Geneforge Saga : Does it get any better?

[Ruairi iliffe]

Because im loving it to death right now, and im only on the first one still.

So it showed up on steam yesterday as a bundle and i wondered to myself if it would be any good. Found a few screenshots, videos, thought why not and have been having a blast since. Seems i really missed good old RPGs like this, but a niggle cropped up in the back of my mind, so im asking it,

Does it get any better or does it have a few footfalls along the way?



Oh, and any good tips too?

Edit: ah, a question to the tech savy, is it possible to put the game into windowed mode?

 

[PinochetIsMyBro]

If by better you mean gameplay and storywise - yes. If by better you mean 'do things ever turn out well?' It's a spidweb game.

Tip: Megalomania and Canisters are best friends.

 

[JesterRaiin]

It depends. First part was and still is best in my opinion. Scenario, moral choices, unique setting, cosmology - Geneforge beats most modern hi-tech, gfx-burning crpgs...
However, not everyone can look past crude graphics, repetitive landmass and such... Unfortunately.

 

[Ruairi iliffe]

It depends. First part was and still is best in my opinion. Scenario, moral choices, unique setting, cosmology - Geneforge beats most modern hi-tech, gfx-burning crpgs...
However, not everyone can look past crude graphics, repetitive landmass and such... Unfortunately.

Having clocked over 100+ hours of Dwarf fortress, graphics are not the forefront of my mind

If by better you mean gameplay and storywise - yes. If by better you mean 'do things ever turn out well?' It's a spidweb game.

Tip: Megalomania and Canisters are best friends.

Ah i was wondering if something was abit too convenient with the canisters as it is odd why they left them behind... Though i do ask as i havn't noticed any changes yet, do they effect you other than giving boosts to your stats or will that spoil something?

 

[demi_person]

I don't know if they "get better", but I can say for certain that they don't get worse
and I have yet to see any other game deliver on its in-game and in-universe promises better

 

[Thaluikhain]

Only played a bunch of demos, but Spiderweb games are consistently very good.

Sure, they peaked with Exile 3 and 4, and haven't got anything to match those, but that's setting the bar very high.

 

[PinochetIsMyBro]

Ah i was wondering if something was abit too convenient with the canisters as it is odd why they left them behind... Though i do ask as i havn't noticed any changes yet, do they effect you other than giving boosts to your stats or will that spoil something?

It's a spoiler. Don't worry, you'll find out pretty soon.

 

[Ruairi iliffe]

Ah i was wondering if something was abit too convenient with the canisters as it is odd why they left them behind... Though i do ask as i havn't noticed any changes yet, do they effect you other than giving boosts to your stats or will that spoil something?

It's a spoiler. Don't worry, you'll find out pretty soon.

In a long time i havnt been this filled with Dread/anticipation in a game over Mechanics and story accually going hand in hand. Intresting times ahead it seems, thanks for the heads up.

Now i wish i can get my work out of the way faster so i can go home, Stupid Crunch time

 

[JesterRaiin]

It depends. First part was and still is best in my opinion. Scenario, moral choices, unique setting, cosmology - Geneforge beats most modern hi-tech, gfx-burning crpgs...
However, not everyone can look past crude graphics, repetitive landmass and such... Unfortunately.

Having clocked over 100+ hours of Dwarf fortress, graphics are not the forefront of my mind

You, sir, are a true diamond among shards of glass.

 

[Zhukov]

Basically, if you've played one, you've played them all.

I think I gave up around number 4. Or was it number 3? Can't quite tell.

 

[Ruairi iliffe]

So are the other games in their catalog up to a simlar standard? I've seen mention of Exile a good few years ago, but never followed up on it.

You, sir, are a true diamond among shards of glass.

Comibination of crap computer and forced play thoughs in college made me fall in love with Gameplay over graphics,But still i dont balk at flashly stuff, ArmA3 is looking Fantastic and hopefully hard

 

[JesterRaiin]

So are the other games in their catalog up to a simlar standard? I've seen mention of Exile a good few years ago, but never followed up on it.

I loved "Blades of Exile". It reminded me of good old 2-d "Warlords".
Avernum is pretty neat, however i lost interest around 4th chapter. Stories were good, so was gameplay, but there's only finite amount of same setting i can swallow.

I played Avadon and was quite impressed. Joinable characters are quite deep for such game....

You, sir, are a true diamond among shards of glass.

Comibination of crap computer and forced play thoughs in college made me fall in love with Gameplay over graphics,But still i dont balk at flashly stuff, ArmA3 is looking Fantastic and hopefully hard

Let's cut the bullsh*t. Where were you all my life ?

 

[Ruairi iliffe]

Let's cut the bullsh*t. Where were you all my life ?

Heh, Sorry to disappoint alreadly called for, lets keep it friendly eh?


OT: Do all the Segments follow a direct path?, I mean does my Char continue though each Game similar to Ultima or is it 'you are this new guy, heres a canister and Screwed up location you are stuck in, btw the hills have eyes, have fun' kinda thing?

 

[JesterRaiin]

Let's cut the bullsh*t. Where were you all my life ?

Heh, Sorry to disappoint alreadly called for, lets keep it friendly eh?

Dammit !

OT: Do all the Segments follow a direct path?, I mean does my Char continue though each Game similar to Ultima or is it 'you are this new guy, heres a canister and Screwed up location you are stuck in, btw the hills have eyes, have fun' kinda thing?

Nope. As i recall, each game it's completely brand new you.

 

[Ruairi iliffe]

Snip

Ah damn, wanted to slowly become some sort of Shaper übermensch mostly because i feel the game is tempting me that way...

Thats leads me to another intresting question, is there really any other reason to play a non-shaper class? I know the Guardians have a basic ability, and normally i do tend to be the more Gun-ho Warrior, but this game makes me want to stick to the magic side. Which trust me is odd and I've replayed Arcanum of steamworks and magick obscura, and not once as a non-tech guy.

 

[JesterRaiin]

Snip

Ah damn, wanted to slowly become some sort of Shaper übermensch mostly because i feel the game is tempting me that way...

Thats leads me to another intresting question, is there really any other reason to play a non-shaper class? I know the Guardians have a basic ability, and normally i do tend to be the more Gun-ho Warrior, but this game makes me want to stick to the magic side. Which trust me is odd and I've replayed Arcanum of steamworks and magick obscura, and not once as a non-tech guy.

I guess there's really no true "cons" against any class or party in SpiderWeb games. They support any style of play. Actually, i am not sure which part it was - 2nd or 3rd but i finished it with Guardian and encountered no real problems en route even without relying on "magic".

BTW - if i may interest you, check also this...
http://thespiritengine.com/
Great thing.

 

[Aeshi]

Yeah they get MUCH better, 3 slightly less so than the others but meh.

also about the canisters:

Spoiler

Overusage of them makes your character lose their mind and get worse endings, so if you care about the ending save before every canister and don't use them if they're not what you want, this gets easier in later games as you aren't as dependent on them for skills.

 

[Ruairi iliffe]

Yeah they get MUCH better, 3 slightly less so than the others but meh.

also about the canisters:

Spoiler

Overusage of them makes your character lose their mind and get worse endings, so if you care about the ending save before every canister and don't use them if they're not what you want, this gets easier in later games as you aren't as dependent on them for skills.

After playing on abit more (and morbid curiosity) i checked that spoiler, Yeah i had gathered that was the case, and it was hinted at a good bit ingame.

BTW - if i may interest you, check also this...
http://thespiritengine.com/
Great thing.

Intresting, cool to see Shareware still going, and bookmarked for later