Geneforge 5: Overthrow

This appears to be the largest of the series in terms of choices and lore. As always try to find your games on sale. While I personally feel all of the Geneforge games deserve to be bought for full price...money is money and people need it for other things like eating or having a home I copied and pasted from my own review... I'm lazy... This game is a turn based game Fantasy RPG just like the previous games You will need to read for context during the game. If you don't like reading you won't like the game. You generally get short scenes from the story where you and your companion will speak and you will receive details about them depending on your skills. You choose how to respond and the scene continues. Making choices with words and actions will shape your story and eventual ending. During combat you will experience a Turn based RPG. This game doesn't get rid of old mechanics it just refines them further. This game you have the option between 8 separate classes and around 4 or 5 factions. I haven't finished this yet. I don't know how to complete a certain side yet. I have 60+ hours in Steam and 60+ not in Steam. I just suck at playing as some characters. This game has improved the graphics from the older games quite a bit. You start making choices that can have affects later before you leave the tutorial area. The lore in this game...They pulled from all previous games and tied them together. You will decide the final outcome of the conflict. You are referred to as a walking army. I think the game exaggerates but you are an unaccounted element that must choose a side. Also I've been vague about the game's lore and classes because it was a big draw for me. I loved the lore so I want you to enjoy it without me saying anything. I will say you need to play at least 3 and 4 in order to get proper context. Things are explained within each game well enough but some lore loses its spark if you didn't have knowledge from previous games. I enjoyed this game and this series. 10/10 would buy again. Actually I think I've bought this series 4-5 times now so yes I like the game

Great game Good story, gameplay Multiple factions and endings

this game kicks so much ass

A fantastic game, I'd be more specific but I'm not the best with words.

This game was a huge part of my childhood. I can't understate how much I enjoy the plot, the RPG style, and the combat system. Unfortunately there are a few game-breaking glitches but even still I'd say its worth the purchase.

"Kratos Stoneworks power core" puzzle is nightmare, hope it won't happen again

the problem with this game is there is no music, and the ui is really bad

A strong conclusion to the Geneforge series, benefiting from the most refined graphics and mechanics of any game in the series. If you've enjoyed the previous game(s) then playing the capstone entry is an obvious choice, but Geneforge 5, like its previous entries, can be enjoyed on its own merits even without prior experience with the series. I've been playing it and replaying it almost since its release in 2008 and I still consider it one of the greatest CRPGs of all time.

+ The most in-depth of the series so far. + Multiple factions to align with, and options to change your mind as you go. + The promise of 'choose your approach' (stealth, combat, etc) is much better realised than in previous titles + Gameplay mechanic improvements. Encumbrance is now only based on what you wear, not your entire inventory. Combat/action points now refined so you can juggle inventory items and attack without forfeiting your turn (e.g. an attack uses your remaining AP rather than requiring 5). + Summoning new creatures has a much nicer, organised UI. + Prompts when your reputation with a particular faction changes are now much clearer. - Graphics are still very basic. A fair amount is achieved with basic, stiff sprites, but they are still basic. - NPCs often wander around in little circles, quite quickly. Trying to click on one to talk to them can be *very* frustrating as they keep moving. - Very small assets - e.g. little containers - can be hard to click on. - Story does its best not to require knowledge of previous games but it's quite convoluted as it is. Overall Geneforge 5 is a strong, classic RPG. The world is rich and complex, albeit maybe a little too much for a new player. The tutorial/opening sequence is quite well handled and eases you into the mechanics well. With so many developers trying new and bizarre things with combat and levelling systems with varying degrees of success, a classic turn based combat/skill point levelling system can be quite comforting. It's not really much to look at but it has ideas of its own and does them well. 7.5/10

Geneforge was such a large part of my childhood. I absolutely loved Geneforge 5, and I highly recommend it to anyone who likes turn based games. The lore, the storyline, the gameplay, all of it is incredibly fun and full of excitement.