Geneforge 4: Rebellion

good game

this game has no dang music and the ui is terrible

Classic old school RPG. Still holds up well if you are looking for nostalgic fun, or an immersive (largely text-based) adventure. The world-building is what really keeps me playing as the lore is well developed and engaging.

Geneforge 4 is a top down RPG that has a very rich story. The fourth installment in the Geneforge series continues the story from Geneforge 3 with several of the characters reappearing and even those from older games being present or at least mentioned. If you've enjoyed any of the previous Geneforge games, chances are you'll also enjoy this one. However, this is a standalone game that you can play through without having played the previous games or having any knowledge of those previous games. If you have played them you'll have a greater understanding of the general world history and character backgrounds.

While Geneforge 4 plays pretty much the same as previous games there are a few minor differences. This chapter focuses on the rebellion against the shapers. In every other game you play as a Shaper (Guardian (fighter), Agent (Diplomat/Rogue), or Shaper (Mage)), but in this game you're starting on the Rebel side and you're given the choice of 5 different classes (Guardian (still a fighter) Lifecrafter (rebel version of a shaper/mage), Servile (totally new playable melee type), Shock Trooper (another new type of melee character), and Infiltrator (rebel version of an agent/diplomat/rogue). There are some different ways that NPCs will react to the different character types, especially the servile. I appreciate that two out of the 5 types were visibly female. I generally play a Shaper Agent because it's the only one that looks female but this game offered me a little more variety.

The maps in Geneforge 4 have returned to being more like Geneforge 1 and 2. G3 had that individual Island speeration that I didn't enjoy but this game is split to two areas on one land mass. It's still divided between the northern half and the southern half though so you have two points where you can pass from north to south but each time you have to walk through the entire map scene as opposed to quick jump through cleared areas like you can do with any other green cleared area on the maps. Thankfully it's not as much of a time sink as the docks/boats were in Geneforge 3.

My two favorite things about the Geneforge games has always been the story and the exploration. I absolutely love revealing areas of a map, discovering and exploring every map space and every room. Geneforge 4 is enjoyable t expore but there is less freedom in exploring than other games in the series because so many points are locked until you finish specific quests. I miss the freedom of exploring where I want, when I want, with the only limitations being my skill and ability to get through each maps obstacles. It also feels much smaller than the previous game. Those two main maps have 58 locations (if I counted right) compared to G1's 77, G2's 84, and G3's 91 that makes it the smallest world to explore so far... at least that's how it seems. It does have a few underground chambers/tunnels and second floors that are explorable, and tchinically it probably brings it up maybe to 68 locations (I didn't count all of those since they aren't visible on the maps). However, the time spent playing was also considerably shorter. A single playthrough was only about 40 hours. G1 took me 60 hrs, G2 was over 200 hrs of gameplay, G3 was 56. So, this came in as the least amount of playtime out of all 4 so far.

The other part I love, the story, is far less disappointing. Geneforge always tells a good story if you actually read all the dialogues. You get to read through all the different views, learn backstories,and if you've gotten enough in the right skills you can even convince people to help you in different ways. The story feels satisfying to learn as it unfolds bit by bit, chat by chat, book by book. You slowly get to form opinions about each faction and decide which aligns with your own morals (or the morals of the character you play). I love riding the fine line between factions as long as I can. G3 made it almost impossible and really forced you topick sides quite early. G4 allows a little more freedom to do that but it doesn't make it easy. Staying neutral is more difficult compared to G1 and G2 but does allow you to play double agent a little better than previous games. Unfortunately, what you discover is that none of the factions are actually good. It makes it hard to pick the lesser evil.

Geneforge has excellent story, but it's graphics are less impressive. The game's graphics haven't really improved since the first game, but I will say they are effective. There are some updates to it including new character models, and a few new inventory items. The most confusing was the choice to change the 'living tool' look yet keep the old model as a 'spore baton' If you have played other games sometimes it's confusing.

Overall if you like turn-based combat RPGs with good storylines, you'll probably enjoy this game.

I've beaten every Geneforge except this one. It just bores me to death and I don't know why.
Still recommend it to support small indie devs!

Geneforge Four adds a large amount of QOL features to the series and is one of the most important parts in it. Absolutely love it.

This game uses a newer game engine than the previous three, and the improvements really make a great difference despite how minor some of them are. In this fourth game in the Geneforge series, things are reaching their climax. Once again, the writer does a great job of presenting varied perspectives on the nature of biological research.

Good game, very replayable and good story.

Geneforge 4
To be honest at first I didn't quite like this one. The game forces you to be a rebel and that somewhat took me out of the experience. Yes, the new classes are fine (except the servile which I doubt any self-respecting person will roleplay as), even those lifecrafters are basically shapers. New creations were good too, not as original as the ones from G2, but nicely designed and efficient (as all real Shaper work). But, as plot went on I enjoyed it a lot more. Being a double agent is an interesting experience, even though it wasn't always handled well (in my humble opinion) and the returning characters (namely Alwan and Greta) are nice to see.
The overall gameplay had a few minor improvements again and while the story is not that original (Shapers vs Rebellion again, albeit on a bigger scale) this game was well-worth those 33.9 hours it took me on the first walkthrough (the shortest so far, even though I, once again, skipped some side quests and probably missed few hidden places). Also, it has some replayability, a bit less then G3 though.

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.

I copied and pasted from my own review I'm lazy...
This game is a turn based game Fantasy RPG just like the first and second. 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.

In this game you have 5 classes to choose from. You start in a particular faction in this game and these are the classes available. The usual 3 from previous games aren't present here but there are similar ones available.
These classes mainly mean there are new ways to play and more play throughs available.

Other games in the series you can make it nearly to the end before you have to commit to a side.

Since you start off in a particular faction this time your options become limited much sooner. Like before you can be called to switch sides before the end but it affects the actual ending.

Also shortcuts have a much bigger effect. They affect more than just your skills here. I'm being vague on purpose. no spoilers.

This game feels larger than the previous ones. It also has the less references to the second game. This one is riding more on the first and third in terms of lore.

I have less time in this game than the others roughly 50hrs or so. There is still more for me to do. I can't seem to beat the game as a certain faction and character class. Less than an hour in Steam but as I've said before buying again in steam is more of a show of support than actual gameplay.

Anyway point is I enjoyed myself and I would recommend this game.

Truly an obscure gem. One of my favorite games of all time.

As with all of Vogel's games from Spiderweb, top notch. I love the Geneforge series and so will anybody who craves high fantasy experience with dark twists to scratch that nostalgia itch.

I'd recommend it; I played as a rebel servile with minimal shaping. The game hopes you create a large army of creations to help with the action economy but a solid application of blessing magic and a guardian claymore still make beating the game possible without too much trouble.

Like fallout 1 and 2 but no guns and with better gameplay and story. Shaping your own creaatures to fight with you in battle is a coll gamplay feaure thats not in other games.

Amazing game, just make sure you tell the rebels to go to hell the minute you get the chance.

loved this game i found the entire series fun and a time killer and it also has moral choices and so much more! i cant say how much fun this game is.

I have never written a review on here, but considering this is one of the best games and one of the most underated games ive ever played, ive decided to try my hand at it. Starting off, i know it may say i only have a couple hours on record with the game, but id like to stamp that out now. I played this game years back off an old game engine before steam was a thing, buying it again now is more comfort and support for me, like buying an old book that you read years ago. I have well over 200 hours in the game, and about a thousand in the series. So let me dive in, and let you know what this game is about.

Geneforge is more than a game, its a book, an experiance, a choice, and a beautiful combat system all in one. It cries out to the imaginiative, the 3 am readers, the DnD players, the indie game searchers. What it lacks in graphics, it makes up 10 fold in story. The game puts you in the middle of an entire world and has you influence the outcome of it. In the first game, you find yourself in this estranged world, where the game gives you a brief history of it, then immediately tears that away. It isolates you, shows you that you must survive, and asks you what to do to survive. But that is only the first part. once you gather your bearings, you have to forge a path. At first the paths seem clear, good or evil, but the more you progress the more you realize there is no good. there is no evil. This game makes you question everything, with the only clear progression being that of power. You single handedly experiance the start of a world rebellion, and reitre as a god or a soldier by the end. The same picks up in each consquensial title later on, each putting you, a young shaper, smack dab in the middle of the biggest points in history of this new world. The hours, weeks, months of text painstakingly put into this game alone makes it a solid game, but the combat is fantastic too. You play a tactics style turn based micromanaging comabt system, sort of like fallout: tactics or final fantasy: tactics. But instead of pre determined abilities, like everything else you determine your path. Conjure up an army to fight for you, use magic and objects to trick your opponets and take them out one by one, or don a helmet and sword and slash your way through hoards, the choice is yous. My by far favorite part of it however, has to be the fact that nothing is safe in this game from you. It emphasizes that your choices can change the entire reality. No npc cannot be killed, although it may be hard. The world will form to what you want it to, if you are brave enough to undergo the task. Dont take this as you cannot lose, for the wrong desicion will put you in a spot where you cannot escape. But understand that you are free to make that deicion, you are free to make any desicion. This is the closest i have ever come to DnD Freeplay.

Pro's: Excellent story line, worth of a novel of the highest value.
Freerealm as hell, you are free to make any desicion you want, nothing stops you, you shape the future and history alike.
LOTS and LOTS of content, as said earlieri have over 1000 hours in the series as a whole. thats a lot for a single player non grind game.
Decent combat tactics system, many ways to play out combat.
Can easily engulf you in for weeks.
Lots and Lots of Text
Con's: The graphics are subpar at best, must be able to use your imagination
Game doesnt hold your hand at all, in fact quiet the opposite. This may be a con or pro.
Again, a LOT of text. again, could be a con or pro depending on your preferance.

Overall i would rate this game a 9/10, Despite the horrid graphics. i honestly believe that if ther were better graphics, there wouldnt be enough reasources to make everything else so amazing. Heres to you, Spiderweb Software.

previous Geneforge 3 review

Geneforge 4

Graphics: Almost the same as previous games.
Control: Nice and clear tutorial, fixed key binding.
Replayability: Almost none to me


And now we are playing for the Rebels! See the other team perspective cliche. No. Just no. I NEVER wanted to be a Rebel. So this game pointed a sword at me and tried its best to made a turncoat out of me. It failed. I ended becoming a turncoat Rebel. A sworn enemy of the Rebellion.
I feel this game is linear, that is not necessarily wrong. We are back at the continent but the free roaming options are painfully limited and to gain access to other areas you have to check plot points. In order. What I love in Geneforge 1&2 is the freedom to go almost everywhere when you feel like getting there. Climbing the mountains to chat with Trajkov, crossing the desert to chat with Barzahl and random Drakons, looting everything not nailed down. Those were the days.

Things I learned:
-Rebels are mad, really, really mad.
-The Rebellion must be crushed asap.

continued in Geneforge 5 review

An old isometric RPG involving a society built around a special type of magic known as "shaping", which allows the practitioner to create and alter living beings.

You will want this game.

I loved the politics behind everything. I slowly made my way through the rebellion only to figure out that the rebellion wasn't all it was cracked up to be. I'm sure if I played as the shappers, I would have felt the exact same way.

When you get about 3/4ths done with the game, you start feeling a serious amount of dread because you know there are no good guys in this plot. I loved it.

If you're looing for the most recent titty glisten renderers, then this is most certainly not the game for you. If you're looking for a compelling story well told with a gameworld so deep you need to bring a canary and spelunking equipment however, Geneforge 4 is for you.

The first Geneforge game I played, and still by far my most favourite. This is an excellent game, and one of the best top down, turn based RPGs I have ever played. If you like games like the original Fallout games, or Baldurs Gate, then you have to play this.

I have recently reviewed the entire Geneforge original series in far more depth here, if you wish to read more: https://gameknightly.com/reviews/review-geneforge-original-series/