Breathless A32 Revives the Amiga's 1995 First-Person Shooter With Better Performance and Proper CD32 Controls
Developer EismanBerlin releases Breathless A32 v1.2, enhancing the 1995 Amiga FPS with upgraded visuals, CD32 gamepad mapping, and 68030 performance optimizations.
One of the Commodore Amiga's most ambitious mid-1990s first-person shooters has received a welcome upgrade, with developer EismanBerlin releasing Breathless A32. The enhanced edition revisits the original 1995 game developed by Fields of Vision and published by Power Computing, a title that attempted to bring convincing three-dimensional action to Amiga hardware during the height of the Doom-inspired shooter boom. The currently documented version 1.2 introduces several improvements designed to make the original game more comfortable and responsive on contemporary Amiga setups. Updated weapon graphics and muzzle flashes improve combat presentation, while an option to remove the surrounding helmet overlay provides a less restricted view of the action. Enemy behaviour has also been revised, including the ability for opponents to retreat or use cover. Performance optimisations are intended to make the game smoother on Motorola 68030-based systems, although actual results remain dependent on processor speed, memory and configuration. Modern keyboard and mouse arrangements receive attention too, including WASD movement and full mouselook support. The CD32 adaptation is particularly interesting because it expands controller functionality, allowing players to change weapons, strafe, look around and interact without constantly reaching for a keyboard. Supported settings can also be stored for later sessions. The project supports AGA graphics and appropriate P96 configurations, with separate Amiga and CD32 downloadable packages. Original programmer Alberto Longo has granted permission for the enhanced edition to be distributed, providing welcome acknowledgement from somebody directly involved in the original game's creation. The developer openly discloses AI assistance during development. An unexpanded CD32 still has significant performance limitations, so this is an enhancement rather than a miraculous transformation into a modern gaming PC. Nevertheless, Breathless A32 provides another worthwhile reason to revisit the Amiga's often overlooked first-person shooter catalogue.