Defcon 5

Game review

Defcon 5, a 1995 action-adventure game developed by Millennium Interactive, was initially released for MS-DOS and later ported in 1996 to PlayStation, Sega Saturn, and 3DO Interactive Multiplayer. Contrary to popular fiction's misuse of the term, the game's title, Defcon 5, actually denotes a state of normal peacetime military readiness in the DEFCON system. Initially announced as "Incoming", the game takes on a different approach to the DEFCON concept.

In the game's storyline, players assume the role of a cyberneer employed by the fictional Tyron Corporation. Their mission involves setting up automated defense software at MRP-6F, a deep space mining facility situated atop a crater. The facility's primary function is to safeguard the mining operations from any hostile forces, equipped with six defense turrets and various systems for power and munitions.

The plot thickens shortly after the player's arrival at MRP-6F, when the facility comes under attack from an unidentified enemy. Players must confront enemy fighters and infiltrators within the base, aiming to ultimately escape with evidence detailing the events that unfolded.

Gameplay-wise, Defcon 5 resembles the System Shock series. Players are tasked with navigating the base, collecting items to set up defenses and plan an escape. This involves strategically using defense turrets and the facility's computer terminals, known as "VOS terminals," to stall the enemy's progress.

The game's VOS terminals provide extensive interactivity. Players can remotely control defense turrets, load ammunition, check for turret damage, and deploy combat droids. They can also manipulate doors to restrict access to different areas of the installation, using this feature to trap enemies.

Combat in Defcon 5 is an option, though not the preferred one, as shooting enemies leads to the arrival of more attackers and degrades the air quality, which can result in the computer sealing off polluted areas. Players can mitigate pollution by opening doors to clean areas and monitor pollution levels through the VOS terminal's environmental module.

The game's setting is a complex layout consisting of two main towers with seven floors each, three hangars, a service level, six turrets, a control room, and a transportation system named "LIMO." This intricate design, coupled with numerous elevators, offers players various routes to evade enemies and reach their objectives.