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In Albion it is the year 2227, and you take the role of Tom Driscoll, space
pilot for the powerful DDT Corporation. DDT has sent a factory ship called the
Toronto to harvest minerals and resources from Albion, a newly discovered desert world
barren of life but rich in resources. Tom is sent to take some atmospheric readings
on the planet, but crash lands after an apparently accidental systems failure of his
shuttle. Upon reviving from the accident he is shocked to discover Albion is in fact
a rich, life-filled world inhabited by many alien life-forms. It then becomes his task
to explore the strange new world and locate the Toronto. His quest becomes even more
urgent when it becomes apparent that the AI guiding Toronto is determined to destroy
this life-filled world in the name of big business. There are actually two modes in
the RPG, 2D and 3D. The 2D mode takes place in the overworld and inside buildings,
and is a top-down perspective similar to Ultima 7. Navigation is through the mouse
which you can use to move around, and click on things to interact with them. There's
also a 3D mode for the villages and dungeons. Combat is turned-based and planned on
a 2D 6x6 square grid, and the actual animation occurs in 3D. Albion is a severely
underrated RPG from the makers of two Thalion hits Amberstar and Ambermoon, which
became instant hits on the Amiga but unknown on the PC. The game shines with a richly
detailed story, a huge and well-realized gameworld, a novel use of both 2D and 3D
views, and some unique puzzles that are a far cry from the normal
find-a-button-to-open-door puzzles found in most RPGs. It is truly an epic adventure
that spans vast areas and cities, all of which are teeming with colorful characters
who always seem to have something to say. |
