History Main / Abuse

[[redirect:VideoGame/{{Abuse}}]]

[[redirect:VideoGame/{{Abuse}}]]

[[quoteright:313:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/abuse_2073.jpg]]

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 and published by Origin Systems, by then a division of ElectronicArts, in 1996.

''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.

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 "''{{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.

It was also distributed to the [[MacOS Macintosh]] via [[{{Bungie}} Bungie Studios]] ([[VideoGame/{{Marathon}} yes,]] ''[[VideoGame/{{Myth}} that]] ''[[{{Halo}} Bungie]]) and was a game in the Mac Action Sack. Much more recently, it received an AmigaOS 4 port in 2009, and an [=iOS=] port titled ''Abuse Classic.''

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!!Tropes this game displays include:
* BadAssNormal
* CriticalAnnoyance: Low health results in a constantly faster and louder heartbeat.
* CriticalExistenceFailure: Both Nick and the enemies explode upon death, no matter what the cause.
* DeathTrap: Many examples, including automated turrets, lava pits, SpikesOfDoom, [[AdvancingWallOfDoom Advancing Drills of Doom]].
* DoomDoors: The garden-variety {{mook}}s use the "Hell Knight Death" sound from {{Doom}} when they spawn.
* EverythingFades
* {{Expy}}: Most of the mutants bear a suspicious resemblance to [[{{Alien}} xenomorphs]], and Nick's armor contains some obvious design DNA from [[{{Predator}} another sci-fi classic]].
* HyperspaceArsenal: Many of Nick's weapons are large enough that he should only be able to carry one or two
* {{Metroidvania}}: The original game isn't like this, but the free version (fRaBs) is structured like one.
* NintendoHard: The game delights in dropping Nick into monster-filled pits which are also in the firing lines of multiple turrets. Luckily friendly fire is in full effect even among enemies.
* OneWordTitle
* PlatformGame
* SpikeBallsOfDoom: Which are also [[AsteroidsMonster Asteroids Monsters]].
* TeleportingKeycardSquad[=/=]CatScare[=/=]VideogameSetpiece: 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.
* TheVirus
* AWinnerIsYou: [[spoiler: After the end of the last level the game just states matter-of-factly that Nick has escaped from the prison. That's all the ending you get.]]
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<<|ActionGame|>>

It was also distributed to the [[MacOS Macintosh]] via [[{{Bungie}} Bungie Studios]] ([[VideoGame/{{Marathon}} yes,]] ''[[{{Myth}} that]] ''[[{{Halo}} Bungie]]) and was a game in the Mac Action Sack. Much more recently, it received an AmigaOS 4 port in 2009, and an [=iOS=] port titled ''Abuse Classic.''

It was also distributed to the [[MacOS Macintosh]] via [[{{Bungie}} Bungie Studios]] ([[{{Marathon}} yes,]] ''[[{{Myth}} that]] ''[[{{Halo}} Bungie]]) and was a game in the Mac Action Sack. Much more recently, it received an AmigaOS 4 port in 2009, and an [=iOS=] port titled ''Abuse Classic.''

It was also distributed to the [[MacOS Macintosh]] via [[{{Bungie}} Bungie Studios]] ([[{{Marathon}} yes,]] ''[[{{Myth}} that]] ''[[{{Halo}} Bungie]]) and was a game in the Mac Action Sack. Much more recently, it received an AmigaOS 4 port in 2009, and an Ipod/Ipad port titled ''Abuse Classic.''

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: The developer was midway through coding a sequel when they folded.

Tropes this game displays:

* DemonicSpiders: Some of the tougher varieties of mutants definitely count.

* HighOctaneNightmareFuel

A little known gem from the days when platformers were still big on the PC, Abuse is a horror platform shooter that puts players in the shoes of Nick Vrenna, a convict who must escape from a prison/research facility whose inmates and staff have been transformed into monsters by a biological agent called [[TitleDrop Abuse]].

It's pretty much an ExcusePlot, though, as all Nick needs to do is make his way through a series of increasingly difficult levels while shooting mutants, robots and turrets with eight distinct weapons. The game's claims to fame are its convincing atmosphere and silky-smooth controls which include a unique mouse-aiming system, an unprecedented feature that earned it the moniker of "''{{Doom}}'' in 2D."

It was also distributed to the [[MacOS Macintosh]] via {{Bungie}} (the people who made {{Marathon}}, ''{{Myth}}'', and {{Halo}}), and was a game in the Mac Action Sack.

Another unique point was that the game shipped in a very mod-friendly state, with a fully functional map editor and a rudimentary sprite/texture editing program. It has since become [[http://www.rocket-surgery.net/abuse/downloads.html freeware.]] ''(dead link)''

* NightmareFuel

* {{Metroidvania}} - The original game isn't like this, but the free version (fRaBs) is structured like one.

Another unique point was that the game shipped in a very mod-friendly state, with a fully functional map editor and a rudimentary sprite/texture editing program. It has since become [[http://www.rocket-surgery.net/abuse/downloads.html freeware.]]

It's pretty much an ExcusePlot, though, as all Nick needs to do is make his way through a series of increasingly difficult levels while shooting mutants, robots and turrets with eight distinct weapons. The game's claims to fame are its convincing atmosphere and silky smooth controls which include a unique mouse-aiming system, an unprecedented feature that earned it the moniker of ?{{Doom}} in 2D.?