Halfway PC

Halfway is a turn-based science-fiction game with RPG elements. It is the first commercial production of an independent German studio – Robotality

Plot

The action of the game is set in the future. Homan race has launched an aggressive colonization program to explore alien planets and systems; so far, humans have not encountered any extraterrestrial race. A player assumes the role of a seasoned soldier, who is a part of a crew aboard a massive space ship called the Goliath. After waking up from the cryogenic stasis, he discovers something terrible happened on the ship, something that resulted in the death of almost every crewmember. As it quickly turns out, aliens have boarded the human vessel. A player is tasked with retaking control over Goliath and eliminating the aggressors.

Luckily, one does not have to carry out the mission alone. While exploring the ship, players are bound to encounter other survivors, who join the main protagonist’s squad. Each character has his or her own story, personality, and skills. The developers put a strong emphasis on the plot – during the story campaign one discovers what has really happened to the ship and its crew, and how is it going to affect the entire human race.

Mechanics

Halfway’s gameplay mechanics mainly build on fighting turn-based battles. A key to success is to locate the best positions on the map, take cover behind elements of the environment, and skillfully utilize the characters’ abilities. During these battles, characters gather experience points that can be spent on upgrading their stats. In between missions, a player gets to return to their base where they can for example modify armors or replenish ammunition.

Technical aspects

Players can experience all of this from a top-down perspective, and appreciate the retro style of the game, which combines characters created from large pixels and locations featuring modern visual effects.

Last updated on 21 July 2014