[the_raven]

Ok, so I want to play PowerSlave. I've read on pediwikia that there were at least two main versions - the PC dos version and the console version - that have different endings. Are the endings the main difference between them?
I've also read about a fanmade PC port of the console version - PowerSlave Ex - that NightDive hogged up recently while they're making their own recreation or whatnot.
And then there's Exhumed and something else - PC source ports?

So my question is: What do I play? I think I still have the dos version on a disk somewhere, but I'd still like some guidance.

[Jimmy]

The PlayStation and Saturn versions of the game are somewhat similar, and the PC version is radically different. They all have unique content.

There are two ports for modern PCs of the DOS game, PCExhumed and BuildGDX. I don't think there's a clear winner as to which is better but I haven't played with them much myself.

[Dzierzan]

Mind that Powerslave EX is based on console version while the rest support PC version.

[MetHy]

The DOS version uses Build, an older version of Build than Duke's, and was the first version made despite not being released first.

Then they made the Saturn version, which is basically a different game sharing the same assets (textures, enemies, weapons, sounds, etc) but with completely different gameplay and levels, and uses a true 3D engine made in house. This version was released first.

Then they ported that version to PS1 but if I'm not mistaken it was reprogrammed pretty much from scratch, and also includes many differences, you can't "bomb jump" in that version and about 5 levels are completely different.

PCExhumed and BuildGDX lets you play the Build version. PowerslaveEX is a port of the PS1 version. I haven't checked EX in a long time time so maybe it's better now but last time I checked it was still in beta state.

[Doom64hunter]

PowerslaveEX is unfinished and will not continue development due to legal issues.

You likely won't see a port of the PSX/Saturn game unless Nightdive gets the rights to re-release it.

[Aristotle Gumball]

Doom64hunter, on 30 October 2020 - 01:16 AM, said:

PowerslaveEX is unfinished and will not continue development due to legal issues.

You likely won't see a port of the PSX/Saturn game unless Nightdive gets the rights to re-release it.

Source? Curious to read. I was really looking forward to it.

[Phredreeke]

Jimmy, on 29 October 2020 - 10:40 PM, said:

There are two ports for modern PCs of the DOS game, PCExhumed and BuildGDX. I don't think there's a clear winner as to which is better but I haven't played with them much myself.

GDX is a bit more feature rich. I haven't heard any complaints about either in regard to accuracy.

Previously PCExhumed would be the winner in terms of visuals, but as of 1.14 GDX has palette emulation so I'd consider it a tie in that regard.

[Aristotle Gumball]

Build Powerslave has a weird difficulty curve. You'll find it really easy in the beginning and a mindfuck in the end, pretty much as soon as the hitscanners show up.

[Player Lin]

Embittered Phallus, on 30 October 2020 - 01:43 AM, said:

Source? Curious to read. I was really looking forward to it.

(I don't know if someone know about NightDive seems got the license of PowerSlave since 2018?)
Seems still in WIP but he/they just had too many projects going the same time right now, so haven't touched PowerSlaveEX yet.

Source : https://twitter.com/...136946119856128

Quote

Samuel Villarreal
@SVKaiser

It will see the light of day. But its on the backburner as we already got multiple projects going on (Shadowman, Sin, etc). I hope to revisit it soon though. Hopefully after the other stuff wraps up.

TL;DR: It will happens eventually, when they(NightDive & Kaiser) finished some other their current projects.

[Phredreeke]

When the subject of ND acquiring the license have come up before people have expressed doubts. Hendricks mentioned them trying to get the original programmer to sign off on the release and indemnifying them in case the actual rightsholder shows up.

[jkas789]

Let's hope they do. I'm not particularly happy with Blood Fresh Supply, however I did like ND's work on Turok and Doom 64. Also the Strife port was alright.

[axl]

Yes, indeed. And hopefully they will include both Saturn and PSX versions of the game. They can leave the PC version out of it, because this is already covered by GDX, PCExhumed and Raze.

[WolfmanFP]

The PC version is now available on GOG, published by Throwback Entertainment:
https://www.gog.com/game/powerslave

[Master O]

Will Iron Maiden's lawyers sue?

[Doom64hunter]

Master O, on 19 November 2020 - 09:16 AM, said:

Will Iron Maiden's lawyers sue?

To be honest, any remaster would probably need to drop the Powerslave name, because it was literally only named that way because of the album. No fictional torture device to fall back on for that one.

At least Exhumed already has the "Ex" in the name, lol.

[MrFlibble]

Finally!

[jkas789]

So Powerslave EX will officially be a thing:

https://twitter.com/...5447897091?s=20

According to Stephan Kick:

Quote

The plan is both the dos version and the console version since they are completely different

https://twitter.com/...9877566464?s=20

Fucking 2020 never stops with its weird shit huh? At least this is a good thing.

[Jimmy]

Hopefully it includes both console versions.

[Ninety-Six]

I never had a chance to play any of the three versions so I have some hope for this. Let's hope it is as definitive as possible.

[Doom64hunter]

I thought Kaiser didn't want to touch the Build engine again after what happened with Fresh Supply?

Or at least, that's what I heard.

[Dzierzan]

It's Powerslave, does it even have anyone around who could compare DOS and any remaster/remake/whatever thoroughly? I doubt that. This wasn't the case with Blood where it still has strong community which could tell every little nitpick.

[jkas789]

Doom64hunter, on 21 November 2020 - 05:17 AM, said:

I thought Kaiser didn't want to touch the Build engine again after what happened with Fresh Supply?

Or at least, that's what I heard.

Which kills me. Companies have released shitty games before to passionate audiences, but as long as they get over their pride and and care about their work than they can turn shitty releases into GOTYs. Just look at No Man's Sky and the incredible turn around they did.

Honestly the B:FS situation soured every single game NightDive has released so far. And I genuinely liked both Turok releases, Doom 64 and Strife.

[Jimmy]

I'm not a huge fan of Nightdive but it's not fair to blame them for the Fresh Supply situation. That all comes from the IP holders. The same people who won't release the source code. Their behaviour is why I openly encourage people to only pirate the game and anyone who has the source code should just leak it at this point.

[jkas789]

Jimmy, on 21 November 2020 - 07:59 AM, said:

I'm not a huge fan of Nightdive but it's not fair to blame them for the Fresh Supply situation. That all comes from the IP holders. The same people who won't release the source code. Their behaviour is why I openly encourage people to only pirate the game and anyone who has the source code should just leak it at this point.

What are you going on about Jimmy? Don't you know that making hotels and scamming people with overpriced underpowered "Hybrid PCs" are very important corporate things?

Jokes aside, I think NightDive could have pushed a bit more to release a final patch for FS, but I think at that point Atari had already cashed out and ND was just about done with all the shitshow. But yes, ultimately, this is all Nu Atari (or WBs?) fault.

[Jimmy]

I can see why they would check out. At least they openly told people just to support NBlood.

[Aristotle Gumball]

I think that was just a Discord message. They're still raking in the cash from their port, but yeah, that's kaiser being a respectable person.

[NightFright]

Time to resurrect this. A few weeks ago, Nightdive released that Powerslave remaster and it's apparently really good. And yes, it seems to bring the Playstation and Saturn releases together into a "best of both worlds" mix. I wanted to play this with Raze and original game data for the first time, but now I am undecided whether I should go for the Kex version instead.

It's sad how this title was treated when it came out in the 90s. In the shadow of Duke3D and Quake, gaming mags were just like "It's trash, don't buy it." Today, we are grateful for forgotten pearls like this one. Same goes for Blood, btw. Hopelessly underrated back in the days.

[Futuretime23]

NightFright, on 04 March 2022 - 03:58 PM, said:

Time to resurrect this. A few weeks ago, Nightdive released that Powerslave remaster and it's apparently really good. And yes, it seems to bring the Playstation and Saturn releases together into a "best of both worlds" mix. I wanted to play this with Raze and original game data for the first time, but now I am undecided whether I should go for the Kex version instead.

It's sad how this title was treated when it came out in the 90s. In the shadow of Duke3D and Quake, gaming mags were just like "It's trash, don't buy it." Today, we are grateful for forgotten pearls like this one. Same goes for Blood, btw. Hopelessly underrated back in the days.

DOSSlave is completely different from PSEX or the console games in case you didn't know.
DOSSlave is a more traditional shooter of the 90s. Decent game, not much else to say though it is infinitely more deserving of the big 4th buiild engine game spot over RR. Worth a shot if nothing else, personally I found Saturnslave a much better game but it is very much its own thing.
If you are more into traditional 90s shooters, do DOS first, if you want something a bit different or are more into Metroidvanias, do PSEX first (or the console versions), that's my take on it.

[keiron]