Colony Wars
Encyclopedia
Colony Wars is a trilogy
of video games developed and produced by Psygnosis for the PlayStation
. The three games in the series are Colony Wars
(1997), Colony Wars: Vengeance
(1998), and Colony Wars: Red Sun
(2000). The style of gameplay is a 3D science fiction
space shoot 'em up
.
and, eventually, its surrounding star systems. As centuries passed, Earth and the Solar System were drained of all natural resources. The Czar decided to pass a law, declaring that all outer colonies were to dedicate the majority of planetary resources to the survival of the Sol System, primarily Earth
, as their duty to the birthplace of mankind and humanity's pioneering ancestors.
Although all colonies fell quickly into line with this decree, the populations of these solar systems were taken completely for granted by the Earth Empire. For centuries, honoring their word and fulfilling all duties demanded of them, the colonists were treated with nothing but spite, and branded as second-class citizens. Eventually, people throughout many colonies and across dozens of planets, specifically those of the Gallonigher System, began to voice their protests and disdain at the Empire's harsh treatment. The Czar, believing the outer-system colonists to be little more than peasant scum, became enraged that his subjects would even dare to question their duties to the Empire. Deciding quickly to have the protests suppressed, the Czar moved his massive fleets to the outer systems, where he ordered the annihilation of every city that had so far reported even minor protests.
Believing that his subjects wouldn't ever dare to question their places again, the Czar rallied entire systems into open revolt through his actions - even alienating many of his most loyal and experienced outer-system Naval officers, who quickly defected to the faction leading the most passionate anti-Empire efforts, The League Of Free Worlds. Due to these events, The League went from being a minor political annoyance, to becoming the most dangerous military threat posed to the Earth Empire's rule. The Czar, now with a lack of experienced fleet officers in the outer systems, placed a young and arrogant Admiral in charge of a massive Imperial taskforce and dispatched it to destroy 'The Father' and the large League fleet growing and amassing strength in the Gallonigher System. Although only in command of obsolete fighters and small to mid-sized capital ships, 'The Father' and his advisors drew the complacent Navy fleet and its inexperienced officers into ambush, obliterating the entire taskforce with very few losses to their own forces. The Battle of Benay served as the League's rallying call to the colonies, and as League supporters and Navy loyalists wage civil war across the known systems, The League Of Free Worlds begins its push towards the Sol System, Earth and the Czar.
in 3095 AD, with the arrival of settlers on Mars. By late in the 5th millennium, humanity has travelled to, and subsequently colonized, many different solar systems through use of revolutionary wormhole
technology. But all of these colonies have had the sole purpose of supplying Earth, which had nearly all its natural resources stripped by industry and human consumption. Governing the worlds is the Earth Empire, with the military forces, the Navy, enforcing its rule.
Over the centuries, the brutal regime gained opposition, and the League of Free Worlds was formed out of insurgency
against the Empire, led by a figure known as "The Father". The first conflict can be analogised in the form of the Vietnam
War
, as the mighty and powerful Navy are drawn to the edge of defeat by a smaller and under-equipped force.
Assuming that Vengeance is the official continuation of the timeline (as there are multiple endings depending on player progress, creating a similar illusion of free choice as seen at the end of Half-Life), the Navy push the League forces out of the Sol System. But in their retreat, the League destroy the free orbiting space platform that tethered the wormholes from each system, meaning the Earth Empire and the Navy are effectively trapped. In 4620, the now almost sterile Sol System plays host to a civil war
between Navy factions, with the League left to wonder the fate of their enemies.
In 4669, the civil war is drawing to a close with the emergence of a new leader, known as Kron. It is still the 5th millennium (as stated by Valdemar in Colony Wars: Red Sun) and the Navy has united enough of the populace to become a military force once again. Though nothing of its former power, they embark upon a campaign of retribution against the League of Free Worlds, who have now become as powerful as the Earth Empire once was. But as they progress in their campaign, it becomes clear that the initial reasons for the breakout from Sol were nothing but a sham, with the entire reasons for the war being lost in mutual fear and need, as both the Navy and League come under attack from a hitherto unknown and mysterious alien
race. As they fight off the attacks, the Navy commander, Kron, attempts to continue his campaign against the League, eventually fighting the Navy itself. As it transpires, Kron was once a highly regarded League loyalist, who was deliberately sent on a suicide mission to Earth in the previous war due to his unstable nature. The entire 2nd Colonial War was built on his personal vendetta he felt the need to fulfil. Canonically, Kron is killed by Mertens with his personal bodyguards in the Boreas system in 4671 and the Navy and the League now cooperates.
The "Red Sun" incident happens during this second colonial war, while the League and the Navy are still enemies. The League has to secretly cooperates with alien forces to destroy the threat the bio-mechanical ship Red Sun is to the universe. With all their help, Valdemar is able to kill it in the subspace and returns as a hero in his home system, Magenta.
and legend, such as Vampire
and Chimera
. The Navy's fighters were named after storm
y weather
conditions, such as Blizzard
and Thunder
child.
In Vengeance, the Navy's fighters were named after black magic
and monsters, such as Hex
and Wraith
. The League's fighters were named after weaponry, like Sword
and Lance
.
ranked the series as the #8 on the list of the games that need sequels.
Trilogy
A trilogy is a set of three works of art that are connected, and that can be seen either as a single work or as three individual works. They are commonly found in literature, film, or video games...
of video games developed and produced by Psygnosis for the PlayStation
PlayStation
The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console first released by Sony Computer Entertainment in Japan on December 3, .The PlayStation was the first of the PlayStation series of consoles and handheld game devices. The PlayStation 2 was the console's successor in 2000...
. The three games in the series are Colony Wars
Colony Wars
Colony Wars is a trilogy of video games developed and produced by Psygnosis for the PlayStation. The three games in the series are Colony Wars , Colony Wars: Vengeance , and Colony Wars: Red Sun . The style of gameplay is a 3D science fiction space shoot 'em up.-Games:-Prologue:Colony Wars takes...
(1997), Colony Wars: Vengeance
Colony Wars: Vengeance
Colony Wars: Vengeance is a space simulation video game for the PlayStation developed and released by Psygnosis in 1998, and sequel to the original Colony Wars, released the previous year....
(1998), and Colony Wars: Red Sun
Colony Wars: Red Sun
Colony Wars: Red Sun is a space simulation video game for the PlayStation developed and released by Psygnosis in 2000...
(2000). The style of gameplay is a 3D science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
space shoot 'em up
Shoot 'em up
Shoot 'em up is a subgenre of shooter video games. In a shoot 'em up, the player controls a lone character, often in a spacecraft or aircraft, shooting large numbers of enemies while dodging their attacks. The genre in turn encompasses various types or subgenres and critics differ on exactly what...
.
Games
| Title | Release date | Released for | Information |
| Colony Wars Colony Wars Colony Wars is a trilogy of video games developed and produced by Psygnosis for the PlayStation. The three games in the series are Colony Wars , Colony Wars: Vengeance , and Colony Wars: Red Sun . The style of gameplay is a 3D science fiction space shoot 'em up.-Games:-Prologue:Colony Wars takes... |
1997 | PlayStation PlayStation The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console first released by Sony Computer Entertainment in Japan on December 3, .The PlayStation was the first of the PlayStation series of consoles and handheld game devices. The PlayStation 2 was the console's successor in 2000... |
In the first game, the player assumes the role of a nameless colonist, in the service of "The Father" and the rapidly expanding "League Of Free Worlds" resistance movement. The player is thrust into the action following The League's miraculous victory at the Battle of Benay. As a skilled League fighter pilot, the character must struggle to overcome the oppressive Earth Empire and its massive naval fleets across several star systems embroiled in civil war. The character is tasked with multi-role assignments, consisting of perimeter defense, guarding supply lines, protecting capital fleetships, dogfighting against advanced Navy fighters, infiltrating Imperial territory and obtaining Naval technology. Unlike most video games, failure of a mission (or even several) does not necessarily cause the game to end. Colony Wars features a branching system with many separate endings, depending on the player's rate of success/failure; even losing every consecutive mission from the beginning of the game will result in the player "finishing" the title, albeit with dire consequences for the game's protagonist. |
| Colony Wars: Vengeance Colony Wars: Vengeance Colony Wars: Vengeance is a space simulation video game for the PlayStation developed and released by Psygnosis in 1998, and sequel to the original Colony Wars, released the previous year.... |
1998 | PlayStation PlayStation The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console first released by Sony Computer Entertainment in Japan on December 3, .The PlayStation was the first of the PlayStation series of consoles and handheld game devices. The PlayStation 2 was the console's successor in 2000... |
In the direct sequel, Colony Wars: Vengeance, the player switches sides and takes the role of Mertens, a pilot for the new Earth Navy, set approximately one hundred years after the events of Colony Wars, Mertens and the newly united Sol fleet, under the guidance of their charismatic leader, Kron, are bent on revenge for the Navy's defeat. Battling vast League fleets, battle-hardened elite mercenaries and alien opponents across unfamiliar and hostile territory, Mertens soon discovers that all is not as it seems within the heart of the Navy, and that the most dangerous of enemies are, in fact, not his enemies at all. Colony Wars: Vengeance features a "tech token" upgrade system, which allows the player to boost the combat prowess of each of Mertens' various fighters used throughout gameplay. Tokens can boost a fighter's shields, engines, firepower and hull strength, allowing the player to convert even the most basic fighter into a formidable weapon, provided the required number of tokens are available. The branching feature of the original title is also featured in Colony Wars: Vengeance. |
| Colony Wars: Red Sun Colony Wars: Red Sun Colony Wars: Red Sun is a space simulation video game for the PlayStation developed and released by Psygnosis in 2000... |
2000 | PlayStation PlayStation The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console first released by Sony Computer Entertainment in Japan on December 3, .The PlayStation was the first of the PlayStation series of consoles and handheld game devices. The PlayStation 2 was the console's successor in 2000... |
Colony Wars: Red Sun places the player in the role of Valdemar, a miner turned mercenary Mercenary A mercenary, is a person who takes part in an armed conflict based on the promise of material compensation rather than having a direct interest in, or a legal obligation to, the conflict itself. A non-conscript professional member of a regular army is not considered to be a mercenary although he... , during the "Vengeance Wars." It expanded on the "tech token" upgrade feature of Colony Wars: Vengeance by allowing players to buy fighter craft, upgrades and new weaponry from money (or credits as they were called in-game) earned on missions. It also introduced alien interaction into the storyline, which had previously focused almost entirely on the League/Navy conflict with little more than minor comments regarding the status of the civilian/neutral populations throughout the war. Valdemar is able to accept missions from anybody capable of providing the money, and can often choose from several mission at any given time. Clients include pirates, conglomorates, security forces and both The League Of Free Worlds and the Colonial Navy. Of all three characters, Valdemar is of the greatest importance, as his journey ultimately leads him on a desperate race to rescue the human species from complete destruction, whereas the first two titles, and the characters featured, focused entirely on the League/Navy war. Colony Wars: Red Sun was criticised for the removal of the branching system featured in both Colony Wars and Colony Wars: Vengeance, which many fans considered a unique and impressive characteristic of the series. The ability to view cinematics was also removed, which was also perceived as another drawback to the title. |
Prologue
Colony Wars takes place in the distant future. Humans have further unlocked the secrets to the longevity of life and, as such, a population explosion across Earth forced mankind to begin colonization of the Solar SystemSolar System
The Solar System consists of the Sun and the astronomical objects gravitationally bound in orbit around it, all of which formed from the collapse of a giant molecular cloud approximately 4.6 billion years ago. The vast majority of the system's mass is in the Sun...
and, eventually, its surrounding star systems. As centuries passed, Earth and the Solar System were drained of all natural resources. The Czar decided to pass a law, declaring that all outer colonies were to dedicate the majority of planetary resources to the survival of the Sol System, primarily Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
, as their duty to the birthplace of mankind and humanity's pioneering ancestors.
Although all colonies fell quickly into line with this decree, the populations of these solar systems were taken completely for granted by the Earth Empire. For centuries, honoring their word and fulfilling all duties demanded of them, the colonists were treated with nothing but spite, and branded as second-class citizens. Eventually, people throughout many colonies and across dozens of planets, specifically those of the Gallonigher System, began to voice their protests and disdain at the Empire's harsh treatment. The Czar, believing the outer-system colonists to be little more than peasant scum, became enraged that his subjects would even dare to question their duties to the Empire. Deciding quickly to have the protests suppressed, the Czar moved his massive fleets to the outer systems, where he ordered the annihilation of every city that had so far reported even minor protests.
Believing that his subjects wouldn't ever dare to question their places again, the Czar rallied entire systems into open revolt through his actions - even alienating many of his most loyal and experienced outer-system Naval officers, who quickly defected to the faction leading the most passionate anti-Empire efforts, The League Of Free Worlds. Due to these events, The League went from being a minor political annoyance, to becoming the most dangerous military threat posed to the Earth Empire's rule. The Czar, now with a lack of experienced fleet officers in the outer systems, placed a young and arrogant Admiral in charge of a massive Imperial taskforce and dispatched it to destroy 'The Father' and the large League fleet growing and amassing strength in the Gallonigher System. Although only in command of obsolete fighters and small to mid-sized capital ships, 'The Father' and his advisors drew the complacent Navy fleet and its inexperienced officers into ambush, obliterating the entire taskforce with very few losses to their own forces. The Battle of Benay served as the League's rallying call to the colonies, and as League supporters and Navy loyalists wage civil war across the known systems, The League Of Free Worlds begins its push towards the Sol System, Earth and the Czar.
Background story
In the Colony Wars universe, humanity finally begins colonization of the Solar SystemSolar System
The Solar System consists of the Sun and the astronomical objects gravitationally bound in orbit around it, all of which formed from the collapse of a giant molecular cloud approximately 4.6 billion years ago. The vast majority of the system's mass is in the Sun...
in 3095 AD, with the arrival of settlers on Mars. By late in the 5th millennium, humanity has travelled to, and subsequently colonized, many different solar systems through use of revolutionary wormhole
Wormhole
In physics, a wormhole is a hypothetical topological feature of spacetime that would be, fundamentally, a "shortcut" through spacetime. For a simple visual explanation of a wormhole, consider spacetime visualized as a two-dimensional surface. If this surface is folded along a third dimension, it...
technology. But all of these colonies have had the sole purpose of supplying Earth, which had nearly all its natural resources stripped by industry and human consumption. Governing the worlds is the Earth Empire, with the military forces, the Navy, enforcing its rule.
Over the centuries, the brutal regime gained opposition, and the League of Free Worlds was formed out of insurgency
Insurgency
An insurgency is an armed rebellion against a constituted authority when those taking part in the rebellion are not recognized as belligerents...
against the Empire, led by a figure known as "The Father". The first conflict can be analogised in the form of the Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
War
War
War is a state of organized, armed, and often prolonged conflict carried on between states, nations, or other parties typified by extreme aggression, social disruption, and usually high mortality. War should be understood as an actual, intentional and widespread armed conflict between political...
, as the mighty and powerful Navy are drawn to the edge of defeat by a smaller and under-equipped force.
Assuming that Vengeance is the official continuation of the timeline (as there are multiple endings depending on player progress, creating a similar illusion of free choice as seen at the end of Half-Life), the Navy push the League forces out of the Sol System. But in their retreat, the League destroy the free orbiting space platform that tethered the wormholes from each system, meaning the Earth Empire and the Navy are effectively trapped. In 4620, the now almost sterile Sol System plays host to a civil war
Civil war
A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same nation state or republic, or, less commonly, between two countries created from a formerly-united nation state....
between Navy factions, with the League left to wonder the fate of their enemies.
In 4669, the civil war is drawing to a close with the emergence of a new leader, known as Kron. It is still the 5th millennium (as stated by Valdemar in Colony Wars: Red Sun) and the Navy has united enough of the populace to become a military force once again. Though nothing of its former power, they embark upon a campaign of retribution against the League of Free Worlds, who have now become as powerful as the Earth Empire once was. But as they progress in their campaign, it becomes clear that the initial reasons for the breakout from Sol were nothing but a sham, with the entire reasons for the war being lost in mutual fear and need, as both the Navy and League come under attack from a hitherto unknown and mysterious alien
Extraterrestrial life in popular culture
In popular cultures, "extraterrestrials" are life forms — especially intelligent life forms— that are of extraterrestrial origin .-Historical ideas:-Pre-modern:...
race. As they fight off the attacks, the Navy commander, Kron, attempts to continue his campaign against the League, eventually fighting the Navy itself. As it transpires, Kron was once a highly regarded League loyalist, who was deliberately sent on a suicide mission to Earth in the previous war due to his unstable nature. The entire 2nd Colonial War was built on his personal vendetta he felt the need to fulfil. Canonically, Kron is killed by Mertens with his personal bodyguards in the Boreas system in 4671 and the Navy and the League now cooperates.
The "Red Sun" incident happens during this second colonial war, while the League and the Navy are still enemies. The League has to secretly cooperates with alien forces to destroy the threat the bio-mechanical ship Red Sun is to the universe. With all their help, Valdemar is able to kill it in the subspace and returns as a hero in his home system, Magenta.
Craft names
In the first Colony Wars, almost all the League fighter craft were named after creatures of mythMythology
The term mythology can refer either to the study of myths, or to a body or collection of myths. As examples, comparative mythology is the study of connections between myths from different cultures, whereas Greek mythology is the body of myths from ancient Greece...
and legend, such as Vampire
Vampire
Vampires are mythological or folkloric beings who subsist by feeding on the life essence of living creatures, regardless of whether they are undead or a living person...
and Chimera
Chimera (mythology)
The Chimera or Chimaera was, according to Greek mythology, a monstrous fire-breathing female creature of Lycia in Asia Minor, composed of the parts of multiple animals: upon the body of a lioness with a tail that ended in a snake's head, the head of a goat arose on her back at the center of her...
. The Navy's fighters were named after storm
Storm
A storm is any disturbed state of an astronomical body's atmosphere, especially affecting its surface, and strongly implying severe weather...
y weather
Weather
Weather is the state of the atmosphere, to the degree that it is hot or cold, wet or dry, calm or stormy, clear or cloudy. Most weather phenomena occur in the troposphere, just below the stratosphere. Weather refers, generally, to day-to-day temperature and precipitation activity, whereas climate...
conditions, such as Blizzard
Blizzard
A blizzard is a severe snowstorm characterized by strong winds. By definition, the difference between blizzard and a snowstorm is the strength of the wind. To be a blizzard, a snow storm must have winds in excess of with blowing or drifting snow which reduces visibility to 400 meters or ¼ mile or...
and Thunder
Thunder
Thunder is the sound made by lightning. Depending on the nature of the lightning and distance of the listener, thunder can range from a sharp, loud crack to a long, low rumble . The sudden increase in pressure and temperature from lightning produces rapid expansion of the air surrounding and within...
child.
In Vengeance, the Navy's fighters were named after black magic
Black magic
Black magic is the type of magic that draws on assumed malevolent powers or is used with the intention to kill, steal, injure, cause misfortune or destruction, or for personal gain without regard to harmful consequences. As a term, "black magic" is normally used by those that do not approve of its...
and monsters, such as Hex
Curse
A curse is any expressed wish that some form of adversity or misfortune will befall or attach to some other entity—one or more persons, a place, or an object...
and Wraith
Wraith
Wraith is a Scottish dialectical word for "ghost, spirit", see Ghosts in European culture.Wraith or The Wraith may also refer to:-Entertainment:*Wraith: The Oblivion, a role-playing game*The Wraith, a 1986 movie starring Charlie Sheen...
. The League's fighters were named after weaponry, like Sword
Sword
A sword is a bladed weapon used primarily for cutting or thrusting. The precise definition of the term varies with the historical epoch or the geographical region under consideration...
and Lance
Lance
A Lance is a pole weapon or spear designed to be used by a mounted warrior. The lance is longer, stout and heavier than an infantry spear, and unsuited for throwing, or for rapid thrusting. Lances did not have tips designed to intentionally break off or bend, unlike many throwing weapons of the...
.
Reception
In 2010, UGOUGO
UGO Entertainment, Inc. is a website providing coverage of online media in entertainment targeting males age 18–34. The company is currently based in New York, New York, United States. On July 24, 2007 it was announced that Hearst Corporation would acquire UGO Entertainment...
ranked the series as the #8 on the list of the games that need sequels.