My OperaTranscendence Review
Sunday, April 9, 2006 3:00:06 PM
!!Update!!
This just in!
Die, pirate scum! Haha, Transcendence version 0.97 is out!! Loads of different, fun, fair changes, have been made. I'm still playing, and have been pleasantly surprised with it so far. Go play, at www.neurohack.com/transcendence
Better still join the forums (see the "Community" section there)
Transcendence
I love this game - its the best there is! I'ld love to get a review of this into Abandonia Reloaded (The fact that they already have one, and that I found this game there, doesn't put me off)
Introduction
Whats so special about this game, apart from its lo-o-ong name, you may ask? Well, its a stunningly well made space trading, no, space combat, nah...heck, it a heterogenous (meaning undistinguishable) mix of all these. Well call it a "roguelike", whatever that is supposed to mean...
Story? What story!?
Most reviews of Transcendence, including the one on Abandonia Reloaded, say that Transcendence has no story. This is WRONG.
It has a very sensible story, only in an unexpected form- a timeline! So here is the un-timeline-d story by me...When humans discover stargates due to advances in space exploration technology, an ancient and very advanced race called the Iocrym visits them. Turns out that...
The Iocrym had visited the Solar System more than 250 million years ago and when they detected complex, multi-cellular life on Earth, they shut down all the stargates in the region and designated the whole area as a "nature preserve".
The Ancient Races want to welcome Humanity as a new member of the Galactic Community and future visits will begin that integration process.
There is some confusion about exactly how the stargates in Human Space where activated (they were supposed to be shut down). But now that contact has been made, there is no harm.
The Iocrym leave St. Katharine's System and promise to return.
A few decades later, Humans find that the entire volume of Human Space has been quarantined and that the Iocrym are guarding all stargates leading out into the rest of the Galaxy. The only explanation that the Iocrym will give is that humans have been quarantined until further notice because of an unspecified threat.
Which is annoying, really. So...
You, a citizen of the Commonwealth (a large nation of augmented humans), travel to the Galactic Core, to break through the quarantine the Iocrym have placed on Human Space. Why you do this is unknown to all but you...
Isnt that a story enough? (The reviewers were right in a way. The only place that the story integrates with the game is that you have to go to the Galactic Core!)
Let Go Aft!
No doubt, after that intriguing story, you are itching to go, eh? Well, then let me inform you of the game play. The interface is unique, and let me tell you, though the genre is common to many games- Flatspace, Noctis, Vegastrike, to name a few- what sets apart (here is that word again) Transcendence is is gameplay style. Your objective, as said above, is to reach the Galactic Core. The (here we go again) Transcendence Universe is composed of around 20-30 star systems, all connected by stargates. As said, your job is to got to the last system, called Heretic, and obliterate the Iocrym Commandship there. The controls are simple, yet the game is very challenging. There are many weapons in the game, each in a different type- ion, impact, blast, missile, particle beam, plasma, positron, thermonuclear, laser, anti matter, dark acid..and so one. The there are shield generators, shield crystals, software upgrade ROMs, armours, armour pastes, armour patch robots, arour patches...the entire arsenal, alien, or human, at your hands!
With every system you pass, you will encounter tougher enemies, costlier and stronger stuff, and more unearthly soveriegns. To gain money you can kill unfriendly (or friendly!) ships and loot and sell the items u find in their wrecks, do escort missions, protect stations, buy stuff from places and sell to more paying customers, deliver numerous goods, even illegal stuff (goods or bads? )...possibilities are endless!! Every silver lining has its cloud!
This game is easily the best freeware, or I daresay the best game around. If I go overboard criticizing, the only four things I miss in it are-
1. Multiplayer-An optional connectivity module which allows for (i)PvP battles (practice and prize play) (ii)Trading of items
2. More music. The game currently has a "Transcendence March" game theme. Its good, but leaves more to be desired. Something you can play while fighting, plus a special track for the final system.
3. Extension of the game (item, mission, and system-wise) If you finish the game once, its over, you more or less lose interest. True, its tough. But what if we extend he number of systems from 20-30 to around 40? The preset number of systems are up to it-they're quite a lot!
4. Why not put in a very minor adjustment, and give a name to your ship? For example, Wolfen Gunship (which is a name of the model of a starting ship in the game) "Azure". Wont that be lovely?
Thats only my point of view. You can check out the forums and see what other pilots, er players have to say! George Moromisato, the God of the Transcendence Universe (actually the developer...
) is known to "listen to their (players') suggestions/comments/random mutterings" Overall, this game is the best I've seen so far! I love it!! Teleports
By that I mean links...
The Official site - http://www.neurohack.com/transcendence.html
*NEW*The Official Forums- http://www.neurohack.com/transcendence/forums.html
The Unofficial Forums - http://s8.invisionfree.com/Transcendence_Forum/index.php
"Transcendi" Blog - http://transcend.roxr.com/index.php
Modifications Site - http://transcendencemods.er1.be/
*UNDER DEVELOPEMENT* The Library Link - http://thelibrarylink.schtuff.com/
*UNDER DEVELOPEMENT* Unoffical Transcendence Documents - <I'll find and give this ASAP>
Screenies
Pic 1- A loading screen. Ugh. I hate these. But never mind, huh?
Pic 2- That small ship between the stations is an E1500 Freighter. The station with "arms" (which are landing pads, actually) is a Commonwealth Dry Dock. The big white thing above it is Starton Eridani (later known only as a Commonwealth Station) The station below my craft is a Commonwealth Residential. The last one is a Corporate Enclave, where they will buy luxury items for extra money!
NOTE-I've decided to regularize my blog posts. Next post on April 16 2006. The subject of the review is a very handy software known as RegCleaner! Till then, I better relax...
Anonymous # Saturday, January 27, 2007 12:26:56 AM
Anonymous # Tuesday, January 30, 2007 1:58:07 PM
Anonymous # Wednesday, January 31, 2007 3:02:40 AM
Pain Diviner # Monday, March 19, 2007 4:44:07 PM
I would like more info on when we'll see a version above 0.97a.
Anonymous # Monday, June 15, 2009 12:54:53 AM