Quantum Gate

by Media Vision

Product Features

• Award winning interactive adventure.
• Full 360 degree fluid animation.
• Over two hours of full motion video.
• DOS, Windows 3.1, Works With Windows 95/98.

Product Details

• ASIN: B0002TKOO6
• Media: CD-ROM
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #23,455 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)

Product Description

You are Drew Griffins, an army medical student (ouch!) recruited by the U.N. on a secret mission to an alien world. The year is 2057. An advanced environmental simulation program called Earth-5 has predicted that there are only five years before irreversible environmental damages will cause the Earth's demise. Only the Eden Initiative can save Earth from this Armageddon. The key to this operation is a rare mineral, iridium oxide, found on the alien planet AJ3905--a world accessible only through an interplanetary device called the Quantum Gate. This world is occupied by a hostile life form who appear anthropomorphic in form through your Virtual Reality (VR) display. Yet, as launch time closes in, you begin to question the validity of the orders from your commanding officer, Colonel Saunders, and the inventor of the Quantum Gate, Dr. Elizabeth Marks. Furthermore, your army buddy, Private Michaels, tells tales of great conspiracy to hide the true agenda of the Eden Initiative. When your VR tophat and life support fail during the final battle with the aliens, you realize that you have been tricked into annihilating, in reality, a peaceful race of winged humanoids called the Alylinde. In your last moments before death, you ponder dearly upon the mistake you have made.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars So much potential, so little realized., April 2, 2005

By 

Keen Anthony (Los Angeles. CA) - See all my reviews

= Fun:1.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Quantum Gate (CD-ROM)

Hyberbole's "Quantum Gate" was one of the early CDROM entertainment titles. It was released in 1993 on CDROM and was usually found as an addition to the first generation of PC multimedia kits, specifically, MediaVision's Pro Audio Spectrum 16.

Quantum Gate is not really a video game. It is actually a piece of science-fiction themed interactive fiction, powered by the Hyberbole's then-revolutionary "VirtualCinema" software engine. The sofware is presented as virtual storyboard using 16-bit images and early QuickTime videos. The player's participation in the experience is limited to clicking on storyboard objects to advance the storyline - we're still not talking about Myst caliber here. Quantum Gate does contain a VR simulation mini-game that offers the player a limited shooting game experience.

The software ran well on its intended platform, a 486 DOS/Windows 3.1 system, and it runs surprisingly well these many years later on Windows XP. The only glitch I encountered was in running the VR simulation mini-game. The software goes into full-screen rendering mode, but the video does not play properly. During this time I must sit patiently while the mini-game naturally concludes, after which I am able to continue the story.

By "naturally conclude" I mean that this game is very linear. The game follows a closed script, and the player will be compelled to take certain actions. There are really no opportunities to freely explore the game world - but then, considering the experimental state of CDROM game technology, there really wasn't a "game world" to speak of. For the most part, the player is a passenger following the story - a story that is well, underdeveloped. The acting is worse than what you would expect from a B movie.

What makes this game interesting, and what has made me search for this game after nearly 12 years, is that the story of the characters Private Griffin and Private Michaels is haunting. Despite all of Quantum Gate's flaws, the game is redeemed by two somber side-stories. First, the death of Griffin's father and Griffin's estrangement from his girlfriend who was horribly disfigured in a sudden accident. These are the events that led Griffin to abandon medical school and enlist in the Army. Second, Private Michaels' developing suspicion of the government after a violent military campaign in Belgium. Unfortunately, neither side story is fully explored with a depth that would make this game enjoyable.

Quantum Gate is a short adventure. You can complete the story in just a couple of hours. More than anything else, Quantum Gate is like an extended demo of the multimedia abilities that CDROM technology could bring to the PC. It's a first generation CDROM game. Buy it if you owned it years ago and would like to relive some memories. Otherwise, move along.

The 1-star is for fun. The game is very playable and it is too short. The 3-stars is based on a 1993 standard and reflects the quality of the video work, the programming, the music, and the intriguing storyline.

0 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars WOW!!!!!......not, November 27, 2004

By 

mastabasser - See all my reviews

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Quantum Gate (CD-ROM)

This game rocks!!!! I love it, but i give it 1 star because its graphics SUCK+ DAMN i wished they were better... well buy it for the fun it makes up for the s%$#&y graphics