1994 · Business simulation · Science

Outpost

In the first part of the 21st century, scientists discovered a huge asteroid named Vulcan's Hammer headed straight for Earth. A single corporation decided the only way for survival was to colonize other worlds. One ship was launched and as it sat in orbit around Jupiter, Earth was no more. Now it is your task to seek out a new planet and repopulate it with human life. The game is set in an isometric third person perspective, like that of Simcity, in which you must re-colonize the planet while dealing with the intricacies of day-to-day life.

Released: 1994
Platforms: Windows macOS
Genres: Business simulation Science Simulation
Developers: —
Publishers: —
Series: Outpost
Modes: Single-player
Perspective: Bird view / Isometric
Themes: Science fiction
Country: United States
Age ratings: ESRB E

About

Outpost is a video game developed and published by Sierra On-Line in 1994. The game was noteworthy for having a hard science fiction approach, with one of the main designers being a former NASA scientist.

Outpost was released for Windows 3.1 and the Macintosh. It was followed by a loosely related sequel, Outpost 2: Divided Destiny.

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Story

A massive asteroid named Vulcan's Hammer is detected to be on a collision course with Earth, and all attempts to divert it from this path have failed. The last attempt, firing a large nuclear warhead at the asteroid, actually ended up splitting it not into five chunks (which would have averted disaster) as humanity hoped, but rather two asteroids. Now, instead of destroying the earth, it will simply wipe out nearly all life on Earth's surface. Extinction is not an option, and so a mission is organized to create a colony on a world elsewhere in the galaxy as the last hope for mankind's survival. The player is in charge of that mission.

Reception

Initial reviews of Outpost were enthusiastic about the game. The American version of PC Gamer rated the game at 93%, one of its highest ratings ever for the time.

James V. , 1994), rating it a 5 out of 5 and stated that "Outpost excels in every way. It plays like a great science fiction novel reads. The graphics, sound and game play are state-of-the-art.