Game News Geneforge 1 - Mutagen Released

[Infinitron]

Tags: Geneforge 1 - Mutagen; Spiderweb Software

Geneforge 1 - Mutagen, the first remake in the new series of remakes from renowned remaker Jeff Vogel, was released yesterday. Judging by reactions to the demo earlier this month, it might be Jeff's best new release in a while, although of course it helps that the source material is very strong. He didn't write any blog posts to promote the game this time, so all we have is this press release:

February 24th, 2021 – Spiderweb Software Inc., makers of fine indie adventures for over 25 years, announces the launch of our new, unique fantasy role-playing epic! Geneforge 1 – Mutagen, a truly unique and innovative fantasy sci-fi hybrid, is out now for $19.99 on Steam, Epic, GOG, and other storefronts for Windows and Macintosh. An iPad version is also in development for release later in 2021.

Geneforge 1 – Mutagen is one of the most open-ended role-playing games available. Choose between a host of rival factions. Use magic or your deadly pets to crush your enemies. Or, use trickery, diplomacy, and stealth to win the game without ever attacking a foe. Destroy the final boss, or switch sides and join him. Fight alone or create your own army of custom-made mutant monsters.

In Geneforge 1 – Mutagen, enter the world of the Shapers. The Shapers are wizards with the awesome power to create life. Need a servant, or a pet, or a tool, or a mighty beast to fight and die for you? The Shapers create it, and it totally obeys you. Usually.

At least, that's how it's supposed to be. You have been stranded on a forbidden island, full of powerful, lost secrets of your people. Invaders are also here, trying to steal and master your knowledge. Race them for the awesome treasures hidden here. And destroy the thieves. Or join them.

Geneforge 1 – Mutagen is a total remaster of the 20-year old indie classic Geneforge. With the help of a successful Kickstarter, this new game is a completely remade and greatly expanded recreation of the original. A large demo is available on Spiderweb Software's website.​

As stated, the Geneforge remake is available now on Steam and GOG for $20, with a 15% launch discount until next week. The launch discount makes it a bit cheaper than Spiderweb's previous releases, so that's nice.

 

[Verylittlefishes]

 

[Haba]

F U C K
V O G E L ​

 

[Feyd Rautha]

What are the major differences between this and the original?

 

[samuraigaiden]

"remake"

 

[Tacgnol]

What are the major differences between this and the original?

Main Stuff:

New content spread evenly about, including a new settlement.
Changes to creation system. You give them abilities rather than directly changing their stats.
Stealth skill replaces luck.
Some new creations.

 

[Fowyr]

Stealth skill replaces luck.

I wonder about luck's special encounters. I think it was checked 3-5 times in the game. Mostly in these ghost infested plains, I think.

 

[Tacgnol]

Stealth skill replaces luck.

I wonder about luck's special encounters. I think it was checked 3-5 times in the game. Mostly in these ghost infested plains, I think.

It was actually quite a good stat to put points into in the first game, as it gave you a fuck ton of resistances and had a low cost.

 

[Elwro]

Seems less green. Is there any new content? The original was awesome (if a bit too green)

 

[Jared]

I enjoyed the Geneforge series, though I am a bit disappointed to see that there is, currently, no native Linux port available for the game given that his latest releases included such.

 

[EtcEtcEtc]

Geneforge is great - if I ever get a hankering to play the original again I'd probably pick this up.

I wish he would hire an artist with his kickstarter money though. I get that he's never going to challenge the big boys, but he could get someone in to come up with some kind aesthetic other then pea green shit.

 

[Tacgnol]

Is there any new content?

I've not got very far yet (Hobo Elf seems to have got further), but I've noticed bits and pieces of new content scattered around.

Hobo mentioned a new town/settlement as well.

 

[Major_Blackhart]

So is this worth getting? I never actually played any of Vogels stuff, sad to say.

 

[jac8awol]

At least the blogs last time generated a few talking points that may have translated into interest, into sales? This one just slid out silently like an aerodynamic stool.

 

[Elwro]

So is this worth getting? I never actually played any of Vogels stuff, sad to say.

The original Geneforge 1 was awesome. Nonlinear with tons of hidden content you might miss if you don't explore properly. Interesting choices to make.

I'm kinda wary about this one after the Princess Maker 1997 or whatever the last one was called. That could've been an OK game, but somehow Vogel managed to fuck up the graphics engine so that it became more cumbersome. And introduced Girlie Kingdom Sim elements which felt out of place.

 

[Tacgnol]

So is this worth getting? I never actually played any of Vogels stuff, sad to say.

The original Geneforge 1 was awesome. Nonlinear with tons of hidden content you might miss if you don't explore properly. Interesting choices to make.

I'm kinda wary about this one after the Princess Maker 1997 or whatever the last one was called. That could've been an OK game, but somehow Vogel managed to fuck up the graphics engine so that it became more cumbersome. And introduced Girlie Kingdom Sim elements which felt out of place.

He hasn't dumbed anything down significantly with this one from what I can tell so far. It's probably a pretty safe starting point for the series.

 

[Keyboard Vomit]

Is this patch free for current owners of the game?

 

[EtcEtcEtc]

So is this worth getting? I never actually played any of Vogels stuff, sad to say.

Yeah - Geneforge is the best Vogel series -

 

[KeighnMcDeath]

Seems less green. Is there any new content? The original was awesome (if a bit too green)

GREEN!!!

 

[Hobo Elf]

Is there any new content?

I've not got very far yet (Hobo Elf seems to have got further), but I've noticed bits and pieces of new content scattered around.

Hobo mentioned a new town/settlement as well.

This. There's a new town with a 4th minor faction of serviles. There was a vendor selling some decent but pricey equipment. There was another area within the town that was locked away from me since I was low level at the time, but I've now cleared the next area as well and gotten the ability to shape the new Mutagen creature, the cockatrice. I'm not proficient with Magic shaping so I have no idea how it performs, but I did take a look at its skill + passive list and it seems to be fairly cool and so I think for my next run I'll go the magic route again just to try this cock. Other stuff I got were two sets of gloves that can be enhanced at various pools you find around the world, but you can only upgrade one of them per pool so you need to choose which one you wanna soup up. I also got another quest to go somewhere else and talk to more people who are also exclusive to Mutagen but I've not gotten that far yet.

Otherwise there are some other changes here and there: mostly remixed item placements, additional shaper loot that didn't exist in the original game, canisters locations have been changed and I think there's a few new ones added as well. There's a junk bag that has infinite space and only your equipped items count toward your character's encumbrance, so Shaper characters won't be totally worthless during combat.

I think if you like Geneforge 1 and want to replay it, then Mutagen is the superior version here. There's a significant amount of new content and the new shaping mechanics are exciting. If you've never played a Vogel game then this is a great place to start as well. Geneforge is his best series imo, with Geneforge 1 & 2 being the best entries. This remake is the same game as the first one but better in the ways that I think matters.

 

[Elwro]

Thank you very much Hobo Elf . Gonna grab this, then. Geneforge 1 was his best 'medium-old' game imho.

 

[Zanzoken]

Original

Spoiler

"Remake"

Spoiler

Props to Vogel I guess because anyone else would be castigated for putting forth so little effort.

 

[V_K]

If you've never played a Vogel game then this is a great place to start as well. Geneforge is his best series imo, with Geneforge 1 & 2 being the best entries. This remake is the same game as the first one but better in the ways that I think matters.

I mean, that kinda actually makes it a pretty bad place to start with Vogel games because anything else after that would feel like a downgrade.

 

[Old One]

Are there skill trees? The Avadon series was greatly harmed by skill trees.

 

[Iluvcheezcake]

Damn, talk about low effort.

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Understandable ofc, since he is oh so tired. And old.