History VideoGame / AnotherWorld

''Another World'' is a CinematicPlatformGame developed by Eric Chahi for Creator/{{Delphine Software|International}}. The title of the game was changed to ''Out of This World'' when it was released in America, to avoid confusion with the popular Creator/{{NBC}} SoapOpera, ''Main/AnotherWorld''. [[note]]Coincidentally, a syndicated FantasticComedy titled ''OutOfThisWorld'' started airing the same time the game was released.[[/note]] In Japan, the game is known as ''Outer World''.

A decent (yet unpolished) sequel was made for the Sega CD without Chahi's involvement: ''Heart of the Alien'', starring Lester's buddy from the first game. The original author did not agree with the sequel's extension of the story, and part of the fanbase is [[BrokenBase broken]] over [[FanonDiscontinuity whether the sequel even counts]]. The sequel is easy to ignore in this respect, since it was only released on one failed platform, whereas the main game got a release on practically ''every'' 16-bit and 32-bit gaming platform. It is worth noting that the first game is included on this version with a new soundtrack, and performs amazingly well.

''Another World'' is a CinematicPlatformGame developed by Eric Chahi. The title of the game was changed to ''Out of This World'' when it was released in America, to avoid confusion with the popular Creator/{{NBC}} SoapOpera, ''Main/AnotherWorld''. [[note]]Coincidentally, a syndicated FantasticComedy titled ''OutOfThisWorld'' started airing the same time the game was released.[[/note]] In Japan, the game is known as ''Outer World''.

* ChargedAttack

* CrashingThroughTheHarem: one of the levels
* {{Cutscene}}

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: According to some interviews, Eric did like the idea of a sequel to Another World to [[POVSequel retell the game from the alien Buddy's perspective.]] That never did happen, unless you count the introduction sequence to Heart of the Alien. Plus, Chahi was not able to get more involved due to already working on the constantly delayed HeartOfDarkness.
** There was suppose to be an absolute ending, involving Lester becoming a leader of an alien tribe.

** The iOS version remedies this: if you have failed to do something that is necessary to complete the game, you will not activate the next checkpoint.

A decent (yet unpolished) sequel was made for the Sega CD without Chahi's involvement: ''Heart of the Alien'', starring Lester's buddy from the first game. The original author did not agree with the sequel's extension of the story, and part of the fanbase is [[BrokenBase broken]] over [[FanonDiscontinuity whether the sequel even counts]]. The sequel is easy to ignore in this respect, since it was only released on one failed platform, whereas the main game got a release on practically ''every'' 16-bit and 32-bit gaming platform.

Chahi eventually created a hi-def port of ''Another World'' for Windows XP with higher resolutions and better graphics. This version is known as the ''Collector's Edition'' and is well worth owning according to some, a blatant money grab according to others (because the first two levels, which are free, are markedly more "updated" than the later levels players must pay for).

By the way, [[http://www.foxysofts.com/?l=content/gba/anworld.inc here's]] an official freeware GBA port (also playable on emulators, of course).

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: According to some interviews, Eric did like the idea of a sequel to Another World to [[POVSequel retell the game from the alien Buddy's perspective.]] That never did happen, unless you count the introduction sequence to Heart of the Alien. Chahi not being able to get involved with the game due to working on HeartOfDarkness also contributed to the issue.

* ShootTheShaggyDog: The game's ambiguous ending can be interpreted this way, although storyboards for a non-produced ending depict the character surviving and becoming a leader in the alien world. The sequel has him [[spoiler:survive, only to be KilledOffForReal in a HeroicSacrifice halfway through the game]].

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An iOS version of the game optimized for both iPhone and iPad, featuring added difficulty levels (both easier and harder) and both the original and remastered graphics and sound, is currently available.

''Another World'' is a CinematicPlatformGame developed by Eric Chahi. The title of the game was changed to ''Out of This World'' when it was released in America, to avoid confusion with the popular {{NBC}} {{soap opera}}, ''Main/AnotherWorld''. [[hottip:*:Coincidentally, a syndicated FantasticComedy titled ''OutOfThisWorld'' started airing the same time the game was released.]] In Japan, the game is known as ''Outer World''.

This game is notable, not only for its dramatic storytelling and early survival-horror roots, but also for being one of the most NintendoHard games to come down the pike since ''VideoGame/{{Battletoads}}''. The slightest misstep meant death in any number of horribly unspeakable ways. The console versions of the game -- such as the SNES port -- were made more difficult than the MS-DOS/Macintosh versions (which ''themselves'' were more difficult than the original Amiga version), reportedly to give players "more value for their money". (Although it may give some players a strong desire to throw their keyboard/joypad at their TV.)

By the way, [[http://www.foxysofts.com/?l=content/gba/anworld.inc here]]'s an official freeware GBA port (also playable on emulators, of course).

* {{Homage}}: When fully-charged, Lester's gun bears more than a slight resemblance to a [[DragonBallZ Kamehameha]]... Incidentally, at the time of development, Chahi was busy reading ''DBZ'' mangas during coding breaks.

* NaughtyTentacles: The first of the many things that are trying to kill Lester is a pool full of tentacles at the bottom. If he doesn't swim up in time they'll grab him. If he swims up in time and doesn't leave the vicinity of the pool quickly enough they still grab him.

* PressStartToGameOver: See NaughtyTentacles above.

* TakeMyHand: [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]]. In the game's final sequence, [[spoiler: Buddy rescues Lester from a plunge off of a ledge. Then smashes Lester against the wall, crippling him! Turns out, that's not Buddy!]] Damn aliens, YouAllLookFamiliar!

<<|PlatformGame|>>
<<|AdventureGame|>>

To say the game was innovative was an understatement. Chahi himself wrote a polygon routine that would allow the graphics to be composed of vector outlines -- which would take up less space than normal sprite graphics. Like Jordan Mechner, Chahi also used video recordings of his own brother to create rotoscoping animations for the project. The result was an epic, cinematic masterpiece which told a story without the use of dialogue, voicework or screen text, and with cutscenes that led from one part of the story to the next. Controlling the player character was done via six buttons, with the player character performing a wide variety of different tasks depending on his location, speed, and movement.

* YouAllLookFamiliar: The aliens are identical except for occasional helmets or topknots. Buddy can be differentiated from the others only because he's unarmed.
* YouAllMeetInACell

* MoneyDearBoy: Some fifteen years after the game was released and long after it was available all over the internet, a shareware Windows version popped up with some slight graphical updates in the first two levels, asking players to pay money to see the rest of the updated levels.

* NaughtyTentacles: The first of the many things that are trying to kill Lester is a pool full of tentacles at the bottom. If he doesn't swim up in time they'll grab him. If he swims up in time and doesn't leave the vicinity of the pool quickly enough they still grab him.

This game contains examples of:

This game is notable, not only for its dramatic storytelling and early survival-horror roots, but also for being one of the most NintendoHard games to come down the pike since ''{{Battletoads}}''. The slightest misstep meant death in any number of horribly unspeakable ways. The console versions of the game -- such as the SNES port -- were made more difficult than the MS-DOS/Macintosh versions (which ''themselves'' were more difficult than the original Amiga version), reportedly to give players "more value for their money". (Although it may give some players a strong desire to throw their keyboard/joypad at their TV.)

http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/AnotherWorld_960.jpg

* PressStartToDie: See NaughtyTentacles above.

An iOS version of the game optimized for both iPhone and iPad, featuring added difficulty levels (both easier and [[BeyondTheImpossible harder]]) and both the original and remastered graphics and sound, is currently available.

''Another World'' is a CinematicPlatformGame developed by Eric Chahi. The title of the game was changed to ''Out of This World'' when it was released in America, to avoid confusion with the popular {{NBC}} {{soap opera}}, ''Main/AnotherWorld''. (Coincidentally, a syndicated FantasticComedy titled ''OutOfThisWorld'' started airing the same time the game was released.) In Japan, the game is known as ''Outer World''.

* MagicalParticleAccelerator

** To put in perspective: the iOS version now has an Achievement for dying 100 times. Even on the easiest difficulty level, most players can expect to see it ''long'' before beating the game.

''Another World'' is a CinematicPlatformGame developed by Eric Chahi. The title of the game was changed to ''Out of This World'' when it was released in America, to avoid confusion with the popular {{NBC}} {{soap opera}}, ''Main/AnotherWorld''. Coincidentally, a syndicated FantasticComedy titled ''OutOfThisWorld'' started airing the same time the game was released. In Japan, the game is known as ''Outer World''.