History VideoGame / ItCameFromTheDesert

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/it_came_from_the_desert_1992.jpg]]

-> ''"The desert. Unchanged for millions of years. Yet witness to a biblical prophecy come true that one day, the meek shall inherit the earth."''
-->-- '''Opening narration'''

''It Came From The Desert'' is an 1989 UsefulNotes/{{Amiga}} game by Creator/{{Cinemaware}} about a young man discovering the existence of [[Film/{{Them}} giant ants hell bent on taking over the world]]. With help from a scientist and some friends, he will need to collect evidence within a time limit to convince the mayor to take action. Gameplay segments include interacting with [=NPCs=], knife fighting with a gang member, shooting an Ant's antenna before getting attacked, fending off said ants, and eventually infiltrating the ants base and blowing up the queen.

While mainly an Amiga game, with a follow up made for the system, it was also released for the UsefulNotes/IBMPersonalComputer. Two remakes were completely different: a Turbo Grafx CD version that relied heavily on FullMotionVideo and had little to do with the original game ({{WebVideo/Retsupurae}} [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LVTS9ft4MU&list=WL76E87FF4DC3B5F2A riffed on it]]), and a UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis version that was an over-head shooter and was canceled by Creator/ElectronicArts when almost finished.

In 2017, a low-budget [[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4288674/ film]] was made, changing much of the story. It does play snippets of the original Amiga game during the end credits.

!!''It Came from the Desert'' includes examples of:
* AbsentMindedProfessor: Doc in the [=TurboGrafx=] edition. According to Buzz's parents.
* AbusiveParents: Buzz's stepparents in the [=TurboGrafx=] edition aren't the nicest bunch -- they start the game pushing him to drop out of school to work at the nuclear power plant, and when Buzz refuses out of concern that the site [[NoOSHACompliance is highly run-down and unsafe]], his stepmother threatens to have him beaten for his ungrateful attitude (though his stepfather would rather just get a beer; yelling was enough for him).
* AlienInvasion: The ants plan on doing this.
* AttackOfThe50FootWhatever: Make a wild guess.
* BalefulPolymorph: In the sequel, the ants can corrupt fellow humans, and the only way to find them out is if they are in a good position to attack you, or you shoot a pez at them.
** PaperThinDisguise: The UsefulNotes/TurboGrafx16 doesn't even bother to [[NotEvenBotheringWithTheAccent have the ants disguise their voices]]. It takes Buzz no time to find them out.
* BigCreepyCrawlies: The ants, with some as big as a Buick.
* BMovie: The original game is basically a big love letter to these kinds of movies, especially the giant-ant movie ''Film/{{Them}}''
* ClearMyName:
** The sequel has the main character on the run from being accused of starting the incident. [[spoiler: Turns out the Antheads are spreading this to quietly resume their invasion.]]
** The [=TurboGrafx-CD=] version has Buzz accused of stealing radioactive waste, which allegedly mutated the ants to begin with. This isn't brought up very often though and it ends up getting sidelined later on. As Buzz says when questioned about it by the local radio news man, there really was no plausible way for a high school student to haul away several tons of nuclear waste on a motorcycle, even if you ignore the basic fact that the material was, as explicitly stated, dangerously radioactive.
* CriticalExistenceFailure: The [=TurboGrafx=] version has one of the most ludicrous examples ever, where people being attacked by ants can lose several body parts, up to and including ''all of their vital organs'', but will still be perfectly fine so long as you shoot the ants off of them before they're completely eaten.
* DrivenToSuicide: In the UsefulNotes/TurboGrafx16 version, the sheriff shoots himself in the head... or not? It's hard to tell because there are [[SpecialEffectsFailure no muzzle flashes made]], ''and'' he just sits back up after that. It turns out the real sheriff is actually about to be eaten alive.
* GameplayRoulette:
** A static first person shooting sequence, an overhead action scene, a flying overhead action scene, a knife fight, a car ramming scene, an escape scene, and an invasion scene, with their own rules of game play and controls.
** The [=TurboGrafxCD=] version keeps the overhead action scene and replaces the rest with a 2D shooter and a hostage rescue shooting scene (where you have to shoot the ants off of the person they're eating). Strangely, the main character looks significantly different between the two scenes where he appears.
* {{Gorn}}: The [=TurboGrafx16=] version has a recurring mini game involving shooting the ants to prevent them from ''completely'' eating their victim(s). As this goes on, said victim(s) are being torn apart until they're reduced to bone. However, if you complete the mini game, as long as they have even one bar of life left, they will be completely fine in the following cutscene.
* InUniverseGameClock: You're on a time limit to get the military to respond to the threat, and take care of the Ant Queen.
* LargeHam: Everyone in the UsefulNotes/TurboGrafx16 version.
* MissionPackSequel: At the time, to get the sequel to the original game "Antheads, It 2", you had to contact the publisher and purchase it from them directly. The story continues off right after the first game.
* MsFanService: The busty candy-striper who is obviously flirting with Dr. Bradley when he's recovering in the hospital. [[NotDistractedByTheSexy But he must escape: there is work to do!]]
* MundaneMadeAwesome: In Antheads, you have the option to pez any human you suspect to be an anthead. The option? '''PEZ HIM/HER'''.
* NPCScheduling: One of the first games to feature this. Learning where everyone is going to be at what times is crucial to conducting your investigation.
* OurZombiesAreDifferent: In the [=TurboGrafxCD=] version, zombies are inexplicably thrown in. The only possible justification is that they're actually people possessed by the Ant Queen.
* ThePatientHasLeftTheBuilding:
** The player has to escape from a hospital to save two days from being wasted.
** Even more justified in the sequel "Antheads", where [[spoiler: it's run by ''antheads!'']]
* PointAndClickGame
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: The Mayor won't easily accept the existence of giant ants trying to take over the world, but he is always willing to hear you out regardless, even saying that he is a reasonable man. By the time you do collect ''all pieces of evidence'', he immediately accepts it and calls in the military.
* ShoutOut: Perhaps unintentional, but in the UsefulNotes/TurboGrafx16 version, whenever Buzz calls out the followers of the ant queen, they scream out in a similar manner to those of the [[Film/InvasionOfTheBodySnatchers body snatchers.]]
* StockFootage: All over the place.
* UnexplainedRecovery: Buzz can get munched on in two of the three side-scrolling segments to seemingly no consequence.
* VideoGameRemake:
** The UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis version was made into an overhead arcade shooter, but it was never finished.
** A more infamous example is the UsefulNotes/TurboGrafx16. Almost all the different mini games have been removed, the characters had been redesigned (especially the main character), and the new mini games are not very good.
* [[WhoNamesTheirKidDude Who Names Their Kid "Man O Steel"?]]: Or Koolman for that matter.

** The [=TurboGrafxCD=] version has Buzz accused of stealing radioactive waste, which allegedly mutated the ants to begin with. This isn't brought up very often though and it ends up getting sidelined later on. As Buzz says when questioned about it by the local radio news man, there really was no plausible way for a high school student to haul away several tons of nuclear waste on a motorcycle, even if you ignore the basic fact that the material was, as explicitly stated, dangerously radioactive.

* {{Gorn}}: The [=TurboGrafx16=] version has a recurring mini game involving shooting the ants to prevent them from ''completely'' eating out their victim(s). As this goes on, said victim(s) are being torn apart until they're reduced to bone. However, if you complete the mini game, as long as they have even one bar of life left, they will be completely fine in the following cutscene.

* {{Abandonware}}: The Sega Genesis game, which was never finished.
** [[TheBusCameBack Subverted]]. ''[[http://www.cinemaware.com/cinemaware-announce-release-of-new-mega-drivegenesis-game/ 24 years later]].''

** PaperThinDisguise: The UsefulNotes/TurboGrafx16 doesn't even bother to [[NotEvenBotheringWithTheAccent have the ants disguise their voices]]. It took Buzz no time to find them out.

* BMovie: The original game is basically a big love letter to these kinds of movies, especially the giant-ant movie ''Film/{{Them}}''.
* ClearMyName: The sequel has the main character on the run from being accused of starting the incident. [[spoiler: Turns out the Antheads are spreading this to quietly resume their invasion.]]
** The [=TurboGrafxCD=] version has Buzz accused of stealing radioactive waste, which allegedly mutated the ants to begin with. This isn't brought up very often though and it ends up getting sidelined later on. And as Buzz says when questioned about it by the local radio news man, there really was no plausible way for a high school student to haul away several tons of nuclear waste on a motorcycle, even if you ignore the basic fact that the material was, as explicitly stated, dangerously radioactive.
* DrivenToSuicide: In the UsefulNotes/TurboGrafx16 version, the sheriff shoots himself in the head... or not? It's hard to tell because there are [[SpecialEffectsFailure no muzzle flashes made]], AND he just sits back up after that. It turns out the real sheriff is actually about to be eaten alive.
* GameplayRoulette: A static first person shooting sequence, an overhead action scene, a flying overhead action scene, a knife fight, a car ramming scene, an escape scene, and an invasion scene, with their own rules of game play and controls.
** The [=TurboGrafxCD=] version kept the overhead action scene and replaced the rest with a 2D shooter and a hostage rescue shooting scene (where you have to shoot the ants off of the person they're eating off of). Strangely, the character looks significantly different between the two scenes where he's appeared.
* {{Gorn}}: The [=TurboGrafx16=] version has a recurring mini game involving shooting the ants to prevent them from ''completely'' eating out their victim(s). As this goes on, said victim(s) are being torn flesh by flesh until they're reduced to bone. However, if you complete the mini game, as long as they have even one bar of life left, they will appear in a cut scene, shown to be completely fine.
* InUniverseGameClock: You are on a time limit to get the military to respond to the threat, and take care of the Ant Queen.

* MissionPackSequel: At the time, to get the sequel (Antheads, It 2) to the original game required you to contact the publisher and purchase it from them directly. The story continues off right after the first game.

* MundaneMadeAwesome: In Antheads, you have the option to pez any human you suspect to be an anthead. The option? '''PEZ HIM/HER'''

* ThePatientHasLeftTheBuilding: The player has to escape from a hospital to save two days from being wasted.
** Even more justified in the sequel, Antheads, where [[spoiler: it's ran by '''antheads!''']]

* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: The Mayor won't easily accept the existence of giant ants trying to take over the world, but he is always willing to hear you out regardless, even saying that he is a reasonable man. By the time you do collect ''all pieces of evidence,'' he immediately accepts it and calls in the military.

* UnexplainedRecovery: In the UsefulNotes/TurboGrafx16 longplay that the Retsupurae duo riffed on, Buzz gets munched on in two of the three side-scrolling segments to seemingly no consequence.
* VideoGameRemake: The UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis version was made into an overhead arcade shooter, but it was never finished.

''It Came From The Desert'' is an UsefulNotes/{{Amiga}} game by Creator/{{Cinemaware}} about a young man discovering the existence of [[Film/{{Them}} giant ants hell bent on taking over the world]]. With help from a scientist and some friends, he will need to collect evidence within a time limit to convince the mayor to take action. Gameplay segments include interacting with [=NPCs=], knife fighting with a gang member, shooting an Ant's antenna before getting attacked, fending off said ants, and eventually infiltrating the ants base and blowing up the queen.

In 2017, a low budget film was made changing much of the story. It does play snippets of the original Amiga game during the end credits.
----

** PaperThinDisguise: The TurboGrafx16 doesn't even bother to [[NotEvenBotheringWithTheAccent have the ants disguise their voices]]. It took Buzz no time to find them out.

* DrivenToSuicide: In the TurboGrafx16 version, the sheriff shoots himself in the head... or not? It's hard to tell because there are [[SpecialEffectsFailure no muzzle flashes made]], AND he just sits back up after that. It turns out the real sheriff is actually about to be eaten alive.

* LargeHam: Everyone in the Main/TurboGrafx16 version.

* ShoutOut: Perhaps unintentional, but in the TurboGrafx16 version, whenever Buzz calls out the followers of the ant queen, they scream out in a similar manner to those of the [[Film/InvasionOfTheBodySnatchers body snatchers.]]

* UnexplainedRecovery: In the TurboGrafx16 longplay that the Retsupurae duo riffed on, Buzz gets munched on in two of the three side-scrolling segments to seemingly no consequence.

** A more infamous example is the TurboGrafx16. Almost all the different mini games have been removed, the characters had been redesigned (especially the main character), and the new mini games are not very good.

* ShoutOut: Perhaps unintentional, but in the TurboGrafx16 version, whenever Buzz calls out the followers of the ant queen, they scream out in a similar manner to those of the [[InvasionOfTheBodySnatchers body snatchers.]]

* [[WhoNamesTheirKidDude Who Names Their Kid "Man O War"?]]: Or Koolman for that matter.

* VideoGameRemake: The SegaGenesis version was made into an overhead arcade shooter, but it was never finished.

* UnexplainedRecovery: In the TurboGrafx longplay that the Retsupurae duo riffed on, Buzz gets munched on in two of the three side-scrolling segments to seemingly no consequence.

** The [=TurboGrafxCD=] version has Buzz accused of stealing radioactive waste, which allegedly mutated the ants to begin with. This isn't brought up very often though and it ends up getting sidelined later on.

While mainly an Amiga game, with a follow up made for the system, it was also released for the UsefulNotes/IBMPersonalComputer. Two remakes were completely different: a Turbo Grafx CD version that relied heavily on FullMotionVideo and had little to do with the original game ({{WebVideo/Retsupurae}} [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LVTS9ft4MU&list=WL76E87FF4DC3B5F2A riffed on it]]), and a UsefulNotes/SegaCD version that was an over-head shooter and was canceled by Creator/ElectronicArts when almost finished.

* {{Abandonware}}: The genesis game, which was never finished.

** Subverted. [[http://www.cinemaware.com/cinemaware-announce-release-of-new-mega-drivegenesis-game/ ''24 years later'']].

''It Came From The Desert'' is an {{Amiga}} game by Creator/{{Cinemaware}} about a young man discovering the existence of [[Film/{{Them}} giant ants hell bent on taking over the world]]. With help from a scientist and some friends, he will need to collect evidence within a time limit to convince the mayor to take action. Gameplay segments include interacting with [=NPCs=], knife fighting with a gang member, shooting an Ant's antenna before getting attacked, fending off said ants, and eventually infiltrating the ants base and blowing up the queen.

While mainly an Amiga game, with a follow up made for the system, it was also released for the IBMPersonalComputer. Two remakes were completely different: a Turbo Grafx CD version that relied heavily on FullMotionVideo and had little to do with the original game ({{WebVideo/Retsupurae}} [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LVTS9ft4MU&list=WL76E87FF4DC3B5F2A riffed on it]]), and a SegaCD version that was an over-head shooter and was canceled by Creator/ElectronicArts when almost finished.

* BMovie: The original game is basically a big love letter to these kinds of movies.