BorderZone

Fulqrum Publishing | BorderZone
Developer: Saturn Plus
Publisher: 1C Company
Release date: Q4 2003

What awaits mankind in 9,000 AD? Has the earth and its inhabitants flourished and evolved or regressed into despair? You'll find the answers to humanity's fate in the thrilling new role-playing game, Borderzone. Borderzone is a combat oriented game, combining elements of role-play and action. Players assume the role of Olaf, one of the few remaining humans on the planet Terra. Having to leave the safety of their outpost, gamers venture on quests and into battle, running up to five characters simultaneously and amassing weapons, skills and magic. The action and strategy of the non-linear plot unfolds in a real time format, leading explorers to various endings depending on which paths they choose.

On the planet Terra the past and the future have blurred. The tales of the great catastrophe, The Collapse, have been passed down for generations, although the details have faded. Most of the elders speak of a time, six or seven thousand years ago, when people possessed unprecedented power over Nature with an ancient, now forgotten, witchcraft known as "Science." They tell tales of when men could fly in the air, swim under water and even traveled to Selena, feats only the most rare magicians on Terra can still perform. The gods of ancient times grew angry and could no longer stand man's arrogance - and so came the Collapse - mankind's "Science" was turned against them and as a result 5 billion people perished. So now, in 9,000 AD the humans try to rise again, not only taking the lessons from their dilapidated past, but also facing the challenges of the planet Terra and its newest inhabitants. The action begins in Taria, the northern province of Kammir, where the local system of chronology records the year as 3285. Player can generate the type of character the hero is, choosing from a thief, a magician or a soldier. Five characters can be controlled simultaneously, but others, including mercenaries, can join a party, with teams of up to 10. The characters' attributes can be divided into several categories: state, skills, degree of protection, and level of weaponry (melee weapons, magic, etc.).

Characters in the game are divided into groups, classes and professions including various monsters, underdeveloped races, the undead and outer plane creatures.

Each player will be able to use several different types of weapons and will be supplied with a quick weapon access mode. There are more than 80 types of close combat weapons and 10 kinds of projectiles. Magicians will have the ability to binding, paralyzing, blinding, annihilating and various other types of offensive and defensive spells. The quests commence and battles unfold as players develop their party with various skills, armament and magic.