Abuse

About

Abuse is a side-scrolling shooter that swaps traditional controls for a keyboard-mouse combo. You move Nick Vrenna with the keyboard while using the mouse to aim and fire in real time. The action centers on battling waves of mutant enemies infected by a strange substance, often in chaotic swarms. Simple switches and environmental puzzles break up the combat, though the focus stays firmly on blasting through hordes. The prison setting shifts from claustrophobic cells to large industrial zones as you progress. The game’s control scheme was ahead of its time, influencing later shooters. Its 1996 release date and availability on DOS Amiga and Linux add retro charm. The story about unethical experiments and a hero with a laser gun leans into classic B-movie vibes. With a 4.5/5 average on retro gaming sites, Abuse holds up for fans of old-school action. The mouse-aiming mechanic remains its most talked-about feature, even if the visuals feel dated by modern standards.

Storyline

The protagonist of the game, Nick Vrenna, has been unjustly incarcerated in a prison where the staff are performing unethical medical experiments upon the inmates. A prison riot occurs and an experiment goes horribly wrong. The people inside the prison - except for Nick, who seems to be immune - get infected with a substance called Abuse that transforms them into monsters. Nick takes a laser gun and goes on to single-handily destroy all mutants, stop the substance from spreading further, and escape from the prison complex.