Broken Roads

Broken Roads is an RPG maintained in the spirit of the first two installments of the Fallout cycle. The production was created by independent Australian studio Drop Bear Bytes. Colin McComb, a video game designer, worked on it. His portfolio includes such items as Fallout, Fallout 2, Planescape Torment and Torment: Tides of Numenera.

Plot

Broken Roads takes us on a journey to a post-apocalyptic Australia, where people are forced to fight brutally for survival every day. During the game, you play as a hero who makes decisions that not only affecting the world, but also influencing the character's personality.

Mechanics

In Broken Roads, the action is shown from isometric view. During the game we visit postapocalyptic versions of real places from modern Australia. As we go through them, we perform tasks pushing the plot forward and various side missions. The character we lead may represent one of several different professions; the hero is not condemned to solitude, and over time may be joined by up to five companions.

Clashes with opponents play an important role. The skirmishes take place in turn-based mode, and our team eliminates enemies by making use of an extensive arsenal of melee weapons, firearms and grenades. We have a limited number of action points during the fight. This forces us to work on our tactics all the time; it is often worthwhile to first set up the team members in such places so that they can carry out effective fire on their own, and only then start the offensive.

The character development system is also included. We increase the combat potential of our team by gaining experience and advancing to the next levels, developing statistics and skills, and collecting ever better equipment. Besides, the main character is influenced by the Moral Compass, which is shaped by our decisions. Depending on whether we are closer to the principles of nihilism, machiavellianism, existentialism or utilitarianism, other perks are waiting to be unblocked here, and during the talks we can choose different lines of dialogue. The system also ensures that the player does not make extreme choices.

Technical aspects

Broken Roads differs from most postapocalyptic RPGs with its hand drawn graphics. However, thanks to relatively sparing colours this treatment does not spoil the impression of being in a destroyed world.