Game Club 199X #20 - Terra Nova

[Big Bang Blitz]

Terra Nova. It's a game I considered doing a video for but is just a smidge too popular. Great game, as are all Looking Glass titles.

[zerker]

Though I just recently joined, I'd love you join you guys with Terra Nova.

[xerxes]

Ganbare Goemon 2.

Hard as it is to believe, it's been a while since we played a Konami NES game.

[Ryusui]

And I'll be voting for Terra Nova.

[NamelessFragger]

Well, that confirms it. Terra Nova it is!

Either Weasel or I should have the game up for the rest of you soon.

[zerker]

Also note that the game can (still!) be purchased at CD Access:
www.cdaccess.com/html/quick/terranovpj.htm?wap2

Not as convenient as a download, but an option for anyone who wants to own it.

[Weasel]

(removed) - This link should work; it contains a CloneCD image of the game that can be mounted/installed in DOSBox, as well as scans of the manuals and box artworks. It also, mistakenly, contains a "Guide and FAQ" section which you may feel free to completely ignore. =P <-- Sorry, the download link had to be nuked for space; Dropbox's free account space is limited! =P

That said, five bucks is an absolute steal for this game, if you happen to have that kind of money (I sure don't; college budgets are a terrible, terrible thing).

[countzero]

Also, interestingly enough, Ancient DOS Games did an episode on Terra Nova recently, as part of the show they give advice on the best settings to use with DOSBox. You can watch the episode here.

[zerker]

I'm not really sure what settings would be required for Terra Nova. When I set it up, I just set cycles=max, mount the iso and run the game. Runs flawlessly this way. [EDIT: See below] For reference, here is my (delta) config file, now updated:


[cpu]
cycles=120000
 
[autoexec]
mount C "."
imgmount D "TNOVA/terra nova.iso" -t iso
C:
cd \TNOVA
call TN.BAT
exit
I'll be starting up my replay later today. Incidentally, I have an old saved game from around 2003 (I think?) when I put the game down. If I get too far behind the pack, I may consider "jumping ahead" to where I left off before. I'm likely only going to be playing about an hour a night.

Also, once you get in game, be sure to press "O" to open the options panel and turn on high-resolution graphics. This will increase your resolution to the staggering 320 x 400!

Additionally, my reference card reminds me that "?" is the help key.


Edit:
So I ran into a bit of sound glitching, and thought I'd browse around that video to check the settings recommendation. Apparently they recommend you set a fixed number of cycles, not the auto "max" cycles. I went with their recommendation of 120000 cycles, and it seems to have helped the glitch I ran into (as well as improved the framerate).

I also ran into a bit of trouble getting through Mission 3 undetected, so I figured I'd share my findings. First: pay attention to your briefing and use the EM Emitters. They act like a grenade which detects any enemies within whatever region they land at. Be sure to aim up for more range. Also, I suggest turning on your sensor range (F10) to get a good idea of how far to stay away from anything. The approach I found that worked was to go south, then swing around behind the base (roughly to the pickup zone). Be careful, as one mountain top has a few sentries on it. The EM emitter should point it out for you. Then head to roughly NE of the base and try to select the crate from there.

[cardinalfang]

Good to see everyone is having luck with getting this set up. Also good to see that we didn't leave behind the West's mech games in favor of weebism. XD

[kal]

Think of it as penance for not picking Mech Warrior when it came up last time.

[zerker]

So I forgot how quick missions are in this game. I'm already up to mission 18 on day three of playing. Looks like I won't need to use my old save after all

Mission 17 didn't exactly go as planned. The mission briefing has you rendezvous with a truck and escort it to pickup. However, lo and behold, there was nothing at the rendezvous point. To save everyone else a bunch of looking around, take the right-hand leg of the road and follow it into the mountains to locate the missing truck.

Another tip for you guys: don't forget to use drones. You can use them to scout out areas of the map for enemy locations and get a preview of bases, etc. They were certainly helpful in the above mission.

Anyone else started yet?

[Weasel]

I won't be able to play the game in earnest until the weekend (due to finals), but I have completed the first three missions. I've not managed to finish Mission 3 without being spotted yet; I do, however, keep getting lucky and managing to spot the crate and get out without getting damaged. Eksfaktr does point out, though, that you can target the crate from as far away as you can see it; use the magnification buttons in the top-left corner to get a better vantage point. (I recall he said he got it from around 500 meters away, which is well beyond the radar range of pirates...)

[zerker]

I think when I finished that mission, I ended up selecting the crate from behind a building somehow.

Note that Mission 20 is a similar "avoid the guard"-type mission. I eventually gave up and just fought my way through. However, when I was *just about* done, I noticed that the EM Dampener that I selected for the mission needs to actually be turned on!

So anyone trying Mission 20 for stealth, remember to turn your dampener on!

I don't remember if you get one for Mission 3 or not.


EDIT: DAMN, Mission 29 was hard. Here's what eventually worked for me:
1) Outfit everyone with Autoturrets, and switch the suit type to Standard for extra speed. Give yourself a Missile Launcher.
2) WHILE FALLING, set a nav marker just south of the base, and order your squad to go there. Then start giving individual squad members a bit of spacing with "Move here" commands. You want to try to cover the SW corner of the base.
3) Launch a Drone to keep an eye on the base.
4) Start running north. Periodically drop AutoTurrets as you approach the drone swarm. If you can coordinate, give your squad members orders to deploy theirs. The shuttle defence is the hardest part, so any help they get will be great.
5) Destroy the tank with your Ionic Cannon, then unload three rockets into the squad of PBAs. Mop up with Ionic cannon, then start running South
6) Destroy any remaining drones as you go
7) Help out your squad with any remaining PBAs
8) HOPE the Shuttles haven't been destroyed before you get there

And yes, I've tried the reverse (defend the shuttles yourself, send squad north). Unfortunately, the squad has always been too slow to intercept the tank & PBA squad.

[Deleted]

Zerker: Oh god, Mission 29 is INDEED the worst in the game... and I also had a rough time with the penultimate one, mission 36. But the thing about 29 is that it was the only one that really forced me to break up my squad. I sent both of my weapon experts to defend the shuttle and rushed the convoy with Gags in tow. It must have taken me... like, ten tries to beat that friggin' level. To cite TVTropes, it is most certifiably "That One Level," so if anyone gets to 29 and gets really PO'ed, don't be discouraged. Just command some (if not all) of your units to defend the shuttles while you defend the convoy, and I agree with Zerker about autoturrets. Toss them turrets out like you were Santa with candy on a Macy's parade. While I now officially love TN, even it can't escape the curse of the dreaded escort mission.

As for 36, the enemy forces on this one are REALLY vicious, and you have to make sure Brandt doesn't get blown up. The key to this one is to not make a direct beeline for the crash site, which is to the left of the center of the big rectangle that makes up the search area. Approach the search area from the bottom and sidle your way up the left edge, and then let the baddies come to you. My personal favorite configuration is the Ionic Fusion Rifle, the Grenade Launcher, aaaaaaaaand... I believe I had the MB Cannon. Very useful for taking out those damn tanks, but since you only get five shots, make them count. The final mission didn't feel quite as bad in comparison, mostly because you have a really wide open field to navigate and can take cover outside the base walls. Still, it has a LOT of enemies in it, so bring the Heavy Suit and a configuration with which you're most comfortable.