In 2001 Spiderweb Software launched Geneforge, an isometric RPG that put players into the shoes of wizards who could shape the DNA of creatures around them for their own use. Now, nineteen years later, the game’s creators are seeking support to help them remaster what sold incredibly well, and became a cult classic. Check out the trailer for Geneforge 1 Mutagen below, and read on for more details.
Geneforge 1 Mutagen
As you can see from this Kickstarter campaign (check out the page here), this is a full remaster of the original Geneforge. The game was pretty groundbreaking at the time because of how open it was for players to mess with, and that design still stands up today, even if the game itself doesn’t. Players can complete the game without attacking anyone, they can destroy everyone they meet, or they can get to the end of the game, realise they actually like the main villain, and side with them and still end the game satisfyingly. It’s quite astounding when you think that this game has been around for so ling, and yet we think Fallout 4 is groundbreaking because you can basically kill everyone.
Story
The world of Geneforge is ruled by Shapers. These guys have the power to create life for any purpose, mostly to serve them, and kill anything that disobeys them. While they’ve done a pretty good job of ruling, some of their creations want freedom to live their own lives, and that’s where things get tricky. Players are a Shaper, but they’re also a rebel, meaning they can form the story from both sides.
What Spiderweb Software want to do is bring this story to modern gamers, across PC, Mac, and for the first time on iPad. The Kickstarter campaign will allow them to hire freelancers who can do a seriously good job of making everything, from systems to art, and bringing the Geneforge saga to life like never before.
How’s It Looking?
I, like you I should think, had never heard of Geneforge until I found this Kickstarter campaign. However, now that I’ve found it, I’m desperate to play it. The games sound as if they blend sci-fi and magic in such a way that it would feel like playing a mix between Fallout and Divinity Original Sin. The campaign is already fully funded at the time of writing, with £37,736 of the goal of £23,000, and 24 days to go. This is mainly because the people who played the game originally are now at the age where they have the money to back game campaigns like this.
The reward tiers are pretty good, there are cheap ones with few rewards, but no real physical rewards in terms of artbooks or fancy items like that. You can get a scroll of absolution if you pirated any Spiderweb Software games when you were younger, which I think is just an essential collectors item for any Geneforge fan anyway. If you’re looking to get in on a good game cheap, this might just be the best way.
Sometimes we write about games that are seeking funding, or ones that have found it like Geneforge 1 Mutagen, with Kickstarter campaigns. If you’d like to read more about awesome Kickstarter games, check out our back catalogue of articles here.
