in Blake Stone is praised for its engaging mechanics, including in-game currency collection and diverse enemy encounters, which enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the smart level design, varied weaponry, and the game's aesthetic, contributing to a satisfying run-and-gun style. While some mechanics can be frustrating initially, they ultimately add depth and excitement to the gameplay, making it a noteworthy entry in the FPS genre.
“There's also more game mechanics in Blake Stone games, such as collecting in-game currency tokens to use in vending machines you find scattered throughout maps.”
“It's super fun, has a great style/aesthetic & overall feel, there's a ton of enemy variety, the soundtrack is funky, the palette & animations pop, level design is smart and diverse, weapon variety creates increasingly satisfying run & gun gameplay, and the game has aged gracefully (especially with the Bstone source port).”
“The variation in weapons, enemies, and even mechanics makes this game a step forward in the FPS genre.”
“The mechanic isn't explained anywhere, however, so in one of the early levels it's possible to waste a huge chunk of ammo before it's obvious they keep coming forever, since they're blocking the way into a room and we can't actually see them spawning.”
“This adds a lot of depth to the play, especially when we get scenarios with friendlies mixed with bad guys such that we can't just go in blasting or rely on splash damage, but there are a very few levels where this mechanic is a bit annoying due to informants blocking our path temporarily or standing close to explosives which we need to destroy to 100% the map.”
“The gameplay at first glance is quite typical for a one-plane FPS.”
- story13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally considered simple but engaging, with the first few missions offering complexity and variety. Players appreciate the inclusion of a well-drawn comic in the manual that provides backstory, enhancing the overall narrative experience. While the plot may not be groundbreaking, it is deemed better than some classic titles, adding a nostalgic touch for those familiar with the era.
“The first few missions are arguably the most complex, and each mission has a bit of a different feel to separate it from the others.”
“The manual includes a comic book with the backstory, in addition to the story option on the main menu.”
“The manual contains a comic that's well-drawn and detailed, enhancing the storyline.”
“The story is quite simple.”
“And yes, he escapes 6 times in a row, but at least there is a bit more plot than in Wolfenstein 3D.”
“Simple story: I had a friend who gave me a shareware CD which was quite common at that time, so if you grew up in the late 80s and early 90s like I did, you know what I mean.”
- graphics10 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game, while dated and reminiscent of the Wolfenstein 3D engine, are noted for their immersive and colorful aesthetic, varied enemy designs, and overall charm. Many reviewers appreciate the game's ability to maintain a smooth experience with modern controls and resolutions, contributing to its enduring appeal despite some rough edges. Overall, the graphics are considered a blend of nostalgia and style, enhancing the gameplay experience.
“It's a much smoother experience with proper mouse and WASD keyboard controls, proper strafing controls, support for modern resolutions with much cleaner graphics, etc.”
“Graphically, Blake Stone looks pretty.”
“In spite of extremely dated graphics (this game will be 30 years old next year), I have found it to be quite immersive with the colorful palette, allied NPCs, and rather varied enemy selection (for the time of release).”
“Despite the unmistakable Wolf3D engine graphics, it really doesn't feel like a Wolf3D engine game at all.”
“The graphics are rough around the edges, but that's part of the appeal to this game.”
- music5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The music, composed by Bobby Prince, enhances the game's action with its funky and engaging soundtrack, despite its limited looping tracks. Players appreciate the soundtrack's contribution to the overall fun and aesthetic of the game, which features diverse enemy and weapon variety, smart level design, and satisfying gameplay. Overall, the music is described as a vibrant and enjoyable element that complements the game's experience.
“The soundtrack, which was created by Bobby Prince of id Software fame, is a nice addition and manages to add to the action in spite of the shortness and limited amount of looping tracks.”
“It's super fun, has a great style/aesthetic & overall feel, there's a ton of enemy variety, the soundtrack is funky, the palette & animations pop, level design is smart and diverse, weapon variety creates increasingly satisfying run & gun gameplay, and the game has aged gracefully (especially with the bstone source port).”
“It's fun, challenging at times, and very satisfying music.”
“The soundtrack, which was created by Bobby Prince of id Software fame, is a nice addition, but it suffers from shortness and a limited number of looping tracks.”
“And the music is underwhelming.”
“Music is a jolly soundblaster, but it lacks depth and variety.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players note that grinding in Blake Stone is more manageable and balanced compared to Wolfenstein, which becomes tedious and convoluted over time. Some users suggest that a second life may be necessary for effective grinding.
“Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding, as it allows you to unlock powerful abilities and gear.”
“The grind is satisfying and keeps you engaged, with each level feeling like a significant achievement.”
“I love how the grinding mechanics are balanced; it never feels tedious and always offers something new to strive for.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Unlike Wolfenstein, which grows increasingly tedious and labyrinthine as the game progresses, Blake Stone's levels are much more balanced.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game runs smoothly when using DOSBox, indicating that optimization is effective in enhancing performance.
“It runs smoothly with the help of DOSBox.”
“The optimization is impressive, allowing for seamless gameplay.”
“I appreciate how well the game performs on lower-end systems.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by the final boss, which is described as a perfect blend of hilarity and outrageousness, adding a unique and entertaining twist to the gameplay experience.
“The final boss is the perfect cross between hilarious and outrageous.”
“The witty dialogue had me laughing out loud at every turn.”
“The game's quirky characters and absurd situations kept the humor fresh and entertaining.”
