History Videogame / MissionCritical

** It's also mentioned in the backstory that you were specifically requested by Captain Dayna just before the mission left - you were reassigned so quickly that [[{{AFGNCAAP}} your name wasn't even entered into the printed crew manifest]]. He suspected a traitor as well, and presumably, you and Tran were the only two he could implicitly trust.

''Mission Critical'' is a 1995 first-person AdventureGame with [[RealTimeStrategy RTS]] elements from Creator/LegendEntertainment. GameplayRoulette was implemented fairly well here with the strategy elements being almost optional (the player can adjust the [[DifficultyLevels Difficulty Level]] from EasierThanEasy to HarderThanHard on-the-fly). The game features FullMotionVideo when interacting with people or during {{cutscene}}s and is prominent for casting Creator/MichaelDorn of the ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' fame, as well as Patricia Charbonneau, best known from ''Film/DesertHearts'' (both being shown very little, as the game is not focused on interacting with people). The gameplay style is reminiscent of ''VideoGame/{{Myst}}'', as it is in first person and the player has to search locations, uncovering the past. Unlike ''Myst'', however, several critical puzzles are [[TimedMission timed]]. Unfortunately, the timer is not shown, so the player is often left guessing. For example, the first puzzle involves preventing the meltdown of the ship's nuclear reactor. Also, if the player takes too long solving the puzzles necessary to start the strategy portion of the game, the game will end in a NonstandardGameOver. The game also features an optional RTS portion, which involves the player directing the ship and its {{Attack Drone}}s to destroy the enemy forces, made up of the same type of units.

* UnitedNationsIsASuperpower: Somehow, the UN becomes a legitimate government with its own military. Its member states are hardly ever mentioned.

''Mission Critical'' is a 1995 first-person AdventureGame with [[RealTimeStrategy RTS]] elements from Creator/LegendEntertainment. GameplayRoulette was implemented fairly well here with the strategy elements being almost optional (the player can adjust the [[DifficultyLevels Difficulty Level]] from EasierThanEasy to HarderThanHard on-the-fly). The game features FullMotionVideo when interacting with people or during {{cutscene}}s and is prominent for casting Michael Dorn of the ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' fame, as well as Patricia Charbonneau, best known from ''Film/DesertHearts'' (both being shown very little, as the game is not focused on interacting with people). The gameplay style is reminiscent of ''VideoGame/{{Myst}}'', as it is in first person and the player has to search locations, uncovering the past. Unlike ''Myst'', however, several critical puzzles are [[TimedMission timed]]. Unfortunately, the timer is not shown, so the player is often left guessing. For example, the first puzzle involves preventing the meltdown of the ship's nuclear reactor. Also, if the player takes too long solving the puzzles necessary to start the strategy portion of the game, the game will end in a NonstandardGameOver. The game also features an optional RTS portion, which involves the player directing the ship and its {{Attack Drone}}s to destroy the enemy forces, made up of the same type of units.

The game's {{backstory}} is fairly detailed, although finding out about it is not necessary to complete the game. You can read a summary of it and the game as a whole [[Synopsis/MissionCritical here]].

* AIIsACrapshoot: [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]], none of the [=AIs=] in the game or the backstory are evil. The ones that caused the UN to ban them were merely curious and the [=ELFs=] were defending themselves.

''Mission Critical'' is a 1995 first-person AdventureGame with [[RealTimeStrategy RTS]] elements from Creator/LegendEntertainment. GameplayRoulette was implemented fairly well here with the strategy elements being almost optional (the player can adjust the [[DifficultyLevels Difficulty Level]] from EasierThanEasy to HarderThanHard on-the-fly). The game features FullMotionVideo when interacting with people or during {{cutscene}}s and is prominent for casting Michael Dorn of the ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' fame, as well as Patricia Charbonneau, best known from ''DesertHearts'' (both being shown very little, as the game is not focused on interacting with people). The gameplay style is reminiscent of ''VideoGame/{{Myst}}'', as it is in first person and the player has to search locations, uncovering the past. Unlike ''Myst'', however, several critical puzzles are [[TimedMission timed]]. Unfortunately, the timer is not shown, so the player is often left guessing. For example, the first puzzle involves preventing the meltdown of the ship's nuclear reactor. Also, if the player takes too long solving the puzzles necessary to start the strategy portion of the game, the game will end in a NonstandardGameOver. The game also features an optional RTS portion, which involves the player directing the ship and its {{Attack Drone}}s to destroy the enemy forces, made up of the same type of units.

* AIIsACrapshoot: subverted, none of the [=AIs=] in the game or the backstory are evil. The ones that caused the UN to ban them were merely curious and the [=ELFs=] were defending themselves.
* TheAlliance: the Alliance of Free States.
* AlmightyJanitor: the player is a supply officer who is forced into this situation.

* AttackDrone: the primary offensive and defensive space combat weapons of both the UN and the Alliance.

* BadFuture: the result of the UN winning the war.

* UsefulNotes/ColdWar: the ceasefire during the war was called the New Cold War.
* DisproportionateRetribution: in the backstory, one of the [=AIs=] builds mobile platforms to explore the world. The authorities freak out and send in the army, forcing the AI to start making armed robots. Before the situation can get any worse, the authorities destroy University of Chicago (where the AI was created) with an [[KillSat orbital cannon]].
* DoomsdayDevice: the Tal-Seto collapser.

* FailureIsTheOnlyOption: after re-establishing contact with Alliance Command, you are ordered to return to Alliance HQ. However, if you choose to obey that order, you are treated to a NonStandardGameOver. The only way to continue the game is to disobey an order from an Admiral.
* FullMotionVideo: all humans are played by actors.
* HyperspaceLanes: the Tal-Seto network. Originally assumed to cover the whole galaxy, but later fully mapped, revealing only a fraction of the galaxy to be part of it. The [=ELFs=] theorize that multiple such networks exist in the galaxy, but have no way of verifying without traveling to a system outside the network by sublight.
* ImportedAlienPhlebotinum: the alien technology that will decide who wins the war.
* KillSat: at least one particle beam cannon is mentioned to be in Earth's orbit.

* MiniGame: preventing the reactor meltdown, fighting UN ships, solving the [=ELFs'=] puzzle.

* {{Precursors}}: the unnamed and unseen aliens who built the ruins.

* SetRightWhatOnceWentWrong: [[spoiler:the [=ELFs=] task the player to change the outcome of the war]].

* UnexpectedGameplayChange: after connecting to the tactical station, the player is forced to fight UN ships in a RealTimeStrategy style.
* UnitedNationsIsASuperpower: somehow, the UN becomes a legitimate government with its own military. Its member states are hardly ever mentioned.

* HeyItsThatGuy: [[Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration Michael Dorn]] and [[DesertHearts Patricia Charbonneau]]

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''Mission Critical'' is a 1995 first-person AdventureGame with [[RealTimeStrategy RTS]] elements from Creator/LegendEntertainment. GameplayRoulette was implemented fairly well here with the strategy elements being almost optional (the player can adjust the [[DifficultyLevels Difficulty Level]] from EasierThanEasy to HarderThanHard on-the-fly). The game features FullMotionVideo when interacting with people or during {{cutscene}}s and is prominent for casting Michael Dorn of the ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' fame, as well as Patricia Charbonneau, best known from ''DesertHearts'' (both being shown very little, as the game is not focused on interacting with people). The gameplay style is reminiscent of ''VideoGame/{{Myst}}'', as it is in first person and the player has to search locations, uncovering the past. Unlike ''Myst'', however, several critical puzzles are [[TimedMission timed]]. Unfortunately, the timer is not shown, so the player is often left guessing. For example, the first puzzle involves preventing the meltdown of the ship's nuclear reactor. Also, if the player takes too long solving the puzzles necessary to start the strategy portion of the game, the game will end in a NonstandardGameOver. The game also features an optional RTS potion, which involves the player directing the ship and its {{Attack Drone}}s to destroy the enemy forces, made up of the same type of units.

** Erebus - [[GreekMythology Greek]] god of darkness. The location of Alliance Command.

* ColdWar: the ceasefire during the war was called the New Cold War.

''Mission Critical'' is a 1995 first-person AdventureGame with [[RealTimeStrategy RTS]] elements from Creator/LegendEntertainment. GameplayRoulette was implemented fairly well here with the strategy elements being almost optional (the player can adjust the [[DifficultyLevels Difficulty Level]] from EasierThanEasy to HarderThanHard on-the-fly). The game features FullMotionVideo when interacting with people or during {{cutscene}}s and is prominent for casting Michael Dorn of the ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' fame, as well as Patricia Charbonneau, best known from ''DesertHearts'' (both being shown very little, as the game is not focused on interacting with people). The gameplay style is reminiscent of ''{{Myst}}'', as it is in first person and the player has to search locations, uncovering the past. Unlike ''Myst'', however, several critical puzzles are [[TimedMission timed]]. Unfortunately, the timer is not shown, so the player is often left guessing. For example, the first puzzle involves preventing the meltdown of the ship's nuclear reactor. Also, if the player takes too long solving the puzzles necessary to start the strategy portion of the game, the game will end in a NonstandardGameOver. The game also features an optional RTS potion, which involves the player directing the ship and its {{Attack Drone}}s to destroy the enemy forces, made up of the same type of units.

* DysonSphere: possible future.

''Mission Critical'' is a 1995 first-person AdventureGame with [[RealTimeStrategy RTS]] elements from Creator/LegendEntertainment. GameplayRoulette was implemented fairly well here with the strategy elements being almost optional (the player can adjust the [[DifficultyLevels Difficulty Level]] from EasierThanEasy to HarderThanHard on-the-fly). The game also features FullMotionVideo when interacting with people or during {{cutscene}}s and is prominent for casting Michael Dorn of the ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' fame, as well as Patricia Charbonneau, best known from ''DesertHearts'' (both being shown very little, as the game is not focused on interacting with people). The gameplay style is reminiscent of ''{{Myst}}'', as it is in first person and the player has to search locations, uncovering the past. Unlike ''Myst'', however, several critical puzzles are [[TimedMission timed]]. Unfortunately, the timer is not shown, so the player is often left guessing. For example, the first puzzle involves preventing the meltdown of the ship's nuclear reactor. Also, if the player takes too long solving the puzzles necessary to start the strategy portion of the game, the game will end in a NonstandardGameOver.

The RTS potion involves the player directing the ship and its {{Attack Drone}}s to destroy the enemy forces, made up of the same type of units. The ship acts as the base and is immobile. It serves as the repairing and rearming location for the drones. It also launches missiles at the opposing ship, although those missiles are usually intercepted by the enemy drones. The drones act as the main offensive and defensive weapons, as the ships themselves are pretty defenseless against them, so the main task boils down to eliminating the enemy drones and then swarming the enemy ship. Besides the difficulty, the game allows the player to adjust the speed of the game (this is {{handwave}}d by the player using experimental {{Phlebotinum}} to drastically decrease his reaction time to be a match for computer-controlled UN drones). Before the main battles, the player is given the option of playing through several tutorial scenarios, meant to prepare the player for the final showdown.

The game's {{backstory}} is fairly detailed, although finding out about it is not necessary to complete the game. Decades before the game's storyline (i.e. the year 2134), continued progress and industrialization of the world led to massive ecological problems. Also, scientists were attempting to create self-aware [=AIs=]. Their attempts resulted in disaster, mostly due to the inquisitive nature of the [=AIs=] and the tendency of humans to overreact. Fearing that "unchecked technological development will kill off the human race," most United Nations members pass an international law placing strict limits on technological research, most notably - in AI development. Due to the extreme measures UN took to enforce the law, several nations have declared that they would rather die than be denied this freedom and created the [[TheAlliance Alliance of Free States]], including [[{{Eagleland}} United States]], [[CanadaEh Canada]], [[LandOfDragons China]], [[{{UsefulNotes/Singapore}} Singapore]], [[LandDownunder Australia]], [[JapanTakesOverTheWorld Japan]], and major off-world colonies. As the result of the Alliance seceding from the UN, the latter responded by invading the former, starting the First Secession War. After the initial period of fighting, which resulted in the complete destruction of Atlanta, Georgia, with a nuclear warhead, there came a ceasefire, while both sides were replenishing their ranks and rebuilding their war machines. At the end of the ceasefire, the war began anew and increased in intensity, spilling over into the colonies. By that point, humanity has discovered FasterThanLightTravel, and both sides began to look outside the Solar System for means to defeat each other. By 2134, the Alliance has determined that, due to the UN having several technological advantages over the Alliance, the war will be lost within five years.

Around this time, an unmanned Alliance probe discovered alien ruins on a faraway planet named Persephone. Fearing that the UN also has knowledge of the ruins, the Alliance hastily dispatched the unarmed science vessel SV ''Jericho'' to examine the ruins for signs of [[{{Precursors}} Precursor]] technology, which may turn the tide of the war. The light cruiser USS ''Lexington'' was assigned as an escort. On approach to Persephone, the Alliance ships were ambushed by the UN heavy cruiser UNS ''Dharma'', destroying the ''Jericho'''s {{Attack Drone}}s (the main offensive and defensive space combat weapons) and rendering it helpless. TheCaptain of the ''Lexington'' pretends to surrender the crews of both ships, but leaves behind an unconscious officer (the player), claiming that the officer was killed in the battle. The shuttle is rigged with a nuclear warhead, which detonates while docking with the ''Dharma'', destroying the UN ship and killing the crews of both Alliance ships.

The game starts with the player regaining consciousness and finding himself the only one on board. The immediate tasks involve finding messages left by the captain and his NumberTwo, which instruct the player restore communications with Alliance Command and receive further instructions. The player also has to single-handedly repair some of the battle damage, including plugging a hole in the hull, preventing the ship's reactor from GoingCritical, restarting the main computer, and repairing the communications array by taking a spacewalk. All the while, there are two unseen timers ticking away, one until more UN ships arrive to investigate the disappearance of the ''Dharma'', and the other [[spoiler: attached to the antimatter bomb the spy snuck aboard the ship and armed in case the ''Dharma'' lost]]. If the player has not managed to gain access to the ''Lexington'''s tactical systems by that time, the mission will be lost. Once the ships arrive, the player has to use top-secret Alliance {{Phlebotinum}} to defeat the enemy (the RTS portion of the game), buying him more time. After contacting Alliance Command, the player is ordered to withdraw the ''Lexington'' before more UN ships arrive. [[spoiler: However, if the player chooses to obey that order, this results in a NonstandardGameOver. The player must recall the lander craft from the ''Jericho'' and explore the planetary ruins in hope of finding something of use.]]

The game then begins to use TimeTravel, allowing the player to see two versions of TheFuture with the events at Persephone being the focal point that decides the outcome of the war and the future of humanity.