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{{Short description|1995 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
|title=Ghen War
|image =[[File:GhenWarJPBoxShotSaturn.jpg|250px|Japanese cover art]]
|caption = Japanese box art of ''Ghen War''
|developer = Jumpin' Jack Software<ref name="mobygames">[http://www.mobygames.com/game/sega-saturn/ghen-war ''Ghen Wars''] at [[MobyGames]]</ref>
|publisher = [[Sega]] <small>(North America)</small><ref name="gamefaqs">[http://www.gamefaqs.com/saturn/915874-ghen-war/data ''Ghen War''] at [[GameFAQs]]</ref> <br> [[Virgin Interactive Entertainment]] <small>(Japan & Europe)</small><ref name="gamefaqs"/>
|designer = Robert Leyland
|artist = Jenny Martin
|composer = Brian Coburn
|released = {{vgrelease|NA|1995|JP|April 26, 1996|EU|June 28, 1996}}
|genre = [[First-person shooter]]<ref name="mobygames"/>
|modes = [[Single player]]
|platforms = [[Sega Saturn|Saturn]]<ref name="mobygames"/>
}}
{{nihongo|'''''Ghen War'''''|ゲン ウォー}} is a [[first-person shooter]] [[video game]] for the [[Sega Saturn]] console. It was developed by American studio Jumpin' Jack Software and published by [[Sega]] in 1995. The game centers around a member of a [[mining]] crew, with an [[artificial powered exoskeleton]] resembling a power-[[Loader (equipment)|loader]].<ref name="mobygames"/> The crew, specifically the protagonist, must fight off a once-friendly [[extraterrestrial life|alien]] race known as the Ghen, who suddenly turn on the humans.<ref name="mobygames"/>
==Story==
The game takes place in the [[future]], years after an [[Naval fleet|armada]] of aliens known as the Ghen made contact with human beings. The Ghen are seeking refuge from a bloody [[intergalactic space|inter-galactic]] war with a [[super race]] known as the Bo-Kyat. In exchange for their aid, human beings were given major advances in science and technology, including bionic implant devices that make them immune to all [[disease]]. The Ghen also assist humans in locating materials on other planets through the creation of the Sunstar Solar Exploration Station.
The exploration team, composed of humans led by a man named Jenners and Ghen led by Commander Xylan, is harvesting minerals on [[Titan (moon)|Titan]] when the story begins. For reasons unknown, Xylan orders his Ghen to enter their [[spacecraft]] and take off. Boxhead, an android scientist, informs Jenner that there is stronium activity (not to be confused with [[strontium]]) nearby. After hearing that the Ghen have left, Jenner orders everyone back to the ship, including the 'Lieutenant' (the [[player character]]), in his exoskeleton.
The human team (including their pilot Gina and wise-cracking Akira) take off in their own ship, the Da Vinci, and try to make contact with the Sunstar station. The Ghen attack and destroy the station before turning their attention to the human ship. The humans escape and begin disabling Ghen stronium reactors and thwarting their attacks, with the help of the Lieutenant and his exoskeleton.
The Ghen blame the crew of the Da Vinci for destroying Sunstar and Titan and invading Mars, and use human figureheads under their control like Commander Braxton to try to trick them into returning to Earth for disciplinary action. The Da Vinci realize their deception. Relay Commander Reynolds (their only contact due to the interstellar communications blackout) informs them that the starship Goliath is dry-docked on Moonbase 12. After returning from the Moon, they wire Boxhead into the ship's communication systems to send a transmission directly to Earth, only to find Reynolds has also fallen under Xylan's control. After Xylan's transmission is intercepted by Wilson, now leading an underground resistance against the Ghen, they discover the Ghen are using the implants to sedate everyone on Earth. They head for the implant manufacturing plant in Australia to liberate the sedated humans.
The game has multiple endings. In the best ending, the player and the crew of the Da Vinci score a major victory against the Ghen. The Ghen take a few hundred captive humans with them as they retreat from the Earth. The crew of the Da Vinci are hailed as heroes, and given medals and a Ghen ship capable of lightspeed. In prison, Xylan explains they were using humanity to test their only means of stopping the Bo-Kyat, which would have made them all slaves to the Ghen's war machines, but by blindingly clinging to the notions of freedom and independence, humanity has sealed its own doom. As the crewman questioning him and the player are left to wonder which of them will be proven right, the crew excitedly take off in their new ship.
==Gameplay==
''Ghen War'' is a 3D [[first-person shooter]] that takes place from within a powered loader, equipped with various [[tools]] / [[weapons]] which it uses to fight off the Ghen. Most of the game's information and [[HUD (video gaming)|HUD]] are displayed along the [[roll cage|roll-bar]] of the hyper-suit.
The game features 20 levels in six different locations, including [[Venus]], [[Mars]], [[Deimos (moon)|Deimos]], and the [[moon]]. There are also two locations on Earth: [[Australia]] and [[NORAD]].
Among its [[Firearms|guns]] and [[missiles]], the hyper-suit has unique features such as a [[claw]]-manipulator and the ability to cast a [[decoy]] suit, which attracts enemy attention.
''Ghen War'' features an early example of [[deformable terrain]]. Firing weapons into a mountain causes the mountain to wear away, much like explosions would cause craters and similar effects.
==Audio and visuals==
The story of Ghen War is told through a series of cut-scenes, done mostly in [[full motion video]].
The soundtrack of the game was written by Brian Coburn, and it changes dynamically to meet the action taking place within the level.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://cheats.ign.com/objects/001/001821.html | title=Ghen War }}</ref>
==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
| EGM = 4.875/10<ref name="EGM77">{{cite magazine|title=Review Crew: Ghen War|magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|issue=77|publisher=Sendai Publishing|date=December 1995|page=44}}</ref>
| GameRev = C+<ref name="GRev">{{cite web|title=Ghen War Review |url=http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/ghen-war|website=[[Game Revolution]]|accessdate=16 May 2017|date=June 6, 2004}}</ref>
| NGen = {{rating|3|5}}<ref name="NGen19">{{cite magazine|title=Ghen War |magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=19|publisher=[[Imagine Media]] |date=July 1996|pages=76, 78}}</ref>
| rev2 = ''[[Sega Saturn Magazine]]''
| rev2Score = 78%<ref name="SatMag9">{{cite magazine|last=Allsetter |first=Rob |title=Review: Ghen War|magazine=[[Sega Saturn Magazine]]|issue=9|publisher=[[Emap International Limited]]|date=July 1996|pages=80–81}}</ref>
| Allgame = {{rating|4|5}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jon Thompson |title=Ghen War Review |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=7716&tab=review |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115041702/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=7716&tab=review |archive-date=November 15, 2014 |access-date=February 9, 2024 |website=AllGame}}</ref>
}}
''Ghen War'' divided critics, who expressed contradicting opinions on most of the game's major aspects. While Andrew Baran, Mike LeFebvre, and Mike Desmond of ''[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]'' said the gameplay consists of aimless wandering "with no goals or point",<ref name="EGM77"/> reviewers for ''[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]'' and ''[[Sega Saturn Magazine]]'' asserted that the varied mission objectives and [[automap]] give the gameplay greater direction than most games of its type.<ref name="NGen19"/><ref name="SatMag9"/> While ''[[GamePro]]'', ''Next Generation'', ''[[Game Revolution]]'', and Andrew Baran and Sushi-X of ''EGM'' all said the visuals are both technically impressive and an enhancement to the gameplay experience with their contrasting landscapes,<ref name="EGM77"/><ref name="GRev"/><ref name="NGen19"/><ref name="GPro89">{{cite magazine|title=ProReview: Ghen War |magazine=[[GamePro]] |issue=89 |publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]]|date=February 1996|page=60}}</ref> Mark LeFebvre of ''EGM'' and Rob Allsetter of ''Sega Saturn Magazine'' described them as both monotonous and unacceptably poor given the Saturn's capabilities.<ref name="EGM77"/><ref name="SatMag9"/> LeFebvre said the enemies have "no intelligence",<ref name="EGM77"/> but ''Next Generation'' contented that "the enemies are smart. Sure, you'll come across some that are more like targets than predators, but it's also not unusual to find an enemy sneaking around behind the crest of a hill in order to attack from some hidden corner."<ref name="NGen19"/> Critics did generally agree that the game's complex controls can be difficult, but disagreed on whether this remains a problem after the initial learning curve is past.<ref name="EGM77"/><ref name="GRev"/><ref name="SatMag9"/>
Critics were also divided in their overall assessments of ''Ghen War''. Some concluded that its negative aspects completely outweighed its merits or at best made it a game that only a select few would have the patience needed to appreciate,<ref name="EGM77"/><ref name="GRev"/> while others felt that it offers enough enjoyment and sparks of originality to make it worth getting.<ref name="NGen19"/><ref name="SatMag9"/><ref name="GPro89"/> In 1998, [[Sega Power|Saturn Power]] ranked Ghen War 99th on their Top 100 Sega Saturn Games summarizing: "Varied level design and clever gameplay makes Ghen War a more interesting and challenging mission-based Doom-like affair. Although they criticized the slow gameplay.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=January 1998 |title=Top 100 Sega Saturn Games |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/7/70/SaturnPower_UK_09.pdf |journal=Saturn Power |issue=9 |pages=95}}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:1995 video games]]
[[Category:First-person shooters]]
[[Category:Sega Saturn games]]
[[Category:Sega Saturn-only games]]
[[Category:Sega video games]]
[[Category:Single-player video games]]
[[Category:Video games about alien invasions]]
[[Category:Video games about mecha]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the United States]]
[[Category:Video games set in the future]]
[[Category:Virgin Interactive games]]
[[Category:Jumpin' Jack Software games]]