The Climate Trail

boring

[b]'Even if we were to stop putting out greenhouse gases right now, we'd still face decades of warming' - Jamais Cascio[/b] [u]This is an Educational Awareness game that focuses on the Greenhouse Effect and the impact being made to the ozone layer - it sets a scenario where society has collapsed as we know it today and sets you on a survival resource trail. If this isn't your type of game (or you avoid resource management like I usually do!) it's a free choice![/u] [i]William Volk[/i] has created a free-play game based around the mechanics of [b]The Oregon Trail[/b] yet placing the player into a scenario where Global Warming has caused the Oceans to rise causing countries (or States in this case) to be flooded. This has devastated society to the point a new currency of trade is in use and we see the only way to survive is to abandon the flooded regions and head to higher grounds. In this game, the location is Atlanta, Ga and the destination is the US-Canada border in hope of ample water & resources. You join a group that consists of a Climatologist expert among other specialists and survivors with the aim of trekking a direct trail North to [i]Sault Ste marie[/i] managing your resources to survive the perils of the journey. As you travel the journey you will encounter dangers from heatwave exposure or storms and, upon arrival at each US City along the way, you get opportunity to seek extra resources, rest for a day and re-evaluate the rations of your present supplies among other options. There is RNG in how you survive as well as chances of finding extra resources along the journey so careful planning of your days spent on the road are crucial to your team survival. The game is developed in Ren'Py so there is ample choice for game-saves and the settings are available for skip text among the other usual menu choices. I feel there could have been an added menu section for further resource websites as well as a section that provides educational information [u]BUT[/u] the game does offer an introduction that gives useful awareness of exactly what the Greenhouse effect is caused by and its effects. I was particularly interested in the newspaper article showcasing how long this has been scientific knowledge which surprised me. The graphics in this game are wonderfully rendered giving a reminder of the art used in some TellTale games and the BGM is not intrusive allowing you to focus on the choices before you. There is a sound-effect used when you find additional resources but outside of this the game remains centred on the story. The RNG and challenges that face you on the trail become repetitive after awhile but wrong choices can have disastrous effects on your supplies & your party members. Even so, the game only had one extra variation of the 3 scenarios so it would have been more attention grabbing if additional threats or choices were included to break up the monotonous trail. The journey itself can be completed in around 90 minutes depending on your play-style and that includes me watching the introduction. Since there are save choices the game can be successfully completed in one sitting but, for those who enjoy the challenge, the game can offer a replay factor to showcase the averse effects on your group throughout the journey. There are no Achievements which would have been an added bonus feature but this is a free educational experience and that was priority I feel in the Developers minds. Overall, if you have an interest in resource management games and this topic interests you then you can't go far wrong but if this isn't your thing at all it may be best to avoid this freeware. ~~~ Liked what you see? You can find more reviews at [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/32839633]Have a Word[/url]~~~