Difference between revisions of "PowerSlave"

Revision as of 12:41, 19 May 2020

PowerSlave
PowerSlave	1996
PowerSlave EX (unofficial port)	2015
PowerSlave Exhumed	2022

Key points

Released as Exhumed in Europe and A.D. 1999: Pharaoh's Revival in Japan. Differences are minimal (title screen, etc.).

PowerSlave install can be converted to Exhumed install, and vice versa, using this.

Availability

Source	DRM	Notes	Keys	OS
Retail		Disc check can be disabled through a command line parameter

Essential improvements

Source ports

Name	Description
BuildGDX	Reverse-engineered port based on Java's libGDX framework. Adds support for widescreen resolutions, OpenGL renderer, improved controls, many customization options, and free save mode in addition to the original game's checkpoints.
PCExhumed	Reverse-engineered port using EDuke32 technology.
Raze	Fork of PCExhumed to GZDoom architecture. Currently in Alpha. Also supports Duke Nukem 3D, Blood, and Redneck Rampage.

DOS/32A

DOS/32A is a more advanced extender and open source replacement to DOS4GW. It can improve both performance and stability of PowerSlave/Exhumed.

EX / PS DeHacker

A patcher utility that provides bug fixes and enhancement such as proper strafing, autorun, toggleable mouse look and higher resolutions.

Patch works with both Powerslave and Exhumed.

Earlier versions of this patcher have issues with DOS32A above (gives a runtime 200 error). Use the CauseWay Extender instead.

WASD + Mouse

Edit SETUP.CFG

Open SETUP.CFG.
Replace the content in the [KeyDefinitions] section with:

Modern keyboard binds

Move_Forward = "Up" "W"
Move_Backward = "Down" "S"
Turn_Left = "Left" ""
Turn_Right = "Right" ""
Strafe = "LAlt" "RAlt"
Strafe_Left = "," "A"
Strafe_Right = "." "D"
Run = "LShift" "RShift"
Jump = "Space" "/"
Crouch = "C" "LCtrl"
Fire = "Kpad0" "RCtrl"
Open = "F" ""
Look_Up = "PgUp" ""
Look_Down = "PgDn" ""
Look_Straight = "Home" "I"
Aim_Up = "Insert" ""
Aim_Down = "Delete" ""
SendMessage = "T" ""
Weapon_1 = "1" ""
Weapon_2 = "2" ""
Weapon_3 = "3" ""
Weapon_4 = "4" ""
Weapon_5 = "5" "G"
Weapon_6 = "6" "V"
Weapon_7 = "7" "B"
Mouseview = "U" ""
Pause = "Pause" ""
Map = "Tab" ""
Zoom_In = "F1" "X"
Zoom_Out = "F2" "Z"
Gamma_Correction = "F11" ""
Escape = "Escape" ""
Shrink_Screen = "Kpad-" "-"
Enlarge_Screen = "Kpad+" "="
Inventory = "Enter" "R"
Inventory_Left = "[" "Q"
Inventory_Right = "]" "E"
Mouse_Sensitivity_Down = "F7" ""
Mouse_Sensitivity_Up = "F8" ""

Then replace the content below the ControllerType = with the following:

Modern mouse binds

MouseButton0 = "Fire"
MouseButtonClicked0 = ""
MouseButton1 = "Jump"
MouseButtonClicked1 = ""
MouseButton2 = "Weapon_1"
MouseButtonClicked2 = "Weapon_3"

Notes

Easier and more modern control scheme.

Requires DeHacker's forced mouselook, C key fix and strafing fix.

Game data

Configuration file(s) location

System	Location
DOS	<path-to-game>\SETUP.CFG

Save game data location

System	Location
DOS	<path-to-game>\SAVGAME*.SAV

Video

Graphics feature	State	Notes
Widescreen resolution		See Source ports.
Multi-monitor		See Source ports.
Ultra-widescreen		See Source ports.
4K Ultra HD		See Source ports.
Field of view (FOV)		See Source ports.
Windowed		See Source ports.
Borderless fullscreen windowed		Use Borderless Gaming
Anisotropic filtering (AF)		See Source ports.
Anti-aliasing (AA)		Force through graphics driver.
Vertical sync (Vsync)		See Source ports.
60 FPS
120+ FPS		See Source ports.
High dynamic range display (HDR)

Input

Keyboard and mouse	State	Notes
Remapping		Can be set with `MENU.EXE`
Mouse acceleration
Mouse sensitivity		`F7` lowers it, `F8` increases it
Mouse input in menus
Mouse Y-axis inversion		Can be changed via DeHacker
Controller
Controller support		For DOSBox use the DOSBox Mapper (see the glossary page for other workarounds).

Controller types

Audio

Audio settings.

Audio feature	State	Notes
Separate volume controls		Music and Sound FX
Surround sound		See Source ports.
Subtitles
Closed captions
Mute on focus lost		For DOSBox change the `priority` background value in the DOSBox configuration file.
EAX support		Raze supports OpenAL Soft for binaural HRTF mixing and EFX.
Red Book CD audio

Localizations

Language	UI	Audio	Sub	Notes
English

Network

Multiplayer types

Type	Native	Players	Notes
Local play
LAN play		4
Online play		For DOSBox use DOSBox IPX/modem emulation.

Other information

API

Technical specs	Supported	Notes
DOS video modes	SVGA, SVGA (VESA), VGA

Map Browser

Allows easy browsing and management of user maps. Also allows jumping through default levels.

User Maps/Addons

El-Gizah - Single map with some custom art. It is advised to use the rescripted version as it includes a batch script to automate file renaming.
Return to Ruins - A 3-maps mini episode. User can avoid overwriting files (if using the map browser utility for instance) by renaming the included LEV*.MAP files to RUIN*.MAP and using the following batch script to launch it:

Return to Ruins batch script

@echo off
echo Starting Return to Ruins...
pause
COPY LEV1.map LEV1.bme
COPY LEV2.map LEV2.bme
COPY LEV3.map LEV3.bme
COPY ruin1.map LEV1.map
COPY ruin2.map LEV2.map
COPY ruin3.map LEV3.map
CLS
PS /1 /h
COPY LEV1.bme LEV1.map
COPY LEV2.bme LEV2.map
COPY LEV3.bme LEV3.map
DEL LEV*.bme
echo Files restored...

System requirements

DOS
	Minimum	Recommended
Operating system (OS)	3.3
Processor (CPU)	Intel 486
System memory (RAM)	4 MB	8 MB
Hard disk drive (HDD)
Video card (GPU)	SuperVGA, VESA, VGA

References

@@ Line 238: / Line 238: @@
 |eax support              = hackable
 |eax support notes        = Raze supports [[Glossary:Surround_sound#OpenAL|OpenAL Soft]] for binaural HRTF mixing and EFX.
+|red book cd audio        = true
+|red book cd audio notes  =
 }}

Developers

	Lobotomy Software
Publishers
North America	Playmates Interactive Entertainment
Europe	BMG Interactive
Engines
	Build
Release dates
DOS	December 31, 1996