Corpse Killer
From Sega Retro
Corpse Killer is a full-motion video game developed and published by Digital Pictures. It was released for the Sega Mega-CD and 3DO game consoles and Windows and Macintosh computers. It was also one of five games released for the Sega Mega-CD 32X platform in North America. An enhanced version of the game, titled Corpse Killer: Graveyard Edition, was released for the Sega Saturn in North America.
Contents
Story
A United States Marine Corps special forces team is airdropped onto the tropical island of Cay Noir to apprehend the rogue government scientist Dr. Elgin Hellman, who has raised an army of zombies that he plans to unleash upon the world. The team is separated after jumping from their plane. The lieutenant is bitten by a zombie but rescued by the Rastafarian treasure hunter Winston, while the other marines were captured by Hellman.
Characters
Gameplay
Mega-CD and Mega-CD 32X versions
Corpse Killer is a light-gun shooting game where the player plays a marine trying to apprehend the mad scientist Dr. Hellman and rescue his marine comrades before he becomes a zombie himself. Stages consist of automatically scrolling full-motion video backgrounds with digitized sprites overlaid on top of actors portraying zombies. The goal of each stage is to shoot the zombies and avoid taking too much damage. Stages are interspersed with full-motion video sequences produced in the style of a campy zombie movie, which portray the story. The player can choose which stages to play. It is only necessary to complete the Fortress stages four times (to rescue the marine's comrades, who have been zombified by Dr. Hellman) and then visit Skull Mountain to fight Dr. Hellman in order to finish the game. However, other stages offer items after completing them, including special ammo that is necessary to defeat the bosses. These stages can be played multiple times to build an inventory of ammunition or to heal.
The characters have set up camp in a graveyard, and the player can retreat back to the graveyard at any time during gameplay. This sometimes plays a short stage where the graveyard is overrun by zombies. In the graveyard, the player accesses the "Datapod," a handheld communications system with multiple functions. The Datapod includes icons that play short FMV clips providing information about the game (such as the story, weapons, and enemies), access the Satlink map to choose a location on the island, or save the game to the console's internal memory.
The game can be played using a standard control pad or using either the Menacer and the GameGun light guns. Using a control pad, the player moves the targeting cursor around the screen using the D-Pad and fires by pressing . The marine's weapon is an automatic rifle with unlimited ammunition, so the button can be held down for continuous fire. Some enemies can only be killed using Datura-coated bullets, which can be obtained as a special item after completing some stages. Pressing once (which can be done while firing) switches to a Datura-coated bullet for a single round. Pressing two or three times switches to armor-piercing bullets or Datura-coated armor-piercing bullets until switched back to standard bullets by pressing four times. The current ammo levels are shown in a grid in the HUD. At any point, the player can retreat back to the graveyard by pressing . Using a light gun, pressing the trigger shoots and pressing the top button switches the ammo type. The player can retreat to the graveyard by shooting the "Abort" button in the HUD.
One type of zombie flashes between light and dark colors; it harms the player if it is shot while dark or kills every enemy on-screen if it is killed while light.
The marine's life is shown in a red cross in the HUD, starting at its maximum of 99. Life deteriorates by taking damage from zombies (who typically run at the player) but also slowly over time since the marine was bitten by a zombie after landing. The game ends if the marine runs out of life, but life can be restored by acquiring health potions.
Items
After some stages, the player is awarded an item or given a choice between the two Datura-derived items.
Breath | |
---|---|
A health potion concocted from the native Datura plant that restores some life to the marine. | |
Armor-Piercing Bullets | |
More powerful bullets than the regular bullets, though they are limited in supply. These can be acquired from APB Quests. | |
Datura-Coated Bullets | |
Bullets that are coated in Datura, which makes them very effective at killing zombies, including bosses. These can be acquired from Datura Quests. | |
Hanja Root | |
Enhances the power of Datura bullets. | |
Ju-ju Stick | |
Protects the marine against Black Magic Strawmen and Reapers, more dangerous enemies that take a large amount of life if the player does not possess this item. | |
Baba-Koo Manbones | |
Winston can use these bones to read the future. |
Stages
Airstrip | |
---|---|
This stage is always played at the beginning of the game. | |
Graveyard | |
This stage is sometimes played when returning to the Graveyard. |
Zombietown
After completing the first stage, the player enters Zombietown. After entering the Gate, the player can choose between the Village, the Swamp, or the Fortress. The Fortress must be played four times to rescue each of the marine's comrades before the final stage against Dr. Hellman can be played.
Gate | |
---|---|
This stage must be played every time the player wants to enter Zombietown. | |
Village | |
Swamp | |
Fortress | |
The Fortress consists of four stages, played in sequence: the Fortress, the Courtyard, the Outer Altar, and the Inner Altar. | |
Courtyard | |
Outer Altar | |
Inner Altar | |
The player fights Magliano, PFC Fleming, Corporal Duffy, and the Captain here (on separate visits). |
Skull Mountain
After rescuing all of the marines, the player can venture to Skull Mountain to fight Dr. Hellman.
Skull Mountain | |
---|---|
Hellman | |
This is the final boss fight, which must be completed to finish the game. |
Winston's Quests
Winston's two quests take him on a search for lost pirate gold.
Galleon | |
---|---|
Deep Jungle | |
Julie's Quests
Julie's two quests have the player assisting with her investigations on the island, which reward the player with more information cinematics in the Datapod when completed.
Near Depot / Palace Ruin / Ruins | |
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Near Sub / Totems / Totem Ruins | |
Other
Other quests can be selected from the Satlink map, which play one of these stages randomly and award items when completed. The stages from Winston's quest or Julia's quest can also appear randomly.
Ambush | |
---|---|
In the Mega-CD version, this stage is a single-screen with no scrolling where the player must shoot objects (such as skulls) thrown by enemies to avoid taking damage. In the Mega-CD 32X version, this stage is a conventional scrolling stage where the player shoots randomly appearing zombies. | |
Riverbed | |
Production credits
Mega-CD version
- Cast
- Hellman: Vincent Schiavelli
- Winston: Jeremiah Birkett
- Julie: Brigett Butler
- Magliano: John Cassini
- Fleming: Gary Anthony Sturgis
- Duffy: Erin Bobo
- Captain: Bill Mosley
- General: Charles Kahlenberg
- Production Supervisor: Ellen Gordon
- Production Coordinator: Thérese Cathcart
- Assistant Production Coordinator: Candance Modrell
- Production Secretary: Ruth de Thomas
- Associate Producer: Shari Little
- Additional Game Design: Noah Falstein
- Computer Graphics: Lode Coen, Cuyler Gee, Josh Solomon, Yarmila Seflova, Brian Andersen, Christina Carvalho
- First Assistant Director: Patrick Duffy
- Second Assistant Director: Bob Acosta
- Script Supervisor: Patricia Kangrga
- First Assistant Camera: Paddy Kean
- Second Assistant Camera: Arianne Peckham
- Film Loader: Julie Silver
- Steadicam Operator: Dave Chameides
- Art Director: Oana Bogdan
- Swing: Angel Pastrana
- Property Master: Randall Earnest
- Property Assistant: David Fitzpatrick
- Model Shop Supervisor: Dave Sharp
- Construction Supervisor: Clive Brown
- Set Decorator: Bonita Huffman
- Costume Design: Yana Syrkin
- Wardrobe Supervisor: Bo Slavin
- Set Costumer: Andrea Federman
- Key Make-up Artist: Diana Thomas
- Make-up Assistant: Marta Callender
- Prosthetic Make-up Artist: Bart Mixon
- Prosthetic Make-up Assistant: Earl Ellis
- Hair Dresser: Timothy Lasquade
- Stunt Coordinator: Keith Woulard
- Gaffer: Jim Gilson
- Best Boy Electric: Scott Young
- Electricians: Jose Hernandez, Raymond Orraca, Pedro Juan Lopez
- Key Grip: Terry Wimmer
- Best Boy Grip: Ramón Cuadrado
- Grips: Raul Rosado, Anibal Pabón
- Sound Mixer: Mary Jo Devenney
- Boom Operator: Peter Jones
- Production Accountants: Donna Cipriani, Tad Driscoll
- Assistant Accountant: Richard Fleming
- Location Manager: Ana Rica Groennou
- Casting Director: Zoraida Sanjurjo
- Still Photographer: Jose Cuevas
- Storyboard Artist: Robert Camargo
- Transportation Coordinator: Jose Luis Fuentes
- Drivers: Otni Vargas, Maniel Negrón, Felix Osorio, Luis Medina, Felix Juan Padua, Hector Lopez, Hector Chaparro, Ivan Lopez
- Technician Dance Consultant: Lisa Boiko
- Office Production Assistants: Karen Upholf, Malen Folch
- Key Set Production Assistant: Juan Esteban Suarez
- Set Production Assistants: Francisco Torres, Gilbert Medina
- Craft Service: Felix Perez
- Electricians: Steve Stelig, Shawn Blakeman
- Grip: Rafael Molinary
- Boom Operator: Kevin Kubota
- Casting Director: Valerie Massalas
- Extras Casting: Tom Thacker
- Still Photographer: Carol Westwood
- Transportation Coordinator: Paul Kowalczyk
- Office Production Assistant: Erika Schleich
- Set Production Assistants: Remo Packer, Basti Van Der Woude, Navid Sheydaei
- Caterer: Gourmet Chabar
- Craft Service: Stacy Briskman
- Post Production Supervisor: Eric Valente
- Editor: Peter Bazinski
- Assistant Editor: David Karson
- Post Production Assistant: Thérese Cathcart
- Percussion: Luis Conte
- Guitar: Marty Walsh
- Additional Music: Joel Goldsmith
- Additional Music Editor: Don Sanders
- Sound Effects Supervisor: Mace Matiosian
- Sound Effects Editor: David Beatle
- Additional Sound Effects: Albert Ibbotson
- ADR Mixer: Alfred T. Ferrante C.A.S.
- ADR Recordist: Daryl Lathrop
- Dialog Mixer: Chris Haire C.A.S.
- Sound Effects Mixer: Doug Cavey
- Music Mixer: Richard L. Morrison C.A.S.
- Additional Mixing: Tim Clamam
- Recordist: Chris Elam
- Foley Mixer: Marty Church
- Post Production Coordinator: Dan MacDonald
- Effects Composing: Mark Itravotolo
- Color Timer: Ed Rowin
- On Line Editor: Roger Berger
- Digital Artists: Robert McInnis, Marta Carter, Brian Conlon
- Head Tester: David Popovich
- Lead Game Tester: Rob Macy
- Assistant Lead: Randall K. Hughes
- Game Testers: Bill Bound, Ken Brink, Ayham Celebi, Harry Chavez, Erik Colasanti, Paul Franco, Karl Frese, Lawrence Gibson, Paul Gluck, Stefan M. Nelson
- Filmed on location in Puerto Rico and at Praxis Film Works in Los Angeles, California.
- Corpse Killer uses Digital Pictures' patent pending InstaSwitch technology. Digital video captured using Digital Pictures' DigiChrome process.
- Corpse Killer is a trademark of Digital Pictures, Inc. DigiChrome and U-Direct are registered trademarks of Digital Pictures, Inc. InstaSwitch is a trademark of Digital Pictures, Inc.
- Corpse Killer was created, produced and published by Digital Pictures, Inc.
- Copyright ©1994 Digital Pictures, Inc.
- Executive Producers: Tom Zito, Tyler Johnson
- Interactive Design: Ken Soohoo, Kenneth Melville
- Music: Bradley Smith
- Production Design: Anthony Tremblay
- Director of Photography: Anthony Palmieri
- Screenplay: Kenneth Melville
- Computer Programming: Ken Soohoo
- Produced by: Charles Ogden, Wolfgang Marum
- Directed by: John Lafia
- Computer Graphics: Kim Tempest
- Packaging and Manual: The Design Office of Wong & Yeo
Mega-CD 32X version
The credits for this version are the same as the Mega-CD version, except for the following.
- Associate Producer: Carina Chocano
- Additional Programming: Gene Kusmiak
- Lead Game Tester: Randall K. Hughes
- Assistant Lead: Rob Macy
- Game Testers: Bill Bound, Paul Franco
Saturn version
- Cast
- Hellman: Vincent Schiavelli
- Winston: Jeremiah Birkett
- Julie: Brigett Butler
- Magliano: John Cassini
- Fleming: Gary Anthony Sturgis
- Duffy: Erin Bobo
- Captain: Bill Mosley
- General: Charles Kahlenberg
- Stunt Coordinator: Keith Woulard
- Corpse Killer: Graveyard Edition Produced by: Shari L. Little
- Production Supervisor: Ellen Gordon
- Production Coordinator: Thérese Cathcart
- Associate Producer: Maureen Phalon
- Asst. Production Coordinator: Candance Modrell
- Production Secretary: Ruth de Thomas
- Additional Game Design: Noah Falstein
- Computer Graphics: Lode Coen, Cuyler Gee, Jarmila Seflova, Brian Andersen, Christina Carvalho
- Preproduction Development: Kevin Welsh
- First Assistant Director: Patrick Duffy
- Second Assistant Director: Bob Acosta
- Script Supervisor: Patricia Kangrga
- First Assistant Camera: Paddy Kean
- Second Assistant Camera: Arianne Peckham
- Film Loader: Julie Silver
- Steadicam Operator: Dave Chameides
- Art Director: Oana Bogdan
- Swing: Angel Pastrana
- Property Master: Randall Earnest
- Property Assistant: David Fitzpatrick
- Miniature Effects Supervisor: David B. Sharp
- Construction Supervisor: Clive Brown
- Set Decorator: Bonita Huffman
- Costume Design: Yana Syrkin
- Wardrobe Supervisor: Bo Slavin
- Set Costumer: Andrea Federman
- Key Make-up Artist: Diana Thomas
- Make-up Assistant: Marta Callender
- Prosthetic Make-up Artist: Bart Mixon
- Prosthetic Make-up Assistant: Earl Ellis
- Hair Dresser: Timothy Lasquade
- Gaffer: Jim Gilson
- Best Boy Electric: Scott Young
- Electricians: Jose Hernandez, Raymond Orraca, Pedro Juan Lopez
- Key Grip: Terry Wimmer
- Best Boy Grip: Ramón Cuadrado
- Grips: Raul Rosado, Anibal Pabón
- Sound Mixer: Mary Jo Devenney
- Boom Operator: Peter Jones
- Production Accountants: Donna Cipriani, Tad Driscoll
- Assistant Accountant: Richard Fleming
- Location Manager: Ana Rica Groennou
- Casting Director: Zoraida Sanjurjo
- Still Photographer: Jose Cuevas
- Storyboard Artist: Robert Camargo
- Transportation Coordinator: Jose Luis Fuentes
- Drivers: Otni Vargas, Maniel Negrón, Felix Osorio, Luis Medina, Felix Juan Padua, Hector Lopez, Hector Chaparro, Ivan Lopez
- Technical Dance Consultant: Lisa Boiko
- Office Production Assistants: Karen Upholf, Malen Folch
- Key Set Production Assistant: Juan Esteban Suarez
- Set Production Assistants: Francisco Torres, Gilbert Medina
- Craft Service: Felix Perez
- Electricians: Steve Stelig, Shawn Blakeman
- Grip: Rafael Molinary
- Boom Operator: Kevein Kubota
- Casting Director: Valerie Massalas
- Extras Casting: Tom Thacker
- Still Photographer: Carol Westwood
- Transportation Coordinator: Paul Kowalczyk
- Office Production Assistant: Erika Schleich
- Set Production Assistants: Remo Packer, Basti Van Der Woude, Navid Sheydaei
- Caterer: Gourmet Chabar
- Craft Service: Stacy Briskman
- Post Production Supervisor: Eric Valente
- Post Production Coordinator: Dan MacDonald
- On Line Editor: Roger Berger
- Editor: Peter Bazinski
- Assistant Editor: David Karson
- Effects Compositing: Mark Itravotolo
- Color Timer: Ed Rowin
- Post Production Assistant: Thérese Cathcart
- Additional Music: Joel Goldsmith
- Additional Music Editor: Don Sanders
- Sound Effects Supervisor: Mace Matiosian
- Sound Effects Editor: David Beatle
- Additional Sound Effects: Albert Ibbotson
- ADR Mixer: Alfred T. Ferrante C.A.S.
- ADR Recordist: Daryl Lathrop
- Dialog Mixer: Chris Haire C.A.S.
- Sound Effects Mixer: Doug Cavey
- Music Mixer: Richard L. Morrison C.A.S.
- Additional Mixing: Tim Clamam
- Recordist: Chris Elam
- Foley Mixer: Marty Church
- Percussion: Luis Conte
- Guitar: Marty Walsh
- Digital Artists: Robert McInnis, Marla Carter, Brian Conlon
- Lead Console Tester: David Popovich
- Lead Game Tester: Paul Franco
- Game Testers: Richard Wong, Erik Griss, Bill Bound Jr., Michael J. Brown, Tony Giovanni, Tim D. Whiteman, Alan Balodis, Dave Martin, Ric Silva, Frank Valoria
- Special Thanks to the rest of the Digital Pictures SEGA Saturn Development Team (in alphabetical order): Steve Cole, Warren Gee, Scott Nelson, Jerome Stratch
- Filmed on location in Puerto Rico and at Praxis Film Works in Los Angeles, California.
- Corpse Killer uses Digital Pictures' patent pending InstaSwitch technology. Digital video captured using Digital Pictures' DigiChrome process.
- Corpse Killer is a trademark of Digital Pictures, Inc. DigiChrome and U-Direct are registered trademarks of Digital Pictures, Inc. InstaSwitch is a trademark of Digital Pictures, Inc.
- Corpse Killer was created, produced and published by Digital Pictures, Inc.
- Copyright ©1995 Digital Pictures, Inc.
- All Rights Reserved.
History
Legacy
Screaming Villains digitally re-released the game with higher quality video as Corpse Killer: 25th Anniversary Edition for Steam and the PlayStation 4 in 2019 and for the Nintendo Switch in 2020. Limited Run Games produced physical copies of the PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch versions, including a "Collector's Edition."[8][9]
Versions
On the Saturn, the shooting sequences were re-made, though aside from differing graphics, enemy placements (including zombies that get much closer to the screen), and extra difficulty levels, the core structure of moving to the right while shooting remains the same. No form of light gun is supported in the Saturn release. The Saturn version uses two discs, so the disc must occasionally be swapped.
Despite its claims to the contrary on the PAL Mega-CD 32X packaging, the game is not optimised for the Six Button Control Pad.
Production photographs
Magazine articles
- Main article: Corpse Killer/Magazine articles.
Promotional material
also published in:
- (US) #0106: "Volume 1, Number 6: January 1996" (199x-xx-xx)[12]
Physical scans
Mega-CD version
Sega Retro Average | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
67 | |
---|---|
Based on 17 reviews |
Mega-CD, AU |
---|
|
Mega-CD 32X version
Sega Retro Average | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
48 | |
---|---|
Based on 10 reviews |
Mega-CD 32X, US |
---|
Saturn version
Sega Retro Average | |||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
58 | |
---|---|
Based on 3 reviews |
Technical information
- Main article: Corpse Killer/Technical information.
References
- ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "December 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 330
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Game Players, "Vol. 8 No. 1 January 1995" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 64
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Mean Machines Sega, "February 1995" (UK; 1994-12-30), page 34
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Mean Machines Sega, "March 1995" (UK; 1995-01-30), page 84
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Sega Magazin, "August 1995" (DE; 1995-07-12), page 19
- ↑ https://groups.google.com/g/rec.games.video.sega/c/TiwbfZZPTMg/m/O2TXNd7YLx4J
- ↑ File:Corpsekiller mcd us manual.pdf, page 16
- ↑ https://www.vgchartz.com/article/438773/corpse-killer-25th-anniversary-edition-announced-for-ps4-and-pc/
- ↑ https://limitedrungames.com/blogs/news/corpse-killer-for-the-switch-gets-a-standard-and-collectors-edition-this-friday
- ↑ Next Generation, "April 1995" (US; 1995-03-21), page 60
- ↑ GamePro, "April 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 59
- ↑ Fusion, "Volume 1, Number 6: January 1996" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 39
- ↑ Consoles +, "Février 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 124
- ↑ Freak, "3/95" (IL; 1995-xx-xx), page 1
- ↑ GamePro, "January 1995" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 66
- ↑ Game Informer, "February 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 40
- ↑ Joypad, "Février 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 101
- ↑ MAN!AC, "02/95" (DE; 1995-01-11), page 70
- ↑ Mega Force, "Février 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 95
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 Mega Fun, "02/95" (DE; 1995-01-18), page 103
- ↑ Player One, "Février 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 102
- ↑ Play Time, "3/95" (DE; 1995-02-08), page 104
- ↑ Sega Magazine, "March 1995" (UK; 1995-02-15), page 82
- ↑ Sega News, "Říjen 1996" (CZ; 1996-xx-xx), page 20
- ↑ Sega Pro, "March 1995" (UK; 1995-01-26), page 48
- ↑ Video Games, "3/95" (DE; 1995-02-23), page 84
- ↑ VideoGames, "January 1995" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 68
- ↑ Electronic Games (1992-1995), "April 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 76
- ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "March 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 36
- ↑ GamePro, "March 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 62
- ↑ Mega Force, "Été 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 89
- ↑ Next Generation, "April 1995" (US; 1995-03-21), page 92
- ↑ Sega Power, "May 1995" (UK; 1995-03-16), page 50
- ↑ SuperGamePower, "Abril 1995" (BR; 1995-0x-xx), page 42
- ↑ Video Games, "7/95" (DE; 1995-06-28), page 98
- ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "December 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 44
- ↑ GamePro, "March 1996" (US; 1996-xx-xx), page 75
- ↑ Ultimate Gamer, "December 1995" (US; 1995-1x-xx), page 76
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