PowerSlave is a 1996 video game released for the PC, Sega Saturn, and the Playstation, developed by Lobotomy Software. The game is also known under the name of Exhumed in PAL regions. Despite the Egyptian theme, the game actually has nothing to do with the Iron Maiden album of the same name and art theme. In addition, the PC version of the game is substantially different than the console version, featuring alternate levels, weapons, and animations. The PC version of the game also has weapons that reload, a feature not present in the console versions of the game.
The following weapons appear in the video game PowerSlave:
Handguns
Smith & Wesson Model 29
The first weapon that the player character, Jon P. (according to the game's files), can acquire appears to be a Smith & Wesson Model 29. In the PC-DOS version of the game, the Model 29 will automatically reload itself after six shots are fired. There's no actual animation; rather, the gun is quickly dragged off screen, and after a few nondescript clicking sounds, it reappears fully loaded. Reloading the weapon cannot be instigated by the player. While the console versions of the game offer blue colored orbs to act as universal ammo for all weapons, the PC version of the game requires players to collect speed loaders.
Smith & Wesson Model 29 - .44 Magnum
The Model 29 as seen in the inventory menu, here identified simply as "Pistol." Certain details of the weapon seem to have been washed out in the conversion process of turning photos into pixelated graphics.
The pickup sprite is far more detailed than the inventory image. Due to what must be the alien technology infesting the game's levels, the Model 29 floats roughly four feet off of the ground.
Jon holds his Model 29 outside of the entrance of King Ramses' Tomb. Note that these screenshots come from a PC port of the Playstation game, which added an otherwise nonexistent crosshair.
Trivia:The console versions of the game were built on the custom SlaveDriver Engine, which hosted various 3D features. The PC version uses an early version of
Duke Nukem 3D's Build Engine, and features less complex architecture than its console counterpart.
The recoil of the gun gives us a good view of the barrel and the hammer.
These are the PC pickup graphics for the weapons, with the Model 29 in the upper right-hand corner with some apparent cosmetic differences. Note that unlike the console pickups, which appear to be modified photos, these appear to be more hand-drawn.
Machine Guns
M60 machine gun
An M60 machine gun acts as Jon's workhorse weapon, and appears to be his weapon of choice regarding the fact that he's seen holding one on the game's menu and that his character graphics depict him eternally holding the weapon. It's the second firearm introduced, and is far more powerful than the revolver. Although it generally makes the Model 29 obsolete, the M60 lacks accuracy, making it less than ideal for long range fights. The overall look of the weapon seems to change depending on the angle, perhaps as a result of converting photos into pixelated graphics.
M60 machine gun with bipod extended - 7.62x51mm NATO
The inventory graphic, like the Model 29's inventory image, is rather low res. The M60 has its bipod extended throughout the game.
Parts of the pickup sprite seem hand drawn, thus putting into question what exactly was used as a base for the weapon, whether it be a toy, an airsoft replica, or if it's a mixture of hand drawn parts and real photos. The pickup sprite in the PC version of the game is far, far more detailed, but appears to be completely hand drawn.
Jon nabs the M60 without stepping on the blue tile, which actually springs a trap. Note that the ammo counter for the console game is a blue bar. This fills up when you pick up blue energy orbs, which act as universal ammunition. In the PC version, you find ammo belts, and Jon will reload the M60 after fifty shots.
Several of the sprites from the PC version of the game, which contribute to the briefly seen reload animation. Note that the ammunition belt is not present, as those graphics are separate from the gun.
The PC M60 pickup is the very big gun in the middle, obviously. Out of all of the "World" graphics, this hand-drawn one appears to be the most accurate, probably due to the fact it didn't lose photo quality from being shrunk down.
Other
Mk 1 hand grenade
The PC version of the game grants Jon the Mk 1 hand grenade, which he can pick up sometime after he finds the M60. They are fairly powerful, but can be difficult to use. The console versions of the game have a fictional grenade type in place of the MK 1, which acts as a sticky grenade.
Mk 1 "Pineapple" World War I-made High-Explosive Fragmentation hand grenade
Jon explores an elaborate morgue in the PC-DOS version of the game, holding his platform specific Mk 1 hand grenade. You can actually cook the grenade before throwing it, but holding it too long will, of course, kill you.
The grenade pickup from the PC version of the game is in the upper left-hand corner of the image. I mean, given the context, what else could it be?
Fictional flamethrower
Jon can also use what appears to be a fictional/custom-made flamethrower, which appears in all versions of the game.
The fictional flamethrower. Check out the PC's lively HUD, showing off power-ups, and animated health and mana bars. Here, the mana is used for power-ups that you can store in your inventory, similar to Duke Nukem 3D, again.
The flamethrower pickup from the PC version of the game.
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