1 | [[quoteright:313:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/abuse_2073.jpg]] |
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3 | A little-known gem from the days when platformers were still big on the PC, ''Abuse'' is a dark (both literally and figuratively) platform shooter created by Crack Dot Com, co-founded by former Creator/IdSoftware programmers Dave Taylor and Jonathan Clark, and published by Creator/OriginSystems, by then a division of Creator/ElectronicArts, in 1996. |
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5 | Set in the year [[TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture 2009]], ''Abuse'' puts players in the shoes of Nick Vrenna, a man unjustly incarcerated in a maximum-security prison that is being used for [[PlayingWithSyringes ethically-questionable experiments]]. Predictably, all hell breaks loose when inmates and staff get transformed into monsters by a biological agent called [[TitleDrop Abuse]]. Only Nick is [[TheImmune immune]], so he decides to take advantage of the chaos by stealing a suit of PoweredArmor and making good his escape. [[note]]The original story, from the very first release, was actually a throwaway one where Earth is invaded by the mutants and Nick is the only one who can stop them. [[/note]] |
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7 | The player must guide Nick through a series of increasingly difficult, sometimes maze-like levels while shooting {{Mutants}}, [[MechaMooks robots]] and [[SentryGun turrets]] with eight distinct weapons. The game was known for its convincing atmosphere and silky-smooth controls which included a unique mouse-aiming system, an unprecedented feature that earned it the moniker of "''VideoGame/{{Doom}}'' in 2D." The game shipped in a very mod-friendly state, with a fully functional map editor and a rudimentary sprite/texture editing program. The source code has been freely available since the late 90s. |
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9 | It was also distributed to the [[Platform/MacOS Macintosh]] via [[{{Creator/Bungie}} Bungie Studios]] ([[VideoGame/{{Marathon}} yes]], ''[[VideoGame/{{Myth}} that]]'' [[{{Franchise/Halo}} Bungie]]) and was a game in the Mac Action Sack. It later received an [[Platform/{{Amiga}} Amiga OS 4]] port in 2009, and an UsefulNotes/{{iOS|Games}} port titled ''Abuse Classic''. The game is also being freely distributed through DESURA for Windows, Mac, and Linux, with the help of UsefulNotes/DOSBox. For those looking to play the game on modern systems without [=DOSBox=], a fan-made SDL port can be found [[http://antonior-software.blogspot.com/2016/05/abuse-1996-sdl-port-09a.html here]]. Definitely not to be confused with AbuseTropes or [[UsefulNotes/{{Abuse}} Useful Notes: Abuse]]. |
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11 | ---- |
12 | !!Tropes this game displays include: |
13 | * BodyHorror: Implied in the game's opening text. The victims of the virus suffered through a horrible transformation as they became rabid mutants. |
14 | * BadassNormal: Nick takes a high-tech battle armor along some weapons to take on the hoards of mutants and make his escape. |
15 | * BottomlessMagazines: Your basic rifle can still fire without any ammo, but it will shoot at a slower rate while empty. |
16 | * ContinuingIsPainful: Restarting a level without saving strips you of your weapons. |
17 | * CriticalAnnoyance: Low health results in a constantly faster and louder heartbeat. |
18 | * CriticalExistenceFailure: Both Nick and the enemies explode upon death, no matter what the cause. |
19 | * DeathTrap: Many examples, including automated turrets, lava pits, SpikesOfDoom, [[AdvancingWallOfDoom Advancing Drills of Doom]]. |
20 | * DenialOfDiagonalAttack: Averted. Nick can aim anywhere the mouse is pointing at. |
21 | * DifficultyLevels: [[EasierThanEasy Wimp]], Easy, Normal, and [[HarderThanHard Extreme]]. |
22 | * DoomDoors: The garden-variety {{mook}}s use the "Hell Knight Death" sound from ''VideoGame/{{Doom}}'' when they spawn. |
23 | * EmptyRoomUntilTheTrap: The game loves to put the player in seemingly empty rooms until a horde of mutants jump out and ambush you from nowhere, especially when you flip a switch in an attempt to access new areas. |
24 | * ExcusePlot: The only plot provided are quick text dumps at the beginning and end of the game. Plus an intermission letting you know that your journey is not yet over. |
25 | * TheFaceless: Nick's PowerArmor, judging by the single piece of art for it. |
26 | * FanRemake: ''Abuse SDL'' allows the game to be played natively on modern systems, uses a [=OpenGL=] render with support for higher resolutions and V-sync, adds in [=XInput=] controller support, and fixes some of the bugs leftover in the original game. The only downside is that it can't play multiplayer. |
27 | * HyperspaceArsenal: Many of Nick's weapons are large enough that he should only be able to carry one or two. |
28 | * JumpScare: The mutant screams make a pretty effective one, especially if 10 or so happen at once and blow out your speakers. |
29 | * LaserBlade: One weapon is functionally this; A beam weapon that fires continuously with extremely limited range, though the fact that it still comes from a gun makes it more akin to a laser bayonet. |
30 | * LevelEditor: The original game and [=fRaBs=] (Free Abuse) features one where you create your own custom levels. The level editor can be accessed by using the [-ABUSE.EXE -edit-] command in DOS. |
31 | * {{Metroidvania}}: The original game isn't like this, but the free version (fRaBs) is structured like one. |
32 | * NothingIsScarier: Unintentionally done if the PC lacks MIDI playback or deliberately if the music was turned down ([=fRaBs=] removed the music altogether). The game can be a bit more atmospheric hearing the ambient sounds and screams of mutants more clearly. |
33 | * OneWordTitle: Reflecting on the virus that mutated the prison inmates and staff. |
34 | * OutrunTheFireball: Nick will come across many rooms or tunnels filled with explosives ready to go off. Having fast reflexes and the Flash Speed power-up is essential to run to safety. |
35 | * PowerUp: Nick can find enhancement power-ups that grant him special abilities for the duration of the level or until you switch them out for another. The enhancements are... |
36 | ** HeartContainer: The Ultra Health power-up boost your maximum health by 100. |
37 | ** {{Invisibility}}: The multi-player only Cloak power-up makes you nearly invisible to other players. |
38 | ** SuperSpeed: The Flash Speed power-up that allows Nick to run at break-neck speed. |
39 | ** VideoGameFlight: The Anti-Grav Boots power-up that gives Nick flight jets to fly around the area. |
40 | * PredatorPastiche: Nick's armor contains some obvious design DNA from a certain sci-fi classic. |
41 | * SavePoint: Save stations records your progress so you can pick up from where you last left off. |
42 | * SpikeBallsOfDoom: Boulders, which are also {{Asteroids Monster}}s. |
43 | * TeleportingKeycardSquad: Most of the enemies are dormant, and burst out of the walls/ceiling/floor in ambushes. The levels are packed with low growls and lighting scares to keep you on your toes. |
44 | * ThisIsGonnaSuck: When you figure out that [[ShmuckBait picking up that single item]] will wake all those swarms of mutants and trigger the activation of all those turrets, with some of them being [[GrenadeSpam grenades launchers]], [[MacrossMissileMassacre missile launchers]] and [[EnergyWeapon beams cannons]]. |
45 | * TooAwesomeToUse: [[KillItWithFire The firebomb rifle]]. Its firepower is amazing and it can roast swarms of mutants in no time. However, ammo for this weapon is very scarce, so players are reluctant to use it. |
46 | * UselessUsefulStealth: The Invisibility power-up is completely useless in single-player, as enemies still know where you are. |
47 | * VideoGameFlamethrowersSuck: Not in this game. The Firebomb is one of the most devastating weapons in the game (though it more just chucks flaming napalm projectiles at enemies rather than behaving like a proper flamethrower.) |
48 | * TheVirus: The Abuse virus. |
49 | * AWinnerIsYou: [[spoiler:"You've survived impossible odds and made it to the Control Room. By pulling the switch, you've diverted the water supply and stopped the spread of Abuse! CONGRATULATIONS! YOU'RE HOWLING!!!"]] |
50 | * XenomorphXerox: The mutants are very much like the Xenomorphs. No eyes, lots of sharp teeth, running on four, a barded tail, although their heads look different from the Xenomorphs. Another key difference is that their back mount a deadly weapon. |
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