Gods

Released: 1991
Published by: Renegade
Developed by: The Bitmap Brothers
Author(s): Eric Matthews, Steve Tall, Mike Montgomery, Mark Coleman, Richard Joseph, Nation XII.

MCGA/VGA Graphics

EGA Graphics

Introduction

Gods was a platform puzzle game released in 1991, and written by London-based The Bitmap Brothers. They had previously released the vertical shooters, Xenon (1988) and Xenon 2: Megablast (1989), Speedball (1988), and shortly after, Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe. All these titles set a high expectation both in terms of graphics and audio for the future releases from this team of developers.

As expected, Gods had incredible SVGA graphics and atmospheric Roland MT-32 music which plays "Into the Wonderful" by Nation XII. The game's background story is that four guardians have invaded and usurped the citadel of the gods. The gods offer any hero who can succeed in retaking the citadel one favor. The hero who comes forth immediately asks the gods as their favor to be granted a seat among them as an equal. The gods are only comforted by the hope the hero fails. After the last boss is beaten, the gods prove true to their word and the last image is the hero's body becoming a being of light as he ascends to Mount Olympus.

 

One notable thing that differentiates Gods from other platformers is the artificial intelligence of the enemy. They learn how you play and look for ways to avoid you. Furthermore, if you are struggling, the game will provide more power-ups and health items for you to collect!

 
Intro sequence (left) and World 1 gameplay (right), VGA graphics and Roland MT-32 "Old"

The aim of the game is to get through four levels to achieve immortality: The City, The Temple, The Labyrinth, and finally The Underworld. Each level has 3 "worlds" within it. As you progress you will be able to buy items in the shop including extra lives, shields, power potions and weapons such as axes, fireballs, hunters, and maces. You are also given a password to allow you to start the game from one of the worlds you have previously reached.

 

Game Audio

System Requirements

System Requirements	Intel 80286, 640 KB RAM, DOS version 3.0 Graphics support for Tandy/PCjr, EGA, MCGA/VGA (320 x 200 in 16 colours, but different palette to EGA) Audio support for PC Speaker, Ad Lib, Tandy/PCjr, Sound Blaster, or Roland MT-32/LAPC-I Keyboard and Joystick supported.
Original Media	One 3.5" 1.44 MB (DS/HD) floppy diskette, one 5.25" 1.2 MB (DS/HD) floppy diskette, or two 3.5" 720 KB (DS/DD) floppy diskettes.
Installed Size (MB)	1 MB

From where can it be run?

The game can be run directly from the floppy disk, or installed to your hard disk.

 

Copy Protection

Gods has manual copy protection, so the original user manual is required. You will be prompted to enter a specific word on a page and paragraph.

 

How to Setup

Gods has an INSTALL.EXE utility which is used to configure the game:

The game's configuration is stored in a file called GODS.INI. The contents look like this:

Roland
Color VGA
Keyboard
Version 1.0
072
080
075
077
057

 

Problems

Symptom: I have configured the game for Roland music, but I don't hear anything.
Cause: There are known problems with Sound Blaster ViBRA cards with this game - you will just get silence.
Resolution: Use an ISA sound card instead if you have one.

 

To Quit the Game

Hit ESC to get back to the main menu, then highlight 'EXIT TO DOS' at the bottom, and hit SPACE to return to the DOS prompt.

 

Supporting Documents

• User Manual
• Quick Reference
• Game Walkthrough

Save Games

The game does not have the concept of save games, but once you have reached a new world, you are given a password so you can always get back to that world if starting the game over. Here are the passwords for each world:

LEVEL PASSWORD
The City        -  
The Temple      TQP
The Labyrinth   UHG
The Underworld  JVQ

 

Versions of the game known to exist

The game version can be found in the GODS.INI file.

Version	Date	Comments
1.0	1991	Initial public release.
?	1995	The Bitmap Brothers Compilation. A CD-ROM package comprising Cadaver, Gods, Magic Pockets, Speedball 2 and Xenon 2.

Original Floppy Disk Contents

The single floppy disk has a volume label of "GODS DISK X". Here is the disk's contents:

Disk 1 (3.5" 1.44 MB DS/HD):   Directory of A:\ TDY EXE 1,378 07/01/92 16:09 SINCOS DAT 1,280 22/04/87 0:02 GODS EXE 4,868 07/01/92 16:10 TGAME EXE 51,290 11/01/92 16:40 WIBBLE EXE 2,793 07/01/92 15:05 INTROE EXE 6,170 06/01/92 16:30 BPR EXE 1,382 07/01/92 16:09 INSTALL EXE 5,029 07/01/92 15:33 ADL EXE 1,652 07/01/92 16:09 GAME EXE 50,751 11/01/92 16:22 HISCORES BIN 216 07/01/92 14:52 READ ME 781 07/01/92 16:40 PMUSIC MUS 4,959 07/01/92 5:01 TGA EXE 13,100 07/01/92 16:09 PALWAYS1 PI1 17,822 05/12/91 8:34 PALWAYS2 PI1 13,838 05/12/91 8:34 PALWAYS3 PI1 2,873 05/12/91 8:34 PBACKSCR PI1 22,235 05/12/91 8:34 PGODFONT PI1 5,498 05/12/91 8:34 PSMLFNT PI1 5,788 05/12/91 8:34 PONE PI1 13,354 05/12/91 8:34 PINTROFT PI1 8,298 05/12/91 8:34 PGODS MUS 7,724 12/12/91 12:00 PSTATUS PI1 3,396 05/12/91 8:34 PINTROFT DAT 411 05/12/91 8:34 PSTBACK PI1 21,203 05/12/91 8:34 PALWAYS1 DAT 128 05/12/91 8:34 PBEEPER BIN 3,173 05/12/91 8:34 PALWAYS2 DAT 266 05/12/91 8:34 PGODFONT DAT 137 05/12/91 8:34 PSMLFNT DAT 411 05/12/91 8:34 PALWAYS3 DAT 84 05/12/91 8:34 PTANDY BIN 3,269 05/12/91 8:34 PPLAYER BIN 6,957 12/12/91 10:03 GODS INI 67 02/09/93 19:10 INTROT EXE 5,712 06/01/92 16:30 EGA EXE 9,581 11/01/92 16:23 VGA EXE 9,328 11/01/92 16:23 INTROV EXE 6,105 06/01/92 16:30 ROL EXE 2,374 10/01/92 18:39 UNPACK EXE 8,368 07/12/91 9:17 BEZIER DAT 1,600 22/04/87 0:07 PSTAT3 PI1 3,870 05/12/91 8:34 POBJECTS 001 1,444 05/12/91 8:34 PWEAPONS 001 407 05/12/91 8:34 PALFILS 0A1 2,156 05/12/91 8:34 PGOD01 PAT 4,493 05/12/91 8:34 PLEV1A MAP 6,061 05/12/91 8:34 PBITS1A PI1 17,840 05/12/91 8:34 PGUARD11 PI1 15,607 05/12/91 8:34 PGUARD12 PI1 10,119 05/12/91 8:34 POBJ1 PI1 19,197 05/12/91 8:34 POBJ2 PI1 12,165 05/12/91 8:34 PSHOP PI1 13,289 05/12/91 8:34 PSHOPSPR PI1 7,058 13/12/91 10:06 PLEVEL1A PI1 19,257 05/12/91 8:34 PLEVEL1B PI1 7,243 05/12/91 8:34 PBITS1B PI1 20,050 05/12/91 8:34 PXTRA1B PI1 919 05/12/91 8:34 PALFILS 0B1 2,205 05/12/91 8:34 PGUARD11 DAT 76 05/12/91 8:34 PGUARD12 DAT 79 05/12/91 8:34 PLEVEL1A DAT 188 05/12/91 8:34 PLEVEL1B DAT 104 05/12/91 8:34 PSHOPSPR DAT 156 05/12/91 8:34 POBJ1 DAT 514 05/12/91 8:34 POBJ2 DAT 424 05/12/91 8:34 PLEV1B MAP 6,254 05/12/91 8:34 PSHOPFNT PI1 3,064 13/12/91 10:07 PSHOPFNT DAT 411 05/12/91 8:35 PBITS2A PI1 23,177 05/12/91 8:34 PXTRA2A PI1 3,147 05/12/91 8:34 PALFILS 0A2 2,855 05/12/91 8:34 PGOD02 PAT 538 05/12/91 8:34 POBJECTS 002 1,453 05/12/91 8:34 PWEAPONS 002 412 05/12/91 8:34 PLEV2A MAP 7,699 05/12/91 8:34 PLEVEL2A PI1 14,372 05/12/91 8:35 PLEVEL2B PI1 6,869 05/12/91 8:35 PLEVEL2A DAT 168 05/12/91 8:35 PLEVEL2B DAT 146 05/12/91 8:35 PBITS2B PI1 23,186 05/12/91 8:35 PALFILS 0B2 2,877 05/12/91 8:35 PLEV2B MAP 7,706 09/12/91 12:49 PAMDRAGN PI1 6,979 05/12/91 8:35 PAMDRAGN DAT 175 05/12/91 8:35 PBITS3A PI1 22,065 05/12/91 8:35 PBITS3B PI1 19,192 05/12/91 8:35 PXTRA3A PI1 792 05/12/91 8:35 PALFILS 0A3 2,747 05/12/91 8:35 PLEV3A MAP 6,227 09/01/92 17:31 PALFILS 0B3 2,953 05/12/91 8:35 PLEV3B MAP 6,344 09/01/92 15:51 PGOD03 PAT 174 05/12/91 8:35 POBJECTS 003 1,436 05/12/91 8:35 PWEAPONS 003 411 05/12/91 8:35 PGUARD31 PI1 14,826 05/12/91 8:35 PGUARD32 PI1 16,614 05/12/91 8:35 PLEVEL3A PI1 11,693 05/12/91 8:35 PLEVEL3B PI1 10,822 05/12/91 8:35 PLEVEL3A DAT 115 05/12/91 8:35 PLEVEL3B DAT 194 05/12/91 8:35 PGUARD31 DAT 104 05/12/91 8:35 PGUARD32 DAT 75 05/12/91 8:35 PALFILS 0A4 3,109 05/12/91 8:35 PALFILS 0B4 3,147 05/12/91 8:35 PBITS4A PI1 23,358 05/12/91 8:35 PBITS4B PI1 23,751 05/12/91 8:35 PXTRA4B PI1 1,069 05/12/91 8:35 PGOD04 PAT 2,238 05/12/91 8:35 POBJECTS 004 1,452 05/12/91 8:35 PWEAPONS 004 413 05/12/91 8:35 PLEV4A MAP 7,549 05/12/91 8:35 PGUARD41 PI1 7,997 05/12/91 8:35 PGUARD42 PI1 11,231 13/12/91 10:05 PLEVEL4A PI1 14,920 05/12/91 8:35 PLEVEL4B PI1 12,235 05/12/91 8:35 PBUMLIST BIN 104 05/12/91 8:35 PLEVEL4A DAT 176 05/12/91 8:35 PLEVEL4B DAT 184 05/12/91 8:35 PLEV4B MAP 7,725 05/12/91 8:35 PGUARD41 DAT 155 05/12/91 8:35 PGUARD42 DAT 92 05/12/91 8:35 PPAYOFF PI1 12,073 05/12/91 8:35 PGODMUS2 MUS 2,278 10/12/91 8:36 PDEMOSB4 SB 84,389 10/12/91 8:36 PGODSRLB RL 13,978 05/01/92 15:35 PGODSRLC RL8,948 05/01/92 15:39 PGODSRLE RL9,672 05/01/92 16:42 PGODSRLF RL7,901 05/01/92 16:43 PTITLE RL 12,302 22/12/91 16:09 PGODSRLA RL 20,575 05/01/92 15:31 PGODSRLG RL 16,920 05/01/92 16:42 PJOYL1 DAT 199 05/12/91 8:34 PJOYL2 DAT 303 03/01/92 9:09 PJOYL3 DAT 285 03/01/92 9:09 PJOYG1 DAT 96 03/01/92 9:09 PJOYG2 DAT 130 03/01/92 9:10 PJOYG3 DAT 150 03/01/92 9:10 PGODSRLD RL9,694 06/01/92 18:45 CHKLIST CPS 135 02/09/93 19:11 141 file(s) 1,039,775 bytes 0 dir(s) 377,856 bytes free

 

Installed Directory Contents

Once installed, the following directory structure exists in the game directory:

Full Install chosen   Directory of C:\GAMES\GODS . <DIR> 10-07-2022 9:17 .. <DIR> 10-07-2022 9:16 ADL EXE 1,652 11-09-2003 7:14 BEZIER DAT 1,600 11-09-2003 7:14 BPR EXE 1,382 11-09-2003 7:14 EGA EXE 9,581 11-09-2003 7:14 GAME EXE 50,751 11-09-2003 7:14 GODS EXE 4,868 11-09-2003 7:14 GODS INI 68 11-09-2003 7:14 HISCORES BIN 216 18-02-2010 12:52 INSTALL EXE 5,029 11-09-2003 7:14 INTROE EXE 6,170 11-09-2003 7:14 INTROT EXE 5,712 11-09-2003 7:14 INTROV EXE 6,105 11-09-2003 7:14 PALFILS 0A1 2,156 11-09-2003 7:14 PALFILS 0A2 2,855 11-09-2003 7:14 PALFILS 0A3 2,747 11-09-2003 7:14 PALFILS 0A4 3,109 11-09-2003 7:14 PALFILS 0B1 2,205 11-09-2003 7:14 PALFILS 0B2 2,877 11-09-2003 7:14 PALFILS 0B3 2,953 11-09-2003 7:14 PALFILS 0B4 3,147 11-09-2003 7:14 PALWAYS1 DAT 128 11-09-2003 7:14 PALWAYS1 PI1 17,822 11-09-2003 7:14 PALWAYS2 DAT 266 11-09-2003 7:14 PALWAYS2 PI1 13,838 11-09-2003 7:14 PALWAYS3 DAT 84 11-09-2003 7:14 PALWAYS3 PI1 2,873 11-09-2003 7:14 PAMDRAGN DAT 175 11-09-2003 7:14 PAMDRAGN PI1 6,979 11-09-2003 7:14 PBACKSCR PI1 22,235 11-09-2003 7:14 PBEEPER BIN 3,173 11-09-2003 7:14 PBITS1A PI1 17,840 11-09-2003 7:14 PBITS1B PI1 20,050 11-09-2003 7:14 PBITS2A PI1 23,177 11-09-2003 7:14 PBITS2B PI1 23,186 11-09-2003 7:14 PBITS3A PI1 22,065 11-09-2003 7:14 PBITS3B PI1 19,192 11-09-2003 7:14 PBITS4A PI1 23,358 11-09-2003 7:14 PBITS4B PI1 23,751 11-09-2003 7:14 PBUMLIST BIN 104 11-09-2003 7:14 PDEMOSB4 SB 84,389 11-09-2003 7:14 PGOD01 PAT 4,493 11-09-2003 7:14 PGOD02 PAT 538 11-09-2003 7:14 PGOD03 PAT 174 11-09-2003 7:14 PGOD04 PAT 2,238 11-09-2003 7:14 PGODFONT DAT 137 11-09-2003 7:14 PGODFONT PI1 5,498 11-09-2003 7:14 PGODMUS2 MUS 2,278 11-09-2003 7:14 PGODS MUS 7,724 11-09-2003 7:14 PGODSRLA RL 20,575 11-09-2003 7:14 PGODSRLB RL 13,978 11-09-2003 7:14 PGODSRLC RL 8,948 11-09-2003 7:14 PGODSRLD RL 9,694 11-09-2003 7:14 PGODSRLE RL 9,672 11-09-2003 7:14 PGODSRLF RL 7,901 11-09-2003 7:14 PGODSRLG RL 16,920 11-09-2003 7:14 PGUARD11 DAT 76 11-09-2003 7:14 PGUARD11 PI1 15,607 11-09-2003 7:14 PGUARD12 DAT 79 11-09-2003 7:14 PGUARD12 PI1 10,119 11-09-2003 7:14 PGUARD31 DAT 104 11-09-2003 7:14 PGUARD31 PI1 14,826 11-09-2003 7:14 PGUARD32 DAT 75 11-09-2003 7:14 PGUARD32 PI1 16,614 11-09-2003 7:14 PGUARD41 DAT 155 11-09-2003 7:14 PGUARD41 PI1 7,997 11-09-2003 7:14 PGUARD42 DAT 92 11-09-2003 7:14 PGUARD42 PI1 11,231 11-09-2003 7:14

PINTROFT DAT 411 11-09-2003 7:14 PINTROFT PI1 8,298 11-09-2003 7:14 PJOYG1 DAT 96 11-09-2003 7:14 PJOYG2 DAT 130 11-09-2003 7:14 PJOYG3 DAT 150 11-09-2003 7:14 PJOYL1 DAT 199 11-09-2003 7:14 PJOYL2 DAT 303 11-09-2003 7:14 PJOYL3 DAT 285 11-09-2003 7:14 PLEV1A MAP 6,061 11-09-2003 7:14 PLEV1B MAP 6,254 11-09-2003 7:14 PLEV2A MAP 7,699 11-09-2003 7:14 PLEV2B MAP 7,706 11-09-2003 7:14 PLEV3A MAP 6,227 11-09-2003 7:14 PLEV3B MAP 6,344 11-09-2003 7:14 PLEV4A MAP 7,549 11-09-2003 7:14 PLEV4B MAP 7,725 11-09-2003 7:14 PLEVEL1A DAT 188 11-09-2003 7:14 PLEVEL1A PI1 19,257 11-09-2003 7:14 PLEVEL1B DAT 104 11-09-2003 7:14 PLEVEL1B PI1 7,243 11-09-2003 7:14 PLEVEL2A DAT 168 11-09-2003 7:14 PLEVEL2A PI1 14,372 11-09-2003 7:14 PLEVEL2B DAT 146 11-09-2003 7:14 PLEVEL2B PI1 6,869 11-09-2003 7:14 PLEVEL3A DAT 115 11-09-2003 7:14 PLEVEL3A PI1 11,693 11-09-2003 7:14 PLEVEL3B DAT 194 11-09-2003 7:14 PLEVEL3B PI1 10,822 11-09-2003 7:14 PLEVEL4A DAT 176 11-09-2003 7:14 PLEVEL4A PI1 14,920 11-09-2003 7:14 PLEVEL4B DAT 184 11-09-2003 7:14 PLEVEL4B PI1 12,235 11-09-2003 7:14 PMUSIC MUS 4,959 11-09-2003 7:14 POBJ1 DAT 514 11-09-2003 7:14 POBJ1 PI1 19,197 11-09-2003 7:14 POBJ2 DAT 424 11-09-2003 7:14 POBJ2 PI1 12,165 11-09-2003 7:14 POBJECTS 001 1,444 11-09-2003 7:14 POBJECTS 002 1,453 11-09-2003 7:14 POBJECTS 003 1,436 11-09-2003 7:14 POBJECTS 004 1,452 11-09-2003 7:14 PONE PI1 13,354 11-09-2003 7:14 PPAYOFF PI1 12,073 11-09-2003 7:14 PPLAYER BIN 6,957 11-09-2003 7:14 PSHOP PI1 13,289 11-09-2003 7:14 PSHOPFNT DAT 411 11-09-2003 7:14 PSHOPFNT PI1 3,064 11-09-2003 7:14 PSHOPSPR DAT 156 11-09-2003 7:14 PSHOPSPR PI1 7,058 11-09-2003 7:14 PSMLFNT DAT 411 11-09-2003 7:14 PSMLFNT PI1 5,788 11-09-2003 7:14 PSTAT3 PI1 3,870 11-09-2003 7:14 PSTATUS PI1 3,396 11-09-2003 7:14 PSTBACK PI1 21,203 11-09-2003 7:14 PTANDY BIN 3,269 11-09-2003 7:14 PTITLE RL 12,302 11-09-2003 7:14 PWEAPONS 001 407 11-09-2003 7:14 PWEAPONS 002 412 11-09-2003 7:14 PWEAPONS 003 411 11-09-2003 7:14 PWEAPONS 004 413 11-09-2003 7:14 PXTRA1B PI1 919 11-09-2003 7:14 PXTRA2A PI1 3,147 11-09-2003 7:14 PXTRA3A PI1 792 11-09-2003 7:14 PXTRA4B PI1 1,069 11-09-2003 7:14 READ ME 781 11-09-2003 7:14 ROL EXE 2,374 11-09-2003 7:14 SINCOS DAT 1,280 11-09-2003 7:14 TDY EXE 1,378 11-09-2003 7:14 TGA EXE 13,100 11-09-2003 7:14 TGAME EXE 51,290 11-09-2003 7:14 UNPACK EXE 8,368 11-09-2003 7:14 VGA EXE 9,328 11-09-2003 7:14 WIBBLE EXE 2,793 11-09-2003 7:14 140 File(s) 1,039,641 Bytes