An Unapologetic Classic: Geneforge 2 – Infestation is as Bold and Great as Baldur’s Gate

In a genre currently experiencing a massive resurgence thanks to blockbuster titles like Baldur’s Gate 3, it takes a truly special game to stand out. Geneforge 2 – Infestation, the recent remaster of Spiderweb Software’s 2003 cult classic, does just that. Released on March 27, 2024, the game boldly rejects modern production values in favor of a sprawling, reactive, and deeply complex role-playing experience. It’s a game that feels less like a modern release and more like a perfectly preserved relic of the golden age of CRPGs, offering a level of player agency and a truly original fantasy setting that puts it on par with the greats.

The game’s premise is as unique as its gameplay. You are a Shaper, a member of an elite wizarding order with the awesome power to create life. Your tools are not swords and spells, but living, breathing creatures you summon to do your bidding. This central mechanic, the ability to create and customize an army of mutant monsters, is a brilliant and fiendishly clever way of tying the game’s core themes of servitude and power into the very fabric of its mechanics. As you progress, you can summon a variety of creations, from nimble, fire-spitting Fyoras to hulking, pugilist-like Thahds. You can upgrade them with new abilities, but the more powerful they become, the less control you have over them. This constant tension between power and obedience is the heart of the experience.

A Story of Choices: Unmatched Freedom and Narrative Depth

While the game’s visuals are decidedly retro—flat character sprites on tiled backgrounds—the narrative and writing are anything but. The world of Geneforge is one of the few truly original settings in the canon of western RPGs, a place where magic and biology mix to create a landscape full of twisted creations and sinister conspiracies. The game’s story is an open-ended affair that allows for an unmatched level of player choice. You are sent to a distant, savage mountain range where a rebellion is brewing, and it’s up to you to decide which of the rival factions to aid. You can choose to fight your way through every encounter, or you can use diplomacy, stealth, and trickery to win the game without ever raising a hand. The game’s “dawning understanding” narrative, where your perspective on the world and its people is slowly shifted by new information and new choices, is a masterpiece of storytelling. It’s a game where you can return to the starting town after dozens of hours with a completely different view of its purpose.

The game’s vast world is explored in discreet chunks connected by an overworld map, a style reminiscent of the classic Infinity Engine games like Baldur’s Gate and Planescape: Torment. This design, while old-fashioned, allows the developers to create a sprawling and reactive world without the need for a massive budget. The game’s combat, while simple at first, reveals more and more nuance over time as you learn to exploit enemy weaknesses and build a roster of creatures with complementary abilities. The game’s commitment to player agency is evident in every detail; it’s a game that doesn’t hold your hand and is not afraid to let you wander into an area you’re not ready for. The satisfaction of finally overcoming a challenge that once seemed impossible is a core part of the game’s immense appeal.

An Enduring Legacy and a Glimpse of the Future

For a game that embraces its retro roots, Geneforge 2 – Infestation has received an overwhelmingly positive reception from both critics and players. Its unflinching focus on a deep, complex, and rewarding role-playing experience is a welcome antidote to the modern trend of streamlined and simplified RPGs. While it may lack the voice acting and cinematic flair of its more expensive peers, it more than makes up for it with a level of reactivity and world-building that is second to none. The game’s incredible replayability, with dozens of different endings and paths to victory, ensures that you will be coming back to the world of the Shapers for a very long time.

The success of Baldur’s Gate 3 has triggered a renaissance for the western RPG, but even in this new age, the output of Spiderweb Software remains unignorable. Geneforge 2 – Infestation is a powerful reminder that a great RPG is not defined by its graphics or its budget, but by its ability to create a compelling world and give the player the freedom to change it. It’s a game that is as bold and great as the very best of its genre, and it deserves to be played and celebrated.