In the harsh, unforgiving landscape of a post-apocalyptic Australian Outback, Broken Roads crafted by Drop Bear Bytes emerges as a story-rich, party-based RPG that promises an immersive 25+ hour journey through desolation, moral ambiguities, and impactful choices.
A World Worth Exploring
One of the game’s most striking features is its world-building. The Australian Outback, reimagined into a decaying realm of survival, is both intricate and mesmerizing. The environment is rendered with a keen eye for detail, making every trek across the wilds an aesthetically pleasing experience. Exploring Broken Roads can often feel like stepping into a beautifully tragic painting; each location tells a story of what was, juxtaposed against the stark reality of what is.
Engaging but Rudimentary Combat
The combat system in Broken Roads, while efficient and solid, doesn’t break new ground. It is straightforward, offering the traditional turn-based tactical engagements that genre enthusiasts are accustomed to. Although it might be categorized as basic, it achieves its purpose without overshadowing other elements of the game, allowing players to engage deeply with the narrative and world around them.
A Story and Quest System with Room for Improvement
Narrative is a key component in Broken Roads. The main storyline and quests have been finely crafted, yet players might occasionally find themselves questioning the relevance of certain tasks. Although the narrative foundation is strong and engaging, there are moments that seem to lack coherence, making players ask “Why am I doing this?” as they progress. Since its release, the quest system has seen improvements, but it still occasionally struggles to clearly direct players on where to go or what to do next.
A Defining Morality System
What truly sets Broken Roads apart is its genre-redefining morality system, designed to mirror the complexities of real-life decisions. As you make choices throughout the game, your actions will shape your character’s moral compass, influencing not just your relationships, but the world around you. The morality system moves beyond binary good versus evil, offering a nuanced approach that shows how and why characters might make certain choices, adding significantly to replayability and deeper role-playing immersion.
Conclusion
Broken Roads captures the essence of post-apocalyptic survival with a beautifully constructed world, a morality system that genuinely affects gameplay, and a solid, if basic, combat system. While the main story and quest system have their stumbling blocks, they do not detract significantly from what is, overall, a compelling RPG experience.
Outback Brilliance:
- Immersive World: Stunningly detailed and atmospheric post-apocalyptic Australian Outback.
- Engaging Morality System: Allows for deep, meaningful choices that affect narrative and relationships.
Roadblocks:
- Disjointed Story Moments: Instances where the main story leaves players questioning their motives.
- Quest System Confusion: Occasional lack of direction in quests, though improving with updates.
Broken Roads: Broken Roads invites players to lose themselves in a hauntingly beautiful world, make tough choices, and navigate the moral complexities that come with surviving the end of the world. It's a journey worth taking, flaws and all. – Obsidian
