Geneforge 5: Overthrow Review

Before I say anything, I have to admit that I'm a Geneforge noob. In fact, I hadn't even heard of the series until the fifth one. So, hopefully this is turns out to be an unbiased review rather than a clueless one.

This is the finale in the series, and it wastes no time in throwing you headfirst into the story. The Shapers have ruled over the land for ages, and now the Rebels challenge their reign. There are multiple other factions that are more moderate in their politics, but either way you're forced to choose sides between the Shapers and the Rebels. No matter what side you choose, it's up to you and your character (chosen from a list of classes, each with their own specialty; standard RPG fare) to bring lasting peace to the land at last.

The story plays out through lengthy written narrations. These can be a little daunting to the uninitiated (read: me), since they're WALLS OF TEXT that read like the standard fantasy novel. Much of my time was spent reading said narration, and I was simultaneously amazed at the amount of writing and slightly annoyed by it. I found myself skimming, mostly, since it wasn't the kind of writing style that I can enjoy for long periods of time.

Geneforge is a point-and-click RPG, so many of its aspects are similar to games like Diablo. Travel and interactions are all done with the mouse (and a healthy assortment of hotkeys). The combat is where Geneforge shines, and is fairly unique in my opinion. The battles were turn-based, and involved all the characters in the field. There was no separate battle screen, no chaotic "real-time" fighting, or other perversions of turn-based battles (WoW... cough, cough).

One thing should be noted: don't go into this game expecting it to be a looker. Geneforge pretty much dumps good graphics in favor of... everything else, really. It's pretty sparse in the beauty department, but it's to keep your focus elsewhere. It sounds pretty good, but yet again, the focus isn't on aesthetics. There were some good tunes here and there, but they were there for atmosphere and not to create a lasting impression.

All in all, Genforge will be a hit or a miss. If you're a follower of the series, you'll be happy and it will satisfy your world-salvation needs. But, maybe it's because I'm not part of the Geneforge cool kids club, I found that anyone else will find it a little too hardcore.

Graphics:
Geneforge isn't a pretty game. It's not distracting, and it doesn't hinder the gameplay noticeably. However, the character's stiff movement and animations were always a little bothersome.

Sound/Music:
The soundtrack is adequate, and certainly adds to the game. While it doesn't have a very melodic arrangement of tunes, it does its job.

Gameplay:
It's full of wonderful, hardcore, RPG madness. The fighting is fun, and easier than I expected to get the hang of. The gameplay is well polished, which should be expected by the fifth game in the series.

Concept:
Geneforge is not a new concept, sharing many of the same traits as others in the genre. However, the way the game gives the player the power to figure out what side is the "right" side is a good concept.

Value:
Holy cow, there's a lot of game to play here. This is one of the longest RPGs I've played, period. Plus, if you're a reading nut, you'll have a party with the sheer amount of narrative here.

Fun:
This game is not for the weak-hearted. It will take up much of your time, you'll become a part of a massive, intricate plot, and you'll fight many the difficult battle. While that sealed the deal for some, it's a little intense for us lesser human beings.

Overall:
Bottom line: while it's not exactly an easily accessible game, Geneforge 5 is a long and rewarding journey for RPG fans. If you're a fan of the series, you might have already bought it; If you're like me, you're still stuck reading the constant stream of text in silent awe.