1990 Exponentia
Platform: Commodore Amiga
Elemental Force tells the story of a once-thriving city protected by a gem that ensured peace and stability. However, when a malevolent figure steals the gem and hides it across four elemental worlds (water, fire, air, and earth), the city falls into decline. The people choose a hero to retrieve the gem and defeat its thief in a climactic battle.
According to magazine previews at the time, the game consists of two phases. The first phase involves a series of tests to determine the player’s suitability for the quest. Once deemed worthy, the player selects one of the four worlds to explore, with the order of selection influencing the game’s difficulty.
The player must collect coloured vials in each world to fill a master vial, defeat the world’s monster, and obtain unique bonuses tailored to that world. For example, in the fire world, players gain the ability to wade through lava, offering protection from projectiles. However, the earth world remains locked until the other three worlds are completed.
From the previews and screenshots, it seemed that Elemental Force boasted impressive production quality, with stunning graphics and fluid animations reminiscent of Shadow of the Beast. While the game’s playability remained to be reviewed in future issues of the magazines, its visuals and design promise an engaging experience.
The French company Exponentia was very short lived, starting in 1990 and disappearing in 1992. The only game they managed to complete was Adrenalynn in 1991, and it isn’t known why Elemental Force didn’t make it. Perhaps the game was too ambitious for the company and hit development problems?
Hopefully we will get to learn more about the game soon. If you know anything about the title, please do get in touch.
With huge thanks to Hoagie / Abandonware France for the suggestion of covering and for the scans.
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