Genre: Action
Developer: Ed Hickman, Stephen N. Curtis
Publisher: Entersoft
Year: 1985
Platform: Enterprise
The Abyss is an action game created in 1985 for the business-oriented Enterprise computer system. In the game, the player controls a robotic drone on the planet Nonterraqueous, which is under the control of a master computer. The drone’s mission is to locate and destroy this central machine. Game mechanics center on form-shifting, resource management, and environmental hazards.
Players start armed with a laser and can later acquire bombs. Transforming at swap stations allows the drone to adopt an alternative form. Although this form cannot use offensive tools like bombs or lasers, it offers immunity against acid drops—a recurring lethal threat in the environment. Strategic decisions revolve around timing form changes, balancing offensive capability with defensive survival.
The game introduces “psyche stations” that replenish the drone’s psyche meter, which depletes from actions or environmental damage. Overloading the psyche meter, running too low while dropping bombs, or being in the vulnerable form when hit by acid can lead to the drone’s destruction. Avoiding traps, timing form switches, and preserving resources are essential to survive the hazardous terrain.
The Abyss features early action-oriented gameplay design, blending real-time exploration, survival mechanics, and tactical navigation. Its interface and visual presentation align with the limitations and style of mid-1980s enterprise computer games, offering a simple but challenging arcade-like experience on non-gaming hardware.
