Hammer of the Gods
Encyclopedia
Hammer of the Gods is a 1994
turn-based strategy
computer game developed
by Holistic Design and published by New World Computing
for MS-DOS
. The events of the game take place in viking age
Europe
, with a Norse
fantasy
setting. Hammer of the Gods is one of the games that spawned the creation of the Heroes of Might and Magic
strategy series.
, the highest god in the Norse pantheon. Upon starting the game, each player chooses to control one of four races: human
, elf
, troll
, or dwarf. Each race has unique characteristics for military units, and each is presented with a different hierarchy of gods which set different goals to meet. When the player meets each of these goals, the gods will present the player with a reward at the end of that turn. These rewards vary in nature, and can include powerful military units, magical flying ships for fast transportation, or higher income from conquered towns, to name a few examples.
Before beginning the game, the player chooses one of two world map layouts. One choice is to play on a representation of Europe during the Viking golden age beginning in 700AD. The other choice is a computer-generated map, which will be different for each campaign started. Each player starts the game with control of one town, and must explore the world to conquer new towns for income and military security.
In addition to military conquest, each player can delegate diplomacy between his own empire and that of the other players. Each player's relations are labelled as peaceful, neutral, or at a state of war. Trade can be initiated between empires with neutral or peaceful relations.
When two armies meet on the world map, a battlefield is displayed showing the player's and the enemy's units. Each player moves his units during his turn, with the goal of completely eradicating the enemy's units or forcing a retreat. Most units can only attack other units that are adjacent on the battlefield, but archers and wizards can attack from a distance. When a town or a castle is attacked, the defending player may have fortifications provided, which can greatly influence the outcome of the battle.
Although the main gameplay consists of military conquest, the goal of each player is to meet goals set forth by the gods of the Norse Edda. Between turns, a tree which represents the pantheon for each race is displayed, and the player chooses from available gods to try to meet their goals. Generally, the higher the god is on the tree, the more difficult the goal will be to accomplish. Some are very straightforward, such as "go to the ruins of Stonehenge and defeat the dragon there," while some are more complicated and require multiple turns to complete, such as requiring the player to conquer a number of towns.
#221 by Jay & Dee in the "Eye of the Monitor" column. Jay gave the game 4 out of 5 stars, while Dee gave the game 3 stars.
1994 in video gaming
-Events:*Nintendo calls this year "1994: The Year of the Cartridge".*Nintendo Australia Pty. Ltd, the Australian subsidiary of Nintendo Co., Ltd is established and opened by Hiroshi Yamauchi and effectively ends Mattel Australia's distribution of Nintendo's products throughout Australia.*"Project...
turn-based strategy
Strategy game
A strategy game or strategic game is a game in which the players' uncoerced, and often autonomous decision-making skills have a high significance in determining the outcome...
computer game developed
Video game developer
A video game developer is a software developer that creates video games. A developer may specialize in a certain video game console, such as Nintendo's Wii, Microsoft's Xbox 360, Sony's PlayStation 3, or may develop for a variety of systems, including personal computers.Most developers also...
by Holistic Design and published by New World Computing
New World Computing
New World Computing, Inc. was an American computer game developer and publisher founded in 1984 by Jon Van Caneghem, his wife, Michaela Van Caneghem, and Mark Caldwell. It was best known for its work on the Might and Magic computer role-playing game series and its spin-offs, especially Heroes of...
for MS-DOS
MS-DOS
MS-DOS is an operating system for x86-based personal computers. It was the most commonly used member of the DOS family of operating systems, and was the main operating system for IBM PC compatible personal computers during the 1980s to the mid 1990s, until it was gradually superseded by operating...
. The events of the game take place in viking age
Viking Age
Viking Age is the term for the period in European history, especially Northern European and Scandinavian history, spanning the late 8th to 11th centuries. Scandinavian Vikings explored Europe by its oceans and rivers through trade and warfare. The Vikings also reached Iceland, Greenland,...
Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, with a Norse
Norse mythology
Norse mythology, a subset of Germanic mythology, is the overall term for the myths, legends and beliefs about supernatural beings of Norse pagans. It flourished prior to the Christianization of Scandinavia, during the Early Middle Ages, and passed into Nordic folklore, with some aspects surviving...
fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
setting. Hammer of the Gods is one of the games that spawned the creation of the Heroes of Might and Magic
Heroes of Might and Magic
Heroes of Might and Magic is a series of video games originally created and developed by Jon Van Caneghem through New World Computing. As part of the Might and Magic franchise, the series changed ownership when NWC was acquired by 3DO and again when 3DO closed down and sold the rights to Ubisoft...
strategy series.
Gameplay
Hammer of the Gods is an empire-building game with a focus on military strategy. The goal of the game is to build an empire through expansionism while completing a set of goals that are specified by the gods of Norse mythology. The game is won when a player completes the quest of OdinOdin
Odin is a major god in Norse mythology and the ruler of Asgard. Homologous with the Anglo-Saxon "Wōden" and the Old High German "Wotan", the name is descended from Proto-Germanic "*Wodanaz" or "*Wōđanaz"....
, the highest god in the Norse pantheon. Upon starting the game, each player chooses to control one of four races: human
Human
Humans are the only living species in the Homo genus...
, elf
Elf
An elf is a being of Germanic mythology. The elves were originally thought of as a race of divine beings endowed with magical powers, which they use both for the benefit and the injury of mankind...
, troll
Troll
A troll is a supernatural being in Norse mythology and Scandinavian folklore. In origin, the term troll was a generally negative synonym for a jötunn , a being in Norse mythology...
, or dwarf. Each race has unique characteristics for military units, and each is presented with a different hierarchy of gods which set different goals to meet. When the player meets each of these goals, the gods will present the player with a reward at the end of that turn. These rewards vary in nature, and can include powerful military units, magical flying ships for fast transportation, or higher income from conquered towns, to name a few examples.
Before beginning the game, the player chooses one of two world map layouts. One choice is to play on a representation of Europe during the Viking golden age beginning in 700AD. The other choice is a computer-generated map, which will be different for each campaign started. Each player starts the game with control of one town, and must explore the world to conquer new towns for income and military security.
In addition to military conquest, each player can delegate diplomacy between his own empire and that of the other players. Each player's relations are labelled as peaceful, neutral, or at a state of war. Trade can be initiated between empires with neutral or peaceful relations.
When two armies meet on the world map, a battlefield is displayed showing the player's and the enemy's units. Each player moves his units during his turn, with the goal of completely eradicating the enemy's units or forcing a retreat. Most units can only attack other units that are adjacent on the battlefield, but archers and wizards can attack from a distance. When a town or a castle is attacked, the defending player may have fortifications provided, which can greatly influence the outcome of the battle.
Although the main gameplay consists of military conquest, the goal of each player is to meet goals set forth by the gods of the Norse Edda. Between turns, a tree which represents the pantheon for each race is displayed, and the player chooses from available gods to try to meet their goals. Generally, the higher the god is on the tree, the more difficult the goal will be to accomplish. Some are very straightforward, such as "go to the ruins of Stonehenge and defeat the dragon there," while some are more complicated and require multiple turns to complete, such as requiring the player to conquer a number of towns.
Reception
The game was reviewed in 1995 in DragonDragon (magazine)
Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
#221 by Jay & Dee in the "Eye of the Monitor" column. Jay gave the game 4 out of 5 stars, while Dee gave the game 3 stars.
External links
- Hammer of the Gods at GameSpotGameSpotGameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...