Fate of the World
- February 28, 2011
- Red Redemption
- 2h median play time
Its a worthy and handsome effort, but frustratingly badly explained, making it hard to play.
Get on Steam"Fate of the World" is a turn-based strategy game that simulates the global consequences of climate change. As the leader of a worldwide environmental organization, players must make decisions that balance the needs of the environment with the demands of global economies. With a focus on scientific accuracy and real-world data, the game presents a thought-provoking and challenging experience for those interested in environmental issues.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Fate of the World is a unique and challenging game that effectively simulates the complexities of climate change and global politics.
- The game offers a rewarding experience as players learn to navigate its intricate systems and develop strategies to save the world.
- With the unofficial patch, the game becomes much more enjoyable and provides a deeper understanding of the interdependencies between various global issues.
- The game suffers from a steep learning curve, poor tutorials, and a confusing user interface that can make it frustrating for new players.
- Many players find the game to be overly difficult, with some scenarios feeling nearly impossible to win without extensive trial and error.
- The mechanics can feel opaque, with insufficient explanations of how actions impact the game, leading to a sense of randomness in outcomes.
- story64 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 77 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story revolves around the challenging task of managing global crises such as climate change, poverty, and economic instability, requiring players to navigate complex missions with limited resources. While the narrative is engaging and thought-provoking, it is also noted for its difficulty, with many players struggling to complete missions without resorting to cheats. Overall, the story is praised for its depth and relevance, though it may not appeal to everyone due to its serious themes and challenging gameplay.
“The best thing about this game is the story.”
“This game is hard, but so is your mission in it - and for once having to save the world isn't the tired trope it is in video games, but a harsh, cold reality that you somehow must manage with all the limited resources at your disposal.”
“It is hard/impossible to complete the missions if you don't know what you're doing, and even if you do know.”
“Fate of the world tells a story of what will probably happen if or when global warming gets out of hand and they let you be in charge.”
“Although I think the moral of the story is, mankind is screwed.”
- gameplay60 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game features a turn-based card mechanic that offers strategic depth and complexity, but is hindered by a steep learning curve and poorly explained mechanics. While some players appreciate the challenge and emotional engagement, others find the gameplay abstract and lacking in fun, with criticisms aimed at its interface and the absence of a sandbox mode. Overall, the game presents an interesting concept that may appeal to strategists and those interested in environmental themes, but it requires patience and a willingness to learn.
“The mechanics are simple, yet the game provides so many emotions!”
“This game has incredible strategic depth compared to the conceptually simple card-based gameplay.”
“Whether you care about the environment or just like a good turn-based strategy game, Fate of the World provides interesting gameplay mechanics overlayed with an intricate global environment which makes it unique, challenging, interesting, and educational.”
“Interesting concept, marred by oversimplification, promoting a political agenda instead of offering any freedom in gameplay, and having surprisingly poor performance.”
“This game, and the gameplay, were not well thought out, the learning curve is too steep, and the interface is pretty poor.”
“The 'black box' mechanic combined with the lack of a tutorial can be frustrating.”
- replayability12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate its challenging nature and find it worth revisiting, others feel that once the missions are understood, the incentive to replay diminishes significantly. A few reviewers highlight its innovative approach, suggesting it has potential for educational value, but overall, many express disappointment in its limited replay value.
“Definitely worth a shot for any fans of government sims, and its punishing difficulty will ensure some good replay value.”
“Good replayability.”
“Innovative and replayable, a trailblazer for real education games.”
“Your only resources are time and actions, and already I see how there isn't going to be much replay value once you figure out the missions.”
“I had high hopes for this game as the concept was interesting and the topic an important one, but the card layout and the way it's played just wasn't able to keep my interest and doesn't have any replay value to me.”
“I was disappointed in the game and its little replay value.”
- graphics10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The graphics received mixed reviews, with some users noting that elements can be too small and unclear, making navigation difficult. However, others appreciated the overall design, describing it as visually appealing and well-optimized for laptops, with no significant technical issues.
“Positives: cheap, nice graphics, easy on laptop, seems bug-free and well designed.”
“Technically and graphically it's all right, works fine for me.”
“Good graphics.”
“Concerning graphics: some things are too small and often you don't know where to click, since it's unclear which is a button and which is just decoration.”
“5: graphics & sound (1/5)”
“5: graphics & sound (1/5)”
- music6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The music in the game is described as pretty good and effectively enhances the mood and suspense, contributing to a serious atmosphere that reflects the grim themes of civilization's collapse. The combination of awe-inspiring music and regional news updates creates a lasting impact on players, emphasizing the weight of the game's subject matter.
“Serious challenge, pretty good music, and a grim reminder of the inevitable collapse of civilization no matter how desperate mankind's attempts to salvage this doomed world.”
“The seriousness of the topic, the music, and the presentation have left a mark on me.”
“Mood and suspense are big things here, maintained by some awe-inspiring music and local news from around the world, listed by region.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by dark and satirical elements, often juxtaposing absurd scenarios with serious themes, such as bioweapons and misinformation. Players appreciate the cleverness of the humor, particularly in the naming of characters and concepts, like the super-AI 'Thanatos', which adds a layer of irony to the narrative. Overall, the humor is polarizing, appealing to those who enjoy edgy satire while potentially alienating others.
- optimization4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is criticized for its poor performance and oversimplification, which detracts from the overall experience. Reviewers believe that with additional polish and balancing, the game could have reached its potential as a standout title.
“With more polish, balancing, and some work on optimization, this could have been a true gem.”
“Interesting concept, marred by oversimplification, promoting a political agenda instead of offering any freedom in gameplay, and having surprisingly poor performance.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game emotionally impactful, praising its ability to evoke strong feelings, particularly through its poignant introduction. The developers are commended for creating an experience that fosters a deep connection to the environment, making it a worthwhile choice for those who appreciate emotionally charged narratives.
“Thumbs up to the developers for making a game that makes you care about the environment, and which can make you shed a tear with the intro alone.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in "Fate of the World" is portrayed as a critical element in understanding man-made climate change, emphasizing the scientific principles behind the greenhouse effect and its implications for the ecosystem, economy, and daily life. The game effectively educates players on the interconnectedness of atmospheric conditions and global systems, creating a thought-provoking and immersive experience.
“Fate of the World is an independent and educational look at man-made climate change and how the ecosystem and atmosphere affect economic and political systems, including day-to-day life for most of the world.”
“It's based on a scientific model that clearly explains how carbon dioxide in our earth's atmosphere creates the greenhouse effect, capturing heat radiating off the surface of the planet and retaining it, warming the earth rather than losing the heat to outer space.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and overly complex, comparing it to a micromanagement gambling simulator that detracts from the overall experience.
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game presents a strong core concept, but its stability is undermined by numerous bugs and unclear systems, which detract significantly from the overall enjoyment, even for players familiar with the specific strategies required to succeed.
“The idea is very good at its core, but the game systems are sufficiently buggy and opaque that it takes a lot of the fun out of the game, even if you know the (extremely specific!) strategy necessary to beat it.”
