A small update for Mac players of Geneforge 5 to fix a problem with Snow Leopard.

The first informed review of Geneforge 5 I can recall reading is up at HonestGamers.  The score is 7.5/10 and here's a clip:

Indeed, considering the strength of the storytelling, it seems a shame that the world doesn't breathe more. It's deep, and eschews linearity in favour of two primary campaigns and five distinct factional allegiances, all leading to different conclusions. It asks some big questions about how far the human race should push genetic science, a bold territory for the medium to step into. But, at times, it's almost as if Geneforge 5 isn't quite brave enough to commit fully to its narrative. Interestingly, it's significantly more action-orientated than you might expect - even to the point where a loading screen hint informs you that it's far more difficult to succeed in the game if you train your character towards speechcraft and leadership rather than the combat arts. And side quests have a tendency to degenerate into kill-all-the-monsters grinding, hacking away to increase your stats rather than to explore the depths of the plot and its characters.

Yet another Geneforge 5 review where the author has limited exposure to genuine cRPGs, which is a shame given that GameTunnel is a dedicated indie site.  The recommendation is "try" and here's a snip:

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).

Spiderweb has kicked up v1.03 of Geneforge 5 for the Mac, fixing "several minor problems".  Simply download and install the new demo over the top.

The first full Geneforge 5 review on the Windows platform comes from Scorpia, who gives a detailed breakdown of the mechanics.  Oddly, she steps aways from actually giving any sort of verdict, although previous blog entries refer to the game as a "chore" and the like, so I can only assume she didn't like it. A snip:

It’s nice to be wanted, and sooner or later, you will have to choose a faction. For awhile, you can do a job for this one and that one. But to progress to the end game, you must join with someone.

Geneforge 5 keyboard customizationAnd yes, you can change your mind, repudiate your former friends, and join another group. That, naturally, has consequences. So it’s best to be sure, and stick with one.

It is, however, possible to work for two sides at once. While Morgana chose Astoria’s group, she remained very pro-rebel. There are many instances in the game where you can do a little something for the rebels, without jeopardizing your standing in a faction. At least with Astoria’s. I can’t be sure about the others.

Spiderweb has added a DirectX version of Geneforge 5 for systems that don't cope with OpenGL, with the release of v1.02:

v1.0.2 Bug Fixes

• Geneforge 5 now comes with a DirectX version. It can be launched from the Geneforge 5 folder in the Start menu. This can be used on systems with video hardware not compatible with OpenGL.
• Other changes have been made to improve performance on some systems.

Geneforge 5 should now save the game correctly on systems lacking a proper My Documents folder. These saved games will be stored in the Geneforge 5 folder itself.

Spiderweb has released a new version of Geneforge 5, specifically designed for slow PCs.  Geneforge 5 is based on OpenGL and some older systems (typically with Intel integrated graphics) have poor performance, which this attempts to address:

We have upgraded Geneforge 5: Overthrow for Windows to v1.0.1. This upgrade fixes several bugs and provides much better performance on older computers. If Geneforge 5 has been slow for you, run the game and select Fast Graphics Mode from the Resolution window. To upgrade your copy, simply download the new version of the demo and install it. Your saved games and registration will be unaffected.

A short review of Geneforge 5 is up at Inside Mac Games, with a score of 8/10:

For your first run through, you'll more than likely end up being a rebel. In the way the story is presented, you really can't admire or want to follow any of the non-rebel shapers. They all tend to beat up on the little guys or act completely uncaring towards the plight of the minions around them, which doesn't particularly endear you to them.

Thank goodness Geneforge 5: Overthrow (G5) is entertaining enough to merit multiple playthroughs. The gameplay is split up into three different segments, combat mode, walking mode, and map mode. In map mode, you're presented with the world map and just click on the connected segments you want to move to. Once you enter one of those segments, you'll be in walking mode. In this mode you click to move around, pick up items, create creatures, and interact with a variety of gizmos scattered across the map. This is where you'll be spending the majority of your time. Thankfully, the maps are all small enough to go from one side to the other with a single click. Also, the pathfinding is quite good, so you'll only rarely catch your creatures or your main character getting stuck on something.

Spiderweb PC fans can rejoice and head over to grab Geneforge 5: Overthrow, which has been released early.  Here's the blurb, as a reminder:

Spiderweb Software brings you Geneforge 5: Overthrow, the final chapter in their fantasy epic. Return to the world of the Shapers one final time. Explore a vast, war-torn world, create and mold your own army of strange, powerful monsters, and choose a side to help lead to final victory.

Geneforge 5: Overthrow features:

• Enormous world, with over 80 areas to explore.
• Choose among five different factions, each with its own beliefs, cities, and quests. Help the rebels or fight them. Your choices will shape the world.
• Dozens of different endings. Choose for yourself how the saga will finally end.
• Many paths to victory. Slay your enemies or use stealth and diplomacy to outwit them. Become engrossed in the storyline or just go out and wreak havoc.
• Lots of replay value.
• Prior experience with the Geneforge series is completely unnecessary.

As usual, there is sizeable demo.

Thanks, Lurking Grue!

From the Spiderweb site:

We have upgraded Geneforge 5: Overthrow for the Macintosh to v1.0.2. This upgrade fixes a variety of small problems. To upgrade your copy, simply download the new version of the demo and install it. Your saved games and registration will be unaffected.

Spiderweb are looking for testers for their latest Geneforge 5.

What we need testers for:

Right now we need Windows Testers for Geneforge 5. You will need to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement and get it back to us fairly quickly (Faxing it is a very good idea). People who don't get the NDA in promptly won't be able to test.

Important note:

We get lots of tester applications. Lots and lots of them. Sorting through the flood takes a lot of time. Due to the large number of applications we will receive, we will not respond to every application. Please do not E-mail us asking if you were accepted. We will only E-mail those who have been accepted. Many apologies, and good luck!

Macworld has a review of Geneforge for the Mac, although the reviewer clearly approaches the article from the mainstream as an inexperienced RPG player.  There are some minor factual errors, the game is compared to Diablo because they both have classes and loot and the graphics and complexity are criticised.  The score is 3/5 and here's a snip:

I’m new to the Geneforge series, and the story and gameplay took a while for me to get into, as my character kept on going in an out of amnesia and my guide didn’t speak in complete sentences (which was intended to convey she too was just waking up from control by the Shapers). There are multiple paths, sects, and ways to solve a problem and the lack of a linear plot may turn off some players. Simply, there are so many plots, subplots, and characters to keep track of that only dedicated RPG fans won’t be turned off. While the lack of graphical sophistication lends the game to an old school feel, the monotonous environments and unidentifiable characters make it hard to feel attachment to the world. There is plenty of text to get through to get the full experience, so the game feels sluggish coming out of the gates, but rewards players who stick with it.

From the Spiderweb site:

We have upgraded Geneforge 5: Overthrow for the Macintosh to v1.0.1. This upgrade fixes a number of minor issues. To upgrade your copy, simply download the new version of the demo and install it. Your saved games and registration will be unaffected.

Geneforge 5: Overthrow - the last of this series - has been released for Mac.  For most of us, this means the PC version is likely to be on track for early next year:

Geneforge 5: Overthrow is now available for the Macintosh! At last, the epic Geneforge saga comes to a conclusion. The rebellion has brought Terrestia to the brink of ruin. Will you crush the rebels, or will you help them to win their final victory? Achieve your goals with cunning, diplomacy, or your own horde of custom-made, mutant monsters. Come get the big, free demo.

Spiderweb has finally kicked up some new screens for Geneforge 5: Overthrow.

Yep, it's that time of the year again.  Jeff Vogel is calling for Macintosh beta testers for Geneforge 5: Overthrow.  For those of us PC-bound, this indicates development continues on schedule.

Jeff is apparently knee-deep in development so the August update on Geneforge 5 comes from beta-tester Randomizer:

Since Jeff is busy writing the last part of the game,so I'll give an update.

The 3 shaper classes are back as a starting characters as well as now 6 lifecrafter classes. The new strong magic, weak fighting class has been seen as a screenshot for inventory.

Reputation will make a difference in what quests you can get and which of the 5 factions you can join. Too much in one direction (shaper/rebel) will limit your actions.

Plenty of fighting once you past the first 10 zones. Jeff has made it possible in the next area to fight tier 4 and 5 creations plus a few special types that will make things interesting. Also for those that prefer leadership and mechanics there will be plenty of that at much higher levels than GF4.

It seems playable even at torment levels, but you will have to make characters that fight since past normal difficulty, you can't breeze through the game without increasing your skills. One shot kills are harder on torment past the beginning.

Jeff Vogel posted a June update alongside the official announcement for Geneforge 5:

We have put up the first screenshots and official info for Geneforge 5: Overthrow. It's here.

The world is about half done, and the beta testing will begin in mid-July.

As you can see from the screenshots, a lot has changed. The play area now takes up the whole screen, which makes even old, musty graphics look a lot nicer. I've been able to add a lot of little graphical frills to make things look a little more professional. As I've said before, you can play in a window or play the game in any monitor size.

I've been redoing a lot of the graphics. Almost all of the walls. A lot of the floors. Many of the terrain types. I've been quite happy with the results.

I am starting to rethink the second tier creations. I will probably bring back some of the older creations that some people miss (like the rotdhizon). I have made melee creations generally tougher and far cheaper in essence. I think they have a role to play as cheaper, more disposable zerg-type creatures.

The system for buffing has been completely reworked. Buffs are more powerful, but you can have fewer of them on at one time. You will have to think more to choose what set of buffs will be helpful for a given situation. Haste and slow have weaker effects, so they are no longer the all-powerful makers and breakers they were.

I'll add more as I remember it. For now, it's nice to finally have the public announcement out of the way.

- Jeff Vogel