Carmageddon II: Carpocalypse Now
Vehicular combat sequel with controversial violence and hardware acceleration.
Carmageddon II: Carpocalypse Now is a vehicular combat game and the follow-up to the original Carmageddon. It came out in 1998 for Microsoft Windows, developed by Stainless Games and published by Sales Curve Interactive in Europe and Interplay Entertainment in North America. Ports for Mac OS, PlayStation, and Nintendo 64 (titled Carmageddon 64) followed in 1999. A 2D Game Boy Color version arrived in Europe in 1999 and in North America in 2000, simply called Carmageddon.
Like its predecessor, the game drew criticism for its violent content. It received a 15+ rating from ELSPA. In some regions, pedestrians and animals were replaced with zombies, and blood became green slime; in Germany, aliens took the place of pedestrians. Internet-released "blood patches" restored the original human pedestrians, and a physical Blood Pack was released in the United Kingdom in 1999, earning the game an 18 certificate.
This was the first Carmageddon title to support hardware acceleration, used for improved damage models and higher-quality levels. New vehicle damage models included bodywork damage to parts like fenders and spoilers. Cars could also be split in half, instantly destroying them unless repaired before they hit the ground. Unlike the first game, there were no "stealworthy cars"—instead, any wrecked vehicle could be purchased.
The PC version received "favorable" reviews on GameRankings, while console versions scored much lower. Official UK PlayStation Magazine criticized the PlayStation port's gameplay, stating that "no amount of pureed pedestrian can cover its faults." The Nintendo 64 port was poorly received, becoming N64 Magazine's lowest-rated game at 8% from 1999 until 2004. However, Hyper gave the same port 85%, calling it "a success, and probably more suited to the Nintendo 64 than it ever was on the PC, as this is big arcade-style silly action." Carmageddon 64 was nominated for "Worst Game" at GameSpot's Best and Worst of 2000 Awards, though the award went to Spirit of Speed 1937. The PC version was later included in the retrospective book *1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die*, first published in 2010.
The game features a heavy metal soundtrack, including four original songs by Iron Maiden: "The Trooper," "Aces High," "Be Quick or Be Dead," and "Man on the Edge." Music by Sentience is also used.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Carmageddon II: Carpocalypse Now
- Developer
- Stainless Games / Aqua Pacific (PS1/GBC) / Software Creations (N64)
- Publisher
- EU · Sales Curve Interactive · NA · Interplay Entertainment · NA · Titus Interactive (N64/GBC)
- Producer
- Darren Barnett
- Designer
- Patrick Buckland / Neil Barnden
- Programmer
- Patrick Buckland
- Artist
- Neil Barnden
- Composer
- Iron Maiden / Sentience / Allister Brimble (GBC)
- Engine
- Blazing Renderer
- Modes
- Single-player
- Genre
- Vehicular combat, racing
- Platforms
- Windows, Mac OS, PlayStation, Nintendo 64, Game Boy Color
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Carmageddon II: Carpocalypse Now is the sequel to Carmageddon, released in 1998 for Microsoft Windows. The game was developed by Stainless Games and published by Sales Curve Interactive in Europe and Interplay Entertainment in North America. Ports for Mac OS, PlayStation and Nintendo 64 (the latter as Carmageddon 64) were released in 1999. A 2D version for the Game Boy Color was released in Europe in 1999, and in North America in 2000 as Carmageddon. Like its predecessor, the game was subject to criticism for the level of violence portrayed. It is rated 15+ by ELSPA. In some countries, pedestrians and animals are zombies, and blood is turned to green slime, while in Germany, aliens replaced the pedestrians. Internet-released 'blood patches' restore the original human pedestrians. The blood pack was later released in the United Kingdom in 1999, earning the game an 18 certificate. Carmageddon II was the first Carmageddon game to feature hardware acceleration, used for higher quality damage models and levels. It features new damage models for vehicles, including car bodywork damage such as fenders and spoilers. Cars can be split in half, instantly wasting them, but only if not repaired before touching terrain. Unlike the first game, Carmageddon II does not have 'stealworthy cars'; instead any car wrecked can be purchased.
Reader's Guide
The PC version of Carmageddon II received 'favorable' reviews according to video game review aggregator GameRankings, while the console versions received much lower scores. Official UK PlayStation Magazine was scathing of the gameplay of the PlayStation version, saying that 'no amount of pureed pedestrian can cover its faults.' The Nintendo 64 port was ill-received, being N64 Magazine's lowest rated game at 8% from 1999 till 2004. Hyper, on the other hand, gave the same port 85%, calling it 'a success, and probably more suited to the Nintendo 64 than it ever was on the PC, as this is big arcade-style silly action.' Carmageddon 64 was nominated for the 'Worst Game' award at GameSpot's Best and Worst of 2000 Awards, which went to Spirit of Speed 1937. Carmageddon II (PC) was included in the retrospective book 1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die, originally published in 2010. The game features a heavy metal soundtrack with four original songs by Iron Maiden: 'The Trooper,' 'Aces High,' 'Be Quick or Be Dead,' and 'Man on the Edge,' as well as music by Sentience.
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