General Chaos

From Sega Retro

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GeneralChaos Title.png

General Chaos
System(s): Sega Mega Drive
Publisher: Electronic Arts (US, Europe), Electronic Arts Victor (Japan)
Developer:
Distributor: Electronic Arts Africa (ZA)
Peripherals supported: 4 Way Play
Genre: Action[1], Simulation[1][2]

















Number of players: 1-4
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
JP
¥8,9008,900 EM20025
Sega Mega Drive
US
$49.9549.95[3][4] 714301
Sega Mega Drive
EU
E248SMXI
Sega Mega Drive
EU
(EA Classics)
EAX02401043
ELSPA: 3+ OK
Sega Mega Drive
PT
Sega Mega Drive
PT
(EA Classics)
MDJEA0340
Sega Mega Drive
UK
£44.9944.99[6][5] E248SMXI
Sega Mega Drive
SE
Sega Mega Drive
SE
(Rental)
Sega Mega Drive
GR
Sega Mega Drive
CZ
Sega Mega Drive
BR
044660
Sega Mega Drive
SA
Sega Mega Drive
ZA
(EA Classics)

General Chaos, called General Chaos Daikonsen (ジェネラル・カオス 大混戦) in Japan, is a strategy game developed by Electronic Arts for the Sega Mega Drive in 1993.

It sees the player (General Chaos) command a handful of units around a small map, firing at the armies of the enemy (General Havoc). There are five different classes with their own strengths and weaknesses, and the overall aim is to capture the enemy's capital city.

Story

Ever since they were babies, brothers Chaos and Havoc enjoyed playing war games with each other and their classmates, and expanding their knowledge of military tactics. One day, Chaos discovers a rare comic book more valuable than any of the books in their ever-growing library, and shows it to Havoc. Unfortunately, this proves to be a mistake, as the mere sight of it brings out his greedy and treacherous side. Havoc tries to take the book for himself, but it rips apart in a tug-of-war. After this, the two brothers blame each other, and grow apart.

Years later, they both become military dictators of the fictional countries of Moronica (Chaos) and Viceria (Havoc). The two generals war with each other for decades, but for all the battles that rage across the land, they cannot achieve victory. After days of consideration, they come to the decision of using smaller, quicker armies of soldiers all specializing in a particular kind of weapon to settle the score permanently.

Gameplay

General Chaos, Map.png

Campaign map

The game is a real-time, squad-based strategy game. Before reach battle, the player selects from one of four squads, each drawn from a pool of five different units. Each unit has a different weapon with different characteristics. Battles are depicted from an overhead, isometric perspective on a single screen with no scrolling.

Unit movement is controlled using a cursor, which is moved around with the D-pad. The current unit can be switched with C, which cycles through the squad in order. The selected unit can be commanded to move to the cursor with B. All units can be ordered to attack a target highlighted with the cursor with A. When using the Commando squad, the controls change; instead of controlling a cursor, the player moves the selected unit directly with the D-pad and fires with A.

Whenever two soldiers on opposite sides get close enough, the battle pauses and "close combat" ensues, which is a one-on-one brawl between the two units. The soldiers punch with A, kick with B, and block with C. The units fight until one unit loses all of his health points and falls to the ground. Fallen soldiers can be revived by moving the cursor (or another soldier in the case of the Commandos) close to the injured soldier and calling for a medic with A to revive him. However, there is a limit on the number of times that a medic can be called. The player starts each game with five medic calls and earns more at 10,000, 25,000, and 50,000 points or by collecting items. Medics cannot be attacked. If a soldier is not revived with a medic, his body eventually decays to a skeleton, and the unit is permanently dead for the rest of the battle. Some attacks can instantly kill a unit so that he cannot be revived by a medic.

In the campaign mode, the player plays through 17 battles as General Chaos with the objective of capturing the General Havoc's capital city. The player can choose between three different battlefields before each match. Some battles have special objectives, such as destroying an aircraft or protecting a tank, which reward bonus points. If the player wins a battle, the front line is pushed towards the enemy's capital. Eventually, the player can attack the enemy's capital directly.

The game supports two-player head-to-head (each player controls a separate squad) and two-player side-by-side (each player controls a pair of Commandos on the same squad and fights the AI) modes. The game also supports up to four simultaneous players with the 4-Way Play adapter. The three player modes pair two players, each with a Commando unit, against a third player with a Commando team or a squad. The four player mode gives each player a Commando and arranges them in pairs against each other.

The game has a tutorial mode called "Boot Camp," which introduces the player to the mechanics of the game.

Units

General Chaos, Units.png
Gunner
Armed with a submachine gun. A well rounded unit with a medium-range attack and high rate of fire, though his gun might jam. It is used primarily for attacking.
General Chaos, Units.png
Launcher
Armed with a rocket launcher, which is a powerful, slow-firing, long-range weapon. The launcher's attack can be stopped by cover but may randomly result in an "instant death" of an opposing combatant (reduced to a skeleton and cannot call a medic). Can destroy bonus objective targets.
General Chaos, Units.png
Chucker
Armed with grenades. Grenades have a low rate of fire and are easily avoidable, but the grenade has good range, goes over cover, and can damage multiple units. Can destroy bonus objective targets.
General Chaos, Units.png
Scorcher
Armed with a flamethrower, which, despite having the shortest range, can hit multiple soldiers and is the fastest weapon. Once a Scorcher is on top of another unit, it is very difficult to survive. Because of this capability, they make excellent flanking and escort units. Attack may randomly result in an "instant death" of an opposing combatant (reduced to a pile of ash and cannot call a medic). If the Scorcher goes into water, his weapon is temporarily disabled (indicated by bubbles being shot out instead of fire).
General Chaos, Units.png
Blaster
Armed with bundles of dynamite sticks, which can be thrown over cover and inflict heavy damage. However, they have a very slow rate of fire and the second shortest attack range. Attack may randomly result in an "instant death" of an opposing combatant (reduced to a skeleton and cannot call a medic). Can destroy bonus objective targets.

Squads

General Chaos, Squads.png
Assault Team
  • Gunner
  • Launcher
  • Chucker
  • Scorcher
  • Blaster
General Chaos, Squads.png
Brute Force
  • Scorcher
  • Scorcher
  • Grenader
  • Grenader
  • Launcher
General Chaos, Squads.png
Commandos
  • Gunner
  • Chucker
General Chaos, Squads.png
Demolition Squad
  • Gunner
  • Gunner
  • Launcher
  • Launcher
  • Chucker

Battlefields

There are 51 total battlefields.

General Chaos, Battles, Along the Oalman River.png

Along the Oalman River
General Chaos, Battles, Along the Oalman River.png

General Chaos, Battles, Checkpoint Chaos.png

Checkpoint Chaos
General Chaos, Battles, Checkpoint Chaos.png

General Chaos, Battles, Near the Bizzarn Ocean.png

Near the Bizzarn Ocean
General Chaos, Battles, Near the Bizzarn Ocean.png

Versions

Localised names

Also known as
Language Localised Name English Translation
English General Chaos General Chaos
English (US) General Chaos General Chaos
Japanese ジェネラル・カオス 大混戦 General Chaos Daikonsen

Production credits

  • Concept & Design: Brian Colin and Jeff Nauman
  • Programming: Jeff Nauman
  • Graphics: Brian Colin
  • Music & Sound Effects: Mike Bartlow
  • Producer: Jim Simmons
  • Associate Producer: Chris Wilson
  • Assistant Producer: Jeff Glazier
  • Technical Director: Tim Brengle
  • Testing Manager: Randy Delucchi
  • Product Testing: Yun Shin, Tony Iuppa, David Costa, Steve Imes
  • Product Manager: Lisa Higgins
  • Marketing Art Direction: Nancy Waisanen
  • Package Design: The Dynamic Duo
  • Documentation: Michael Humes
  • Documentation Layout: Emily Favors
  • Quality Assurance: Ted Fitzgerald, Terrence Chin
  • Special Thanks to Rich Robbins & John Manley
Source:
US manual
General Chaos MD US Manual.pdf
[9]

Japanese Localization
  • Department Producer: Ivan Allan
  • Programming: Hiroshi Ueda
  • Assistant Producer: Masahiko Yoshizawa
Japanese Staff
  • Quality Assurance: Yasuhiro Suzuki
  • Producer: Murphy, Shin-ichiro Takagi
Source:
In-game credits (JP)
General Chaos Daikonsen MD credits.pdf
[10]


Magazine articles

Main article: General Chaos/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

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Print advert in Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #50: "September 1993" (1993-xx-xx)
also published in:
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Print advert in Consoles + (FR) #23: "Septembre 1993" (1993-0x-xx)
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Print advert in Mega Force (ES) #17: "Septiembre 1993" (1993-xx-xx)
also published in:
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Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
77
90 №13, p22/23
Sega Mega Drive
84
Based on
2 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
60
[13]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
65
[14]
Consoles + (FR)
79
[15]
Cool Gamer (RU)
60
[16]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
68
[17]
Computer + Video Giochi (IT) PAL
69
[18]
Electronic Games (1992-1995) (US) NTSC-U
80
[19]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
80
[20]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 3 (RU)
60
[21]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
70
[22]
Game Power (IT) NTSC
83
[23]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
80
[3]
Gamer (GR)
65
[24]
Gamers (DE)
73
[25]
GamesMaster (UK) PAL
81
[26]
Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J
65
[27]
Hobby Consolas (ES)
82
[28]
Hyper (AU)
74
[29]
Igry Sega Luchshiye iz luchshikh. Vypusk 1 (RU)
70
[30]
Joypad (FR) PAL
86
[31]
Joypad (HU)
92
[32]
Mega (UK) PAL
65
[5]
Mega Action (UK) PAL
88
[33]
Mega Force (FR)
93
[34]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
58
[35]
Mega Power (UK) PAL
80
[36]
MegaTech (UK) PAL
72
[37]
Magazina Igrushek (RU)
85
[38]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
71
[39]
Player One (FR)
75
[40]
Power Up! (UK)
78
[41]
Power Unlimited (NL)
69
[42]
Score (CZ)
47
[43]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
80
[44]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
91
[45]
Sega Zone (UK) PAL
87
[46]
Sega Force Mega (UK) PAL
88
[47]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
67
[48]
Sonic the Comic (UK) PAL
87
[49]
Todo Sega (ES)
83
[50]
Tricks (RU)
89
[51]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
79
[52]
Video Games (DE) NTSC-U
71
[53]
VideoGames (US) NTSC-U
80
[4]
Sega Mega Drive
76
Based on
44 reviews

General Chaos

Mega Drive, JP
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Cover
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Cart
Mega Drive, US
GeneralChaos MD US Box.jpg
Cover
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Cart
General Chaos MD US Manual.pdf
Manual
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PCB
Mega Drive, EU (4 Language Manual)
GeneralChaos MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
GeneralChaos MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
General Chaos MD EU Manual.jpg
Manual
GeneralChaos MD EU pcb.jpg
PCB
Mega Drive, EU (5 Language Manual)
GeneralChaos MD EU 5Lang Manual Box.jpg
Cover
GeneralChaos MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
General Chaos MD EU 5Lang Manual.jpg
Manual
Mega Drive, EU (EA Classics)
GeneralChaos MD EU Box Classic.jpg
Cover
GeneralChaos MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
General Chaos MD EU Manual.jpg
Manual
Mega Drive, PT
GeneralChaos MD PT cover.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, PT (EA Classics)
GeneralChaos MD PT eac cover.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, SE
GeneralChaos MD SE Box Back.jpgNospine.pngGeneralChaos MD SE Box.jpg
Cover
GeneralChaos MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, SE rental (HENT orange)
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Cover
GeneralChaos MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, GR (Zegetron)

GeneralChaos MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, CZ (Datart)

GeneralChaos MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
GeneralChaos MD CZ Manual.jpg
Manual
Mega Drive, BR
GeneralChaos MD BR Box.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, GCC

GeneralChaos MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
Notavailable.svg
Manual
Mega Drive, ZA/KE/LS/MZ/NA/BW/SZ/ZW (EA Classics)
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Cover
GeneralChaos MD US Cart.jpg
Cart

Technical information

Main article: General Chaos/Technical information.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 File:GeneralChaos MD JP Box.jpg
  2. 2.0 2.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software_l.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-07-02 23:21)
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 GamePro, "September 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 36
  4. 4.0 4.1 VideoGames, "October 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 54
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Mega, "September 1993" (UK; 1993-08-19), page 51
  6. Sega Force Mega, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-12-16), page 90
  7. Computer Trade Weekly, "" (UK; 1996-09-09), page 97
  8. GamesMaster, "October 1996" (UK; 1996-08-29), page 11
  9. File:General Chaos MD US Manual.pdf, page 29
  10. File:General Chaos Daikonsen MD credits.pdf
  11. Sega Visions, "October/November 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 15
  12. Hobby Consolas, "Septiembre 1993" (ES; 1993-xx-xx), page 2
  13. 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 86
  14. Beep! MegaDrive, "February 1994" (JP; 1994-01-08), page 20
  15. Consoles +, "Septembre 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 134
  16. Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 90
  17. Computer & Video Games, "September 1993" (UK; 1993-08-15), page 80
  18. Computer + Video Giochi, "Novembre 1993" (IT; 1993-xx-xx), page 110
  19. Electronic Games (1992-1995), "October 1993" (US; 1993-09-23), page 66
  20. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "October 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 42
  21. Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 3, "" (RU; 2000-xx-xx), page 65
  22. Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 50
  23. Game Power, "Novembre 1993" (IT; 1993-1x-xx), page 104
  24. Gamer, "Noémvrios 1993" (GR; 1993-xx-xx), page 1
  25. Gamers, "Oktober/November 1993" (DE; 1993-09-24), page 70
  26. GamesMaster, "September 1993" (UK; 1993-08-19), page 71
  27. Hippon Super, "February 1994" (JP; 1994-01-06), page 42
  28. Hobby Consolas, "Agosto 1993" (ES; 1993-xx-xx), page 78
  29. Hyper, "December 1993" (AU; 1993-xx-xx), page 48
  30. Igry Sega Luchshiye iz luchshikh. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 2000-12-07), page 67
  31. Joypad, "Septembre 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 106
  32. Joypad, "2/1994" (HU; 1994-xx-xx), page 24
  33. Mega Action, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-07-15), page 12
  34. Mega Force, "Septembre 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 110
  35. Mega Fun, "10/93" (DE; 1993-09-22), page 26
  36. Mega Power, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-07-29), page 29
  37. MegaTech, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-07-20), page 56
  38. Magazina Igrushek, "1/1996" (RU; 1996-xx-xx), page 60
  39. Mean Machines Sega, "September 1993" (UK; 1993-07-30), page 74
  40. Player One, "Septembre 1993" (FR; 1993-08-xx), page 136
  41. Power Up!, "Saturday, September 25, 1993" (UK; 1993-09-25), page 1
  42. Power Unlimited, "Nummer 5, December 1993" (NL; 1993-12-01), page 44
  43. Score, "Leden 1994" (CZ; 1994-01-03), page 36
  44. Sega Power, "September 1993" (UK; 1993-08-05), page 68
  45. Sega Pro, "September 1993" (UK; 1993-08-12), page 66
  46. Sega Zone, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-07-22), page 24
  47. Sega Force Mega, "October 1993" (UK; 1993-08-19), page 88
  48. Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 87
  49. Sonic the Comic, "March 18th 1994" (UK; 1994-03-05), page 11
  50. Todo Sega, "Septiembre 1993" (ES; 1993-0x-xx), page 60
  51. Tricks, "Vypusk 7" (RU; 1996-xx-xx), page 22
  52. Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 15
  53. Video Games, "11/93" (DE; 1993-10-27), page 117


General Chaos

GeneralChaos Title.png

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