Embark on a journey through a post-nuclear wasteland in this 1998 role-playing game, originally released for PC and Mac. You assume the role of the Chosen One, a descendant of a survivor from a past cataclysm, tasked with a critical mission. Your isolated tribe, Arroyo, faces a severe drought, and your only hope is to locate the legendary Garden of Eden Creation Kit (GECK). This fabled device is believed to hold the power to revitalize the barren, irradiated landscape into a thriving community.

Your quest begins with minimal resources and a singular objective. You will traverse a vast and challenging world, encountering a diverse array of settlements, each with their own unique circumstances, aspirations, and ethical dilemmas. The narrative progresses through extensive dialogue options, granting significant player agency in shaping your interactions with the world and its inhabitants.

The Setting and Its Inhabitants

The game is set in post-nuclear California in the year 2241. The environment is harsh and unpredictable, marked by the ruins of a former civilization. Survival is a constant struggle, and resource scarcity has fostered the development of numerous small, often isolated, micro-civilizations. These factions vary from technologically advanced outposts to tribal societies, each possessing distinct strengths, weaknesses, socioeconomic structures, and political motivations.

Core Gameplay Mechanics

This title is a turn-based tactical role-playing game. Players begin by creating their character, customizing their attributes and skills, which will influence their approach to various challenges. The primary gameplay loop involves exploration, strategic combat, and interaction with the game's environment and characters. Combat is resolved in a turn-based fashion, demanding careful consideration of character actions, movement, and the deployment of abilities and equipment.

What Makes This Game Unique?

A defining characteristic of this game is its profound emphasis on player choice and the resulting consequences. The intricate branching dialogue system allows for a high degree of freedom in how players approach quests and engage with non-player characters. Your decisions can have significant and far-reaching impacts on the game world and the fate of its inhabitants. The game also incorporates a distinct, dark, and satirical sense of humor that is woven throughout its narrative and world-building, contributing to its unique tone within the post-apocalyptic genre.

Character Development and Skills

Character progression is a fundamental aspect of the experience. Players can develop a broad spectrum of skills, ranging from combat proficiencies to social aptitudes, enabling a variety of playstyles. Whether you aim to be a persuasive negotiator, a discreet operative, or a powerful combatant, the game provides the means to shape your character's development.

Exploration and Discovery

The post-apocalyptic world is expansive and contains numerous secrets to uncover. Players will explore a variety of locations, from dilapidated urban areas to concealed underground facilities, each offering opportunities for discovery, resource acquisition, and encounters with both allies and adversaries.

Additional Content

This is a main game release and does not include any downloadable content (DLCs), expansions, remakes, or remasters.

Basic Game Information

Release Year: 1998

Platforms: PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac

Genres: Puzzle, Role-playing (RPG), Turn-based strategy (TBS)