Alien Cabal - Revision history

WikiMasterBot2: remove duplicates internal links

2026-07-21T13:27:45Z

remove duplicates internal links

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:27, 21 July 2026
Line 33:		Line 33:
	Although the player cannot modify ''Alien Cabal'''s controls, a simple "Help" screen clearly lists the control keys. A "jump" command does '''not''' exist. However, in some situations, the character can "walk through the air" from one platform to another if 1) the gap is small enough and 2) the character has a running start. By stepping on "half-height" items in the environment, the character can climb up to "full-height" items.		Although the player cannot modify ''Alien Cabal'''s controls, a simple "Help" screen clearly lists the control keys. A "jump" command does '''not''' exist. However, in some situations, the character can "walk through the air" from one platform to another if 1) the gap is small enough and 2) the character has a running start. By stepping on "half-height" items in the environment, the character can climb up to "full-height" items.

	As additional upgrades upon the base ''Doom II'' [[Doom engine\|engine]], the game features sloped floors, [[Build engine#Room over room\|tricked room-over-room]] and a variety of destructible items (as did ''[[Hacx]]'' and ''[[Hexen: Beyond Heretic\|Hexen]]''), alike to the ~~[[Build engine\|~~''Build'' engine]] games such as ''[[Duke Nukem 3D]]''. This is factored into the game's scoring system where, instead of just items collected, enemies killed and secrets found, players were also rated based on the amount of objects destroyed. This rudimentary statistics screen is shown after the player completes a level, alike to the ''[[Doom (franchise)\|Doom]]'' games:		As additional upgrades upon the base ''Doom II'' [[Doom engine\|engine]], the game features sloped floors, [[Build engine#Room over room\|tricked room-over-room]] and a variety of destructible items (as did ''[[Hacx]]'' and ''[[Hexen: Beyond Heretic\|Hexen]]''), alike to the ''Build'' engine games such as ''[[Duke Nukem 3D]]''. This is factored into the game's scoring system where, instead of just items collected, enemies killed and secrets found, players were also rated based on the amount of objects destroyed. This rudimentary statistics screen is shown after the player completes a level, alike to the ''[[Doom (franchise)\|Doom]]'' games:

	{\|class="wikitable"		{\|class="wikitable"

WikiMasterBot2: automatic correction by IA

2026-01-11T22:59:15Z

automatic correction by IA

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:59, 11 January 2026
Line 21:		Line 21:

	==Gameplay==		==Gameplay==
	Although designed for DOS, ''Alien Cabal'' runs without problems on Windows XP and can be ~~ran~~ through [[DOSBox]].		Although designed for DOS, ''Alien Cabal'' runs without problems on Windows XP and can be run through [[DOSBox]].

	At the start of a new game, the player selects a "Skill" level:		At the start of a new game, the player selects a "Skill" level:
Line 29:		Line 29:
	*Death wish		*Death wish

	A game can be saved / loaded at any point during ~~game play~~; ''Alien Cabal'' provides six "Save" slots.		A game can be saved / loaded at any point during gameplay; ''Alien Cabal'' provides six "Save" slots.

	Although the player cannot modify ''Alien Cabal'''s controls, a simple "Help" screen clearly lists the control keys. A "jump" command does '''not''' exist. However, in some situations, the character can "walk through the air" from one platform to another ~~platform~~ if 1) the gap is small enough and 2) the character has a running start. By stepping on "half-height" items in the environment, the character can climb up to "full-height" items.		Although the player cannot modify ''Alien Cabal'''s controls, a simple "Help" screen clearly lists the control keys. A "jump" command does '''not''' exist. However, in some situations, the character can "walk through the air" from one platform to another if 1) the gap is small enough and 2) the character has a running start. By stepping on "half-height" items in the environment, the character can climb up to "full-height" items.

	As additional upgrades upon the base ''Doom II'' [[Doom engine\|engine]], the game features sloped floors, [[Build engine#Room over room\|tricked room-over-room]] and a variety of destructible items (as did ''[[Hacx]]'' and ''[[Hexen: Beyond Heretic\|Hexen]]''), alike to the [[Build engine\|''Build'' engine]] games such as ''[[Duke Nukem 3D]]''. This is factored into the game's scoring system where, instead of just items collected, enemies killed and secrets found, ~~player's~~ were also rated based on the amount of ~~object's~~ destroyed. This rudimentary statistics screen is shown after the player completes a level, alike to the ''[[Doom (franchise)\|Doom]]'' games:		As additional upgrades upon the base ''Doom II'' [[Doom engine\|engine]], the game features sloped floors, [[Build engine#Room over room\|tricked room-over-room]] and a variety of destructible items (as did ''[[Hacx]]'' and ''[[Hexen: Beyond Heretic\|Hexen]]''), alike to the [[Build engine\|''Build'' engine]] games such as ''[[Duke Nukem 3D]]''. This is factored into the game's scoring system where, instead of just items collected, enemies killed and secrets found, players were also rated based on the amount of objects destroyed. This rudimentary statistics screen is shown after the player completes a level, alike to the ''[[Doom (franchise)\|Doom]]'' games:

	{\|class="wikitable"		{\|class="wikitable"
Line 50:		Line 50:
	''Alien Cabal'' has a few shortcomings:		''Alien Cabal'' has a few shortcomings:

	*The player must use the "look up" and "look down" commands to adjust the weapon to a good position; a cross-hair is ~~trigged~~ by the F2 key		*The player must use the "look up" and "look down" commands to adjust the weapon to a good position; a cross-hair is triggered by the F2 key
	*"Mouse look" only on the horizontal axis (i.e. the player cannot look up and down with the mouse); mouse sensitivity can be adjusted		*"Mouse look" only on the horizontal axis (i.e. the player cannot look up and down with the mouse); mouse sensitivity can be adjusted
	*Very weak "Map Mode", which lacks a representation of the player's exact location		*Very weak "Map Mode", which lacks a representation of the player's exact location

WikiMasterBot2: remove duplicates internal links

2024-12-03T07:36:22Z

remove duplicates internal links

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:36, 3 December 2024
Line 33:		Line 33:
	Although the player cannot modify ''Alien Cabal'''s controls, a simple "Help" screen clearly lists the control keys. A "jump" command does '''not''' exist. However, in some situations, the character can "walk through the air" from one platform to another platform if 1) the gap is small enough and 2) the character has a running start. By stepping on "half-height" items in the environment, the character can climb up to "full-height" items.		Although the player cannot modify ''Alien Cabal'''s controls, a simple "Help" screen clearly lists the control keys. A "jump" command does '''not''' exist. However, in some situations, the character can "walk through the air" from one platform to another platform if 1) the gap is small enough and 2) the character has a running start. By stepping on "half-height" items in the environment, the character can climb up to "full-height" items.

	As additional upgrades upon the base ''[[Doom II]]'' [[Doom engine\|engine]], the game features sloped floors, [[Build engine#Room over room\|tricked room-over-room]] and a variety of destructible items (as did ''[[Hacx]]'' and ''[[Hexen: Beyond Heretic\|Hexen]]''), alike to the [[Build engine\|''Build'' engine]] games such as ''[[Duke Nukem 3D]]''. This is factored into the game's scoring system where, instead of just items collected, enemies killed and secrets found, player's were also rated based on the amount of object's destroyed. This rudimentary statistics screen is shown after the player completes a level, alike to the ''[[Doom (franchise)\|Doom]]'' games:		As additional upgrades upon the base ''Doom II'' [[Doom engine\|engine]], the game features sloped floors, [[Build engine#Room over room\|tricked room-over-room]] and a variety of destructible items (as did ''[[Hacx]]'' and ''[[Hexen: Beyond Heretic\|Hexen]]''), alike to the [[Build engine\|''Build'' engine]] games such as ''[[Duke Nukem 3D]]''. This is factored into the game's scoring system where, instead of just items collected, enemies killed and secrets found, player's were also rated based on the amount of object's destroyed. This rudimentary statistics screen is shown after the player completes a level, alike to the ''[[Doom (franchise)\|Doom]]'' games:

	{\|class="wikitable"		{\|class="wikitable"

WikiMasterBot2: Remove Afc Messages and templates

2020-07-16T00:27:34Z

Remove Afc Messages and templates

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:27, 16 July 2020
Line 1:		Line 1:
	~~<!-- Please do not remove or change this AfD message until the discussion has been closed. -->~~
	~~{{Article for deletion/dated\|page=Alien Cabal\|timestamp=20191229180421\|year=2019\|month=December\|day=29\|substed=yes}}~~
	~~<!-- Once discussion is closed, please place on talk page: {{Old AfD multi\|page=Alien Cabal\|date=29 December 2019\|result='''keep'''}} -->~~
	~~<!-- End of AfD message, feel free to edit beyond this point -->~~

	{{Multiple issues\|		{{Multiple issues\|
	{{Notability\|date=September 2019}}		{{Notability\|date=September 2019}}

WikiMasterBot2: Moved page from wikipedia:en:Alien Cabal (history)

2020-01-01T10:30:49Z

Moved page from wikipedia:en:Alien Cabal (history)

New page

{{Article for deletion/dated|page=Alien Cabal|timestamp=20191229180421|year=2019|month=December|day=29|substed=yes}}



{{Multiple issues|
{{Notability|date=September 2019}}
{{Unreferenced|date=September 2019}}
}}
{{Infobox video game
|title=Alien Cabal
|developer=QASoft
|publisher=QASoft
|designer=Chris Kendall, Greg Taylor, Phillip McNeely
|release=1997
|genre=First-person shooter
|modes=Single-player
|platforms=MS DOS, Microsoft Windows
}}

'''Alien Cabal''' is a 1997 first-person shooter published by QASoft and consisting of ten levels. Its distribution package also contains the "vedit" [[:wikipedia:Level editor|level editor]]. Although difficult to confirm, the game is claimed to be built on a modified version of ''[[Doom II]]'', as stated by one of the game's testers<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.philscomments.com/about/|title=About|date=March 17, 2009|website=Phil's Comments}}</ref>, and the game features menus and details very similar to the ''Doom'' games.

==Plot==

Local media writes off a near doubling of UFO sightings over "the city" as a hoax by "overzealous UFO fanatics", only for a secret government investigation to discover a massive covert base, built following years of unfriendly aliens "studying mankind and earth's resources" in prelude to invasion. Fearing public reaction but needing an evacuation of the area, the public are told of a virus outbreak. However, this only causes the press to swarm the region surrounding the city. Unable to stage a military operation unnoticed, it is concluded that a single special operative must be sent to enter the underground complex, and destroy all alien life encountered. The game's levels mark the player's progression from the streets of the city into the bowels of the alien base.

==Gameplay==
Although designed for DOS, ''Alien Cabal'' runs without problems on Windows XP and can be ran through [[DOSBox]].

At the start of a new game, the player selects a "Skill" level:

*Walk in the park
*Let me at 'em
*Death wish

A game can be saved / loaded at any point during game play; ''Alien Cabal'' provides six "Save" slots.

Although the player cannot modify ''Alien Cabal'''s controls, a simple "Help" screen clearly lists the control keys. A "jump" command does '''not''' exist. However, in some situations, the character can "walk through the air" from one platform to another platform if 1) the gap is small enough and 2) the character has a running start. By stepping on "half-height" items in the environment, the character can climb up to "full-height" items.

As additional upgrades upon the base ''[[Doom II]]'' [[Doom engine|engine]], the game features sloped floors, [[Build engine#Room over room|tricked room-over-room]] and a variety of destructible items (as did ''[[Hacx]]'' and ''[[Hexen: Beyond Heretic|Hexen]]''), alike to the [[Build engine|''Build'' engine]] games such as ''[[Duke Nukem 3D]]''. This is factored into the game's scoring system where, instead of just items collected, enemies killed and secrets found, player's were also rated based on the amount of object's destroyed. This rudimentary statistics screen is shown after the player completes a level, alike to the ''[[Doom (franchise)|Doom]]'' games:

{|class="wikitable"
|-
|Kills||xxx%||percentage of enemies killed
|-
|Destruction||xxx%||percentage of environment (e.g. windows, etc.) destroyed
|-
|Items||xxx%||percentage of objects picked up
|-
|Secrets||xxx%||percentage of secret areas discovered
|}

The game environment includes objects (e.g. weapons, ammunition, keys, health kits, armor) that the player can pick up simply by walking over the object. The weapons include a [[:wikipedia:Pistol|pistol]], [[:wikipedia:Shotgun|shotgun]], [[:wikipedia:Machine gun|machine gun]], [[:wikipedia:Grenade|grenade]]s and a [[:wikipedia:Bazooka|bazooka]]. Singularly, there is no [[:wikipedia:melee|melee]] weapon and the player is defenceless when out of ammunition. In fact, the normal 0th weapon slot is left empty, listed as "no weapon". Enemies include [[:wikipedia:Cloning|cloned]] [[:wikipedia:G-Man (slang)|government men]], giant [[:wikipedia:Bees|bees]], [[:wikipedia:Android (robot)|androids]] and the titular [[:wikipedia:Little green men|aliens]]. Some enemies, such as robots, can only be killed using explosive weapons or exploding objects. The game does not include any [[Boss (video gaming)|boss]]es.

''Alien Cabal'' has a few shortcomings:

*The player must use the "look up" and "look down" commands to adjust the weapon to a good position; a cross-hair is trigged by the F2 key
*"Mouse look" only on the horizontal axis (i.e. the player cannot look up and down with the mouse); mouse sensitivity can be adjusted
*Very weak "Map Mode", which lacks a representation of the player's exact location
*Enemies seem to damage the player's character from a further distance than vice versa
*Occasional crashes (but ''Alien Cabal'' is very playable)
*No in-game music and no audio or visual feedback for locked doors
*Comparatively boxy and repetitive level designs, especially after level one
*Like many [[Doom clones|''Doom'' clones]], its relevance was soon overshadowed by true-3D games like ''[[Quake (video game)|Quake]]''

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[[Internet Archive]] [http://archive.org/details/AlienCabal_1020 entry] including copies of original [[shareware]] files
*[[MobyGames]] [http://www.mobygames.com/game/dos/alien-cabal entry]
*[http://www.fpsteam.it/alien_cabal.htm Negative Italian review]
*[http://honzajolic.eu/post/47981464775/alien-cabal-dos-recenze Positive Czech review]
* https://gamegraveyard.net/dos/alien_cabal

[[Category:1997 video games]]
[[Category:First-person shooters]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the United States]]
{{Source Wikipedia}}