Codename: ICEMAN is a graphical
adventure game made with the
SCI engine and published by the American
computer game company
Sierra On-Line in 1989. The lead designer was
Jim Walls, who also created the
Police Quest games. Mention of a "
Codename: PHOENIX" in Sierra promotional material suggests that
ICEMAN was meant to be the first part of a
Codename series, but disappointing sales ended the would-be franchise after one game.
One of
ICEMAN's most notable features is that a large portion of it takes place in a
submarine; a portion of the game also requires the player to navigate the sub using an extremely scaled-down model.
Designed in 1989, the game's setting is 2004. While much of the story (which features
Cold War and Soviet villains) is outdated in hindsight, the scenario is partially prophetic of the
2000s energy crisis which began in 2003.
Plot
In the year 2004, during a global oil shortage
Tunisia is suddenly discovered to possess a surplus of high-grade oil. While the Soviet and American governments try to acquire as much of the oil as they can, Soviet-backed
terrorists kidnap a US
ambassador in hopes of provoking an international incident.
Naval Officer Johnny Westland is informed about the situation during his
leave in
Tahiti and is called back for the rescue mission. The night before returning to duty, he has a
one-night stand with Stacy, a mysterious beautiful woman.
In
the Pentagon, Westland is briefed and learns that Stacy...
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