Space Hulk (1993 Video Game) - Reception: Space Hulk was praised by several reviewers for its gameplay atmosphere. Amiga User International liked the heroism invoked by the monastic tone of the briefings and the Space Marines' organisation. Even 11 years after game's release, in 2004 PC Format ranked its voice acting as one of the best gaming atmospheres ever.The dark graphics of long narrow corridors, coupled with the moody music, sets a claustrophobic tone, increasing tension. This tense atmosphere coupled with engrossing gameplay, the realistic aliens and their excellent sound effects scared a few reviewers. The tension was reported to be due to constant switching between real-time and freeze-time. As the Genestealers were very much faster than the cumbersome Space Marine Terminators, the reviewer had to constantly switch between managing the squad in freeze-time and controlling individual Space Marines in real-time to ensure the squad wqas in good condition to complete the mission. Amiga Force, however, commented this "start-stoppy" gameplay breaks the flow of action. Amiga Computing reported Space Hulk stood out as a very deep game; players would have to pore through the manuals and tutorial missions to be able to handle the Genestealers.The enemy artificial intelligence (AI) were praised by many as excellent. Game Bytes claimed the Genestealers were able to take cover behind corners, and wait until they had backup before attacking. They would also use decoys to lure the player into traps, and flank the squad from the sides or the rear. Amiga Force, however, complained that the AI of the Space Marines not under the player's direct control were terrible. When attacked from the side, they did not turn to meet the threat but died without reacting to it. It was also claimed the squad's aim and reactions were much worse than under the player's direct control.These factors contributed to what most reviewers agreed was a very difficult game. Amiga Computing reported the Genestealers were too quick until strategies were mastered to counter them. Even with the "Freeze Time" feature, some of the missions were felt to be very difficult. Amiga Force complained that trying to co-ordinate five-Marine squads to fend off these quick enemies was just frustration in the making as one single mistake got all of them killed in an instant.Game Bytes praised the game's graphics for its dark and forbidding hallways, detailed Space Marines, and disgusting Genestealer animation. It also stated other games should follow Space Hulk in having recorded voices serving a functional purpose, such as warnings. Other reviewers have, however, pointed out the lack of variety in the game. There is only one enemy, the Genestealers, and all the mission environments were simply long corridors broken up by the occasional room. The game is considered by several reviewers as one of the few Warhammer 40,000 computer games to that time worth playing.The One applauded Space Hulk as the most successful "board game to computer game" conversion retaining the essence of the board game's game play while dispensing with what most found as tedious dice-rolling and turn sequences. Game Byte lamented the failure to include a mission builder which was one of the endearing elements of the original board game.The One and CU Amiga Magazine agreed Space Hulk is a good example of a game with a perfect balance of strategy and action. Amiga reviewers unanimously complained that the difficulty coupled with the inability to install the game on their hard drives made the frequent disk swapping a very tedious process.