Augmentinel

Introduction

Augmentinel is re-skinned version of the Geoff Crammond classic: The Sentinel.

It emulates the Spectrum version of the game for the original gameplay, then adds the best features from other versions, plus a few extras.

Read more about how it works here.

Features

• Accelerated 3D rendering with mouse free look.
• VR support for OpenVR-compatible headsets.
• Palette and landscape colours from PC version.
• BBC/C64/Spectrum/Amiga tunes and HRTF spatial sound effects.
• Background music from Amiga version.
• Sky view from PC/ST/Amiga versions.
• Unlocked the hex landscapes for a total of 57344.
• Pixel-perfect object selection.
• All remaining game logic runs as normal.

System Requirements

• Windows 7 (with Platform Update) or later.
• DirectX 10 compatible hardware and drivers.

Download

Version 1.5, last updated 14th June 2020 [view ChangeLog].

Download installer for Windows 7 or later.
Download zip archive for Windows 7 or later.

If you get an error about a missing XAudio DLLs, install the DirectX Runtime.

Controls

• Press Robot when pointing at the sky (10+ degrees) for an overhead view.
• Press Transfer when pointing up (60+ degrees) for Hyperspace.

How To Play

The aim of the game is to absorb The Sentinel and take his place, so you to advance to the next landscape.

You start each landscape with 10 energy points, which are displayed as icons at the top of the screen. Robot heads represent 3 points, boulders 2 points, and trees 1 point. Golden robot heads represent 15 points. Absorbing objects increases your energy, placing objects reduces it. You can absorb objects on the landscape if you can see the tile they are standing on, except for boulders that can always be absorbed. Objects can be created on any free flat tile. Hyperspace creates a new robot shell at a random landscape position, which costs the same as placing a robot.

Object energy values are as follows:
Tree=1, Meanie=1, Boulder=2, Robot=3, Sentry=3, Sentinel=4.

Move around the landscape by placing a new robot and transferring to it. Robots can be placed on boulders (or a stack of boulders) to reach higher parts of the landscape. Don’t forget to absorb your old robot shell and anything else you see around you, to increase your energy level.

When you first enter a landscape The Sentinel (and any sentries) will remain inactive until you perform an action, so you’re free to look around. The Sentinel and sentries rotate slowly, scanning the landscape for anything with an energy value greater than 1. Any objects seen (including you!) will have their energy level slowly reduced to 1 (a tree), with the absorbed energy distributed randomly on the landscape as new trees. Try to avoid being seen as you move around the landscape, or quickly move on if you’re spotted.

If you’re seen a warning sound will be heard and the display will become fuzzy. Every second or so you’ll lose an energy point, so you’ll need to move fast – run out of energy and you’re dead. If the display is only slightly fuzzy the Sentinel/sentry can see you but not the square you’re standing on to absorb you. In this case a nearby tree will be converted to a Meanie, which will slowly turn to find you, then force you to hyperspace.

As soon as you’re high enough to see the top of the pedestal The Sentinel is standing on you can absorb him. Place a robot in his place and transfer to it, then hyperspace to advance to the next level. The amount of energy you have remaining (minus 3 for the hyperspace) determines how many landscapes you jump ahead. Can you complete all 10000? Note: after absorbing The Sentinel you’re no longer able to absorb objects on the landscape, including your old robot or boulders.

Progress

Initially only landscape 0000 is available to play. Any later levels reached are unlocked and can be replayed. Use the cursor keys or Page Up/Down to change the preview landscape number.

On application startup the last selected landscape is shown, which may not be the latest. If you’re struggling to advance, try a previously completed landscape and finish it with a different energy level. Neighbouring landscape numbers can be very different.

All settings and landscape progress are stored in the %APPDATA%\Augmentinel.ini file, which can be moved between systems to preserve your progress.

Screenshots

Videos

Thanks

• Geoff Crammond for the original design and program code.
• Mike Follin (Software Creations) for the Spectrum port.
• David Whittaker for the Amiga music.
• Amstrad Plc. for permission to use the Spectrum 48K ROM.
• Marat Fayzullin for his Z80 CPU core.
• Roman Kosmos for X3DAudio HRTF support.
• Dave Jolley for ideas, testing, and feedback.
• Sabatar for re-sampling Amiga tunes and background music.
• Jorma Oksanen, Stefan Bornhorst, Vicente Penades, Grant Husbands, and Paul Dunn for additional feedback and testing.

Disclaimer

This is an unofficial fan creation, distributed without charge. I have no affiliation with the original developer, publisher, or other rights holders. This program must not be distributed through any for-profit channels.