The Creed

Set in the dystopian cyberpunk city of Cerberus on the planet Outpost IV, The Creed casts players as either Guy Kreed or Gene Matrix, two individuals stranded after a crash. To survive and escape, they must navigate the city’s three ruling factions—Government, Brotherhood, and Order—accepting and executing dangerous missions involving spying and assassination. The game features 3D characters moving through 2D rendered environments, with time-sensitive objectives and the need to accumulate resources. Players can optionally disable R-rated language.

The Creed: Review

Introduction

The Creed (1998) is a cyberpunk action-adventure game that, despite its obscurity, offers a fascinating glimpse into the early days of 3D gaming and the burgeoning cyberpunk genre. Developed by Insomnia Entertainment and published by Electronic Arts, The Creed is a title that has largely faded into the annals of gaming history, overshadowed by more prominent contemporaries like Deus Ex and System Shock. Yet, it holds a unique place as a precursor to the immersive sim genre, blending elements of Ultima and Final Fantasy VII with a dark, dystopian aesthetic. This review aims to dissect The Creed across multiple dimensions—its development history, narrative, gameplay mechanics, world-building, and legacy—to provide a comprehensive analysis of its place in gaming history.

Development History & Context

Studio and Creators

The Creed was developed by Insomnia Entertainment, an Australian studio known for its innovative yet niche titles. The game was produced by Dreamtime Interactive and published by Electronic Arts Asia Pacific. The development team included a mix of experienced and emerging talents, with Ben Powell serving as the lead programmer and Andrew Clark and Glen Harris handling graphics. The game’s mission design was overseen by Justin Wylie and Jason Smith, while Hans Van Vliet composed the music.

Technological Constraints and Gaming Landscape

Released in 1998, The Creed was developed during a transitional period in gaming, when 3D graphics were becoming more prevalent but were still constrained by hardware limitations. The game utilized a combination of 3D character models and pre-rendered 2D backgrounds, a technique that was common in early 3D games to compensate for the limited processing power of the time. This hybrid approach allowed for a visually rich environment despite the technical limitations.

The gaming landscape in 1998 was dominated by titles like Half-Life, Thief: The Dark Project, and StarCraft, which were pushing the boundaries of what was possible in terms of storytelling and gameplay. The Creed aimed to carve out its own niche by combining elements of action, adventure, and RPG mechanics within a cyberpunk setting.

Development Challenges

One of the notable challenges faced by the development team was the game’s profanity. Electronic Arts requested alterations to the script due to the level of profanity, which led to a censored version of the game. This censorship likely impacted the game’s reception and accessibility, particularly in markets where such content was considered inappropriate.

Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

Plot and Characters

The Creed is set on the planet Outpost IV, specifically in the colony of Cerberus, a dystopian city rife with crime and corruption. Players can choose to play as either Guy Wolfe, a bounty hunter, or Gene Matrix, a female assassin. Both characters are stranded on Cerberus after a crash-landing and must navigate the city’s factions—The Government, The Brotherhood, and The Order—to earn enough credits to escape.

The narrative is driven by a series of missions that players undertake for these factions, each with its own set of objectives ranging from assassinations to espionage. The game’s story is delivered through in-game cutscenes and text, with a heavy emphasis on dialogue and character interactions.

Themes and Dialogue

The game’s themes revolve around survival, morality, and the struggle for power in a lawless society. The dialogue is notably gritty and often laced with profanity, which was a bold choice for the time but also contributed to its controversial reception. The characters are well-developed, with backstories that add depth to their motivations and actions.

Mission Structure and Branching Narratives

One of the game’s standout features is its branching mission structure. Players can choose from multiple missions offered by each faction, and their choices affect the subsequent missions available. This non-linear approach to storytelling was innovative for its time and added a layer of replayability to the game.

Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

Core Gameplay Loops

The Creed combines elements of action, adventure, and RPG mechanics. Players engage in combat, exploration, and dialogue-driven interactions. The game features a variety of weapons, vehicles, and mechs, allowing for diverse gameplay experiences.

Combat and Character Progression

Combat in The Creed is real-time and involves a mix of melee and ranged attacks. Players can use a wide array of weapons, from pistols and shotguns to miniguns and rocket launchers. The game also features a leveling system where players can improve their character’s abilities through experience points earned from completing missions.

User Interface and Controls

The user interface is functional but dated by modern standards. The controls are customizable, with options for both action and adventure players. However, the controls have been criticized for being stiff and requiring an adaptation period, which can be frustrating for players accustomed to more responsive control schemes.

Multiplayer and Level Editor

The Creed includes a multiplayer mode that supports up to 8 players for cooperative or competitive missions. The game also features an Advanced Gaming Operating System (AGOS) level editor, allowing players to create and share their own missions. This added a layer of community engagement and extended the game’s lifespan.

World-Building, Art & Sound

Setting and Atmosphere

Cerberus, the game’s primary setting, is a sprawling, dystopian city that exudes a Blade Runner-inspired aesthetic. The environment is dark, gritty, and filled with neon lights, rain-soaked streets, and cybernetic enhancements. The city is populated by a variety of NPCs, each with their own behaviors and dialogue, contributing to the immersive atmosphere.

Visual Direction

The game’s visual style is a mix of 3D character models and pre-rendered 2D backgrounds. While this approach was common at the time, it has aged poorly, with jagged edges and low-resolution textures being noticeable. However, the art direction remains impressive, capturing the cyberpunk aesthetic effectively.

Sound Design

The sound design is a highlight of the game, featuring a mix of ambient sounds, voice acting, and a techno-inspired soundtrack. The voice acting is particularly noteworthy, with Elise Greig and Matt Wollaston delivering compelling performances as Gene Matrix and Guy Wolfe, respectively. The soundtrack complements the game’s atmosphere, enhancing the immersive experience.

Reception & Legacy

Critical and Commercial Reception

The Creed received mixed reviews upon its release. Critics praised the game’s atmosphere, environmental design, and innovative mission structure but criticized its controls, multiplayer issues, and profanity. The game’s commercial performance was limited, partly due to its niche appeal and the censorship controversies.

Influence and Impact

Despite its obscurity, The Creed has had a lasting influence on the immersive sim genre. Its branching narrative, faction-based mission system, and cyberpunk setting foreshadowed elements found in later games like Deus Ex and Cyberpunk 2077. The game’s level editor also demonstrated early examples of player-generated content, a feature that has become more prevalent in modern gaming.

Conclusion

The Creed is a game that, while flawed, offers a unique and innovative experience that deserves recognition. Its cyberpunk setting, branching narrative, and mission variety set it apart from its contemporaries. Despite its technical limitations and mixed reception, the game’s legacy as a precursor to the immersive sim genre is undeniable. For fans of cyberpunk and early 3D gaming, The Creed is a title worth revisiting, if only to appreciate its ambitious vision and the groundwork it laid for future games.

In the grand tapestry of video game history, The Creed may not be a household name, but it is a testament to the creativity and innovation of its time. Its place in gaming history is secured not by its commercial success but by its influence and the memories it created for those who ventured into the dark, neon-lit streets of Cerberus.