South Park (video game)

This article is about the 1998 video game. For other South Park video games, see List of South Park video games.
South Park
Developer(s) Iguana Entertainment
Appaloosa Interactive (PS)
Publisher(s) Acclaim Entertainment
(Throwback Entertainment)
Distributor(s) Comedy Central
Producer(s) David Dienstbier
Designer(s) Jeff Everett
Neill Glancy
Composer(s) Darren Mitchell
Engine Turok 2 engine
Platform(s) Nintendo 64
Microsoft Windows
PlayStation
Release date(s)

Nintendo 64[1]

  • NA December 12, 1998
  • EU May 3, 1999

Microsoft Windows[2]

  • NA March 9, 1999

PlayStation[3]

  • NA September 30, 1999
  • EU 1999
Genre(s) First-person shooter
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

South Park is a first-person shooter video game based on the American animated comedy series of the same name. The game was developed by Iguana Entertainment and published by Acclaim Entertainment for the Nintendo 64 in 1998 for North America and in 1999 for Europe. It was later ported to Microsoft Windows in 1999 and released in North America only. The PlayStation port was developed by Appaloosa Interactive in 1999. A Game Boy Color version was in development, but it was eventually canceled by Matt Stone and Trey Parker, the creators, because they felt the game wouldn't fit in a console marketed towards kids. However, they did keep a few copies of the Game Boy Color version to commemorate what was originally started as the first South Park game.[4] The PC and PlayStation versions of South Park were very poorly received by critics. A spiritual sequel was in development for the PS2 and Xbox, but was never finished and only some footage of the beta has been released.[5]

Gameplay

South Park is a first person shooter. The game's single player mode places the player in control of one of the four main characters of South Park (Cartman, Kyle, Stan or Kenny). The player must defeat a variety of enemies using the various weapons found throughout each stage in order to reach the exit point at the end, similar to Doom and other FPS games of the time period.

In addition to completing levels, the player must also prevent large enemies in the stage (dubbed 'Tanks') from reaching the exit before they do. If they fail to do so, they will be forced to defend South Park from the 'Tanks' in a short minigame after the stage.

Story

A mysterious comet is approaching the earth, described by the opening narration as a force of concentrated evil that no force of good can stand against. As it comes closer, South Park is beset by enemies, including rabid mutant turkeys, deformed clones of the townsfolk, alien visitors, berserk robots, and sentient killer toys. Stan, Kyle, Cartman and Kenny hear about the dangers from Chef, and take up arms to investigate their sources and defend the town.

Multiplayer

In Head-to-Head mode, the players select a level, characters, and game style (time limited, damage limited, or unending). The Microsoft Windows version allows for online head-to-head play.

In the PlayStation and Nintendo 64 versions, upon reaching select stages in single player mode, codes are revealed. These can then be input into the "Cheesy Poofs Decoder" to unlock additional characters for Head-to-Head play. All characters are unlocked in the Microsoft Windows version.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
GameRankings(N64) 67.11%[6]
(PC) 51.72%[7]
(PS) 41.22%[8]
Review scores
PublicationScore
AllGame(PC) [9]
(N64) [10]
(PS) [11]
Edge(N64) 4/10[12]
Game Informer(N64) 7/10[13][14]
GamePro(PS) [15]
(N64) [16]
(PC) [17]
Game Revolution(N64) C−[18]
GameSpot(N64) 5.8/10[19]
(PC) 4.1/10[20]
(PS) 1.4/10[21]
IGN(N64) 6.2/10[22]
(PC) 4.5/10[23]
(PS) 2/10[24]
Nintendo Power7.5/10[25]
PC Gamer (US)40%[26]

South Park's reception depended on the console. Overall, the game was met with mixed critical reception. The PlayStation and PC versions received poor reception due to the bad graphics, poor visuals and bad voice acting. The Nintendo 64 version received the best reviews upon release. Aggregating review website GameRankings gave the Nintendo 64 version 67.11%,[6] the PC version 51.72%[7] and the PlayStation version 41.22%.[8]

GameSpot gave the PlayStation version a 1.4/10, stating that "South Park is definitely one of those games that is bound to come up when you start thinking about the worst game you've ever played."[21] IGN called the PlayStation version "frustrating" due to poor graphics, repetition of the voice acting, and lack of play value for the head-to-head mode.[24] GameSpot stated in the PC version that "A good license and good graphics aren't enough."[20] The voice acting, done by the original voice actors, was criticized for being repetitive, isolated, and old.[20][24] The weapons of the game were also criticized for being unprofessional.[21][24]

Despite the negative reception from the Windows and PS1 versions, the Nintendo 64 version was praised for its 3D graphics and nice storyline, with IGN calling the game "just as funny as the Comedy Central series."[22] GameSpot stated in the Nintendo 64 version that the level design was "really not very good on its own, but given the license, it at least makes sense."[19]

References

  1. ↑ "South Park for Nintendo 64". GameFAQs. Retrieved 2013-07-08.
  2. ↑ "South Park for PC". GameFAQs. Retrieved 2013-07-08.
  3. ↑ "South Park for PlayStation". GameFAQs. Retrieved 2013-07-08.
  4. ↑ "South Park [Unreleased]". Unseen 64.net. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  5. ↑ http://venturebeat.com/2015/09/30/the-story-behind-the-lost-south-park-game/
  6. 1 2 "South Park (N64)". GameRankings. Archived from the original on 2004-01-15. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
  7. 1 2 "South Park (PC)". GameRankings. Archived from the original on 2004-01-15. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
  8. 1 2 "South Park for PlayStation". GameRankings.
  9. ↑ Penniment, Brad. "South Park (PC) - Overview". AllGame. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
  10. ↑ Marriott, Scott Alan. "South Park (N64) - Review". Allgame. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
  11. ↑ Baker, Christopher Michael. "South Park (PS) - Review". Allgame. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
  12. ↑ Edge staff (February 1999). "South Park (N64)". Edge (68).
  13. ↑ "South Park - Nintendo 64". Game Informer: 34–35. January 1999. Archived from the original on 2000-10-26. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
  14. ↑ "Game Informer Magazine - Reviews (N64)". Game Informer. Archived from the original on 2000-10-16. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
  15. ↑ The Burn Out. "South Park Review for PlayStation". GamePro. Archived from the original on 2005-02-12. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
  16. ↑ Elektro, Dan. "South Park Review for N64". GamePro. Archived from the original on 2005-11-20. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
  17. ↑ Knibbe, Willem. "South Park Review for PC". GamePro. Archived from the original on 2005-02-09. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
  18. ↑ Colin (1999-01-01). "South Park Review". Game Revolution. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
  19. 1 2 Gerstmann, Jeff (1998-12-28). "South Park Review for Nintendo 64". GameSpot. Retrieved 2013-10-20.
  20. 1 2 3 Kasavin, Greg (1999-03-11). "South Park Review for PC". GameSpot. Retrieved 2013-10-20.
  21. 1 2 3 Gerstmann, Jeff (1999-10-15). "South Park Review for PlayStation". GameSpot. Retrieved 2013-10-20.
  22. 1 2 Schneider, Peer (1999-01-11). "South Park (N64)". IGN.
  23. ↑ Blevins, Tal (1999-03-12). "South Park (PC)". IGN.
  24. 1 2 3 4 Austin, Dean (1999-10-19). "South Park (PS)". IGN.
  25. ↑ "South Park". Nintendo Power 116. January 1999.
  26. ↑ "South Park". PC Gamer. June 1999. Archived from the original on 2000-03-06. Retrieved 2014-11-28.
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