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Geneforge 2Reviewed By: Erica Marceau Review Computer: 400MHz G4 (Gigabit Ethernet) with 768MB RAM, ATI Rage Pro 128 (16MB), Mac OS X v10.2.6 Review Date: August 31, 2003
There are few things I look forward to more than a new game from Jeff Vogel, the man who brought us the Exile trilogy, the Avernum trilogy, and now the second game in what will be, if there's any justice in the world, the Geneforge trilogy. Geneforge 2 is a role-playing game that does what few other games of the genre do, and that is put you in a role where the choices you make actually matter. The world of Geneforge is a strange combination of magic and science, and it's where the Shapers rule supreme. They have the ability to create new life from force of will alone and to wield fantastic magic, and they control this power with absolute authority. You take on the role of an apprentice assigned to assist Shanti, a veteran Shaper, to visit a failing colony, get a status report, and then to report back to the Shaper Council.
Geneforge 2 has kept many of the skills from the first Geneforge, but has added more magic spells (from three to eight in each of the four types of magic) and added another two creations into which you can shape in each of the three types of shaping. Anatomy was removed and replaced with Parry, which gives a much needed defensive skill. The leadership and mechanic skills make a comeback, allowing you to take the route with a lot of fighting or the route which lets you lie to people convincingly and open locked doors without needing the right keys. Since you get experience either way, you won't be sacrificing anything if you want to sneak around.
Have you ever played a game where it didn't matter how you respond to the characters? In one breath you could tell them you were plotting their destruction, in the next you could be declaring your undying love, and they wouldn't blink an eye in amazement? Geneforge 2 isn't that kind of game. There are four factions you can join (or, you could not join any of them) and you will have a much more difficult time joining some of them depending on how you respond in dialogue and action. Which faction you join won't prevent you from winning, although it will affect the ending. In this sense, Geneforge 2 has similarities to a Choose Your Own Adventure where your every choice affects what happens next, which in turn affects what choices you get offered, and so on and so on.
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What kind of apprentice you are is up to you. There are three from which to choose, each with strengths and weaknesses in three areas; combat, magic, and shaping. Shapers are best in creating life or shaping, are weaker in wielding magic, and are weakest in combat. Guardians are strongest in combat, weaker in shaping, and weakest in magic. Agents are the best at wielding magic, weaker in combat, and weakest in shaping. This isn't to say you shouldn't invest in areas in which you're weak if you want, but it will cost more points to get those skills. Fortunately, you have a lot of flexibility in what kind of apprentice you want to be. For example, you could play an Agent as a pure spellcaster with most of her skill points in magic and intelligence, or you could lean more towards combat and use only those spells which boost her fighting ability.
No matter how much sneaking and lying you do, it's inevitable that you will have to fight some battles. When you're walking around, it's in real-time (which lets you sneak by the enemy when they aren't looking). But, when you are in combat, it switches to turn-based. Every character has a number of action points which get used up by moving, attacking, and using an item. When one character is out of action points or pauses, the next fastest character gets to move, and so on until the battle is concluded or you run away. Jeff Vogel uses this system for all of his games, and I've always enjoyed it for its ease of use and flexibility, and for it not requiring superior reflexes.
The graphics and sound effects are very similar to what was used in Geneforge. To me this isn't a negative because they were just fine then and I think they're just fine now. Plus, it's sort of comforting to hear the familiar town sounds or the picking up money sound. Since there isn't unique artwork for unique items, part of the challenge is to make sure you identify each item because what you think is a plain Steel Sword might actually be a Singing Rapier. The spells are also improved greatly and they look great. What I do wish was changed was the graphics for the characters. For one thing, there are female and male Guardians in the game, but, judging by the graphic, they are all burley guys with helmets for heads. I assume there are male Agents, but there is only the female graphic with the oddly colored skin. All Shapers wear a cloak with the hood up all of the time and have glowing eyes. At the very least, it would have been great to have both female and male options for each of the characters. Another nice change would have been to let you pick the color combinations since the person who thought lime green and magenta would look good together for a Guardian was really, really wrong.
All-in-all, Geneforge 2 is a great sequel which builds upon the original. The game also stands on its own due to an engaging story, great writing, lots of skills to learn, and the ability to choose the way in which your character develops. For those who played the original, Geneforge 2 will feel like a comfortable pair of shoes. For those who have never played any of Jeff Vogel's games, Geneforge 2 will be a great introduction to what role-playing games should be like. Geneforge 2 is definitely worth the money and the time.