Geneforge 2 - Infestation | Game Brain

About

In "Geneforge 2 - Infestation," players take on the role of a Shaper with the power to create life and command creatures. Set in a unique world of alien fantasy, the game presents a rebellion growing in a wild mountain range, offering a chance for players to choose their path: support the rebellion for power, maintain peace, or lead to war. The game offers unmatched freedom in playstyle, from combat to trickery, diplomacy, and stealth, with no 'bad guy' and various rival factions to choose from.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

98%

Audience ScoreBased on 284 reviews

story44 positive mentions

monetization3 negative mentions

The game features a rich and engaging story with well-developed characters and moral dilemmas, making it a standout in the CRPG genre.
The remake introduces new mechanics like Weapon Shaping, enhancing gameplay variety and allowing for more tactical combat options.
There is significant replay value due to multiple factions and endings, encouraging players to explore different choices and playstyles.

The inventory management system is cumbersome, requiring multiple clicks to manage items, which can detract from the overall experience.
Some gameplay mechanics, such as the inability for creations to move independently outside of combat, have been criticized as downgrades from the original.
The game can experience performance issues, such as frame rate drops during combat, particularly on devices like the Steam Deck.

story
110 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
57%
3%
The story of Geneforge 2 is highly praised for its depth, moral complexity, and engaging world-building, making it a standout in the CRPG genre. Players appreciate the intricate narrative that allows for meaningful choices and multiple endings, enhancing replayability. The remake not only retains the original's compelling plot but also expands upon it with new content and improved mechanics, solidifying its status as a beloved title among fans.
- “The story is very involved, and despite having played almost sixty hours and witnessed two story endings, I'd guess I could easily put in another thirty or forty trying to see the other endings.”
- “The storytelling and world-building is incredible as always.”
- “The story, the plot, the characters, all so well constructed and with so much depth.”
- “The only complaint I can muster would be in regards to the story.”
- “Now for a story...”
- “I liked the combat, but wasn't quite enamored enough with it to do a completionist run, so at the 32-hour point I just focused in on the main quest and finished things out for the last 5-6 hours.”
gameplay
68 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
75%
4%
The gameplay in the latest installment of the Geneforge series has seen significant improvements, particularly in stealth mechanics and quality of life features, making it more accessible to newcomers while retaining core RPG elements. Players appreciate the introduction of weapon shaping and enhanced combat mechanics, which provide a fresh and engaging experience, although some inconsistencies and a desire for more variety in gameplay elements have been noted. Overall, the game offers a rich narrative and a satisfying blend of combat, exploration, and character progression.
- “This is a massive improvement on the original game, allowing new players to get into it without taking away the core RPG mechanics that make Geneforge the game series it is.”
- “The gameplay was seamless and really a ton of fun once you get familiar with it.”
- “The remake expands on the original's plot lines, bringing the gameplay to modern day with quality of life adjustments as well as balancing with tinkered old mechanics and new ones.”
- “Wish there was more gameplay variety (e.g. more new creations or spells), but considering the size of the Spiderweb team, I guess there was no resources/time to add much.”
- “This makes Gazak-Uss by and large the most frustrating bonus level ever in any Spiderweb Software game, where the number of times I got my turn skipped (I was not debuffed in any form, nor encumbered), the game just said 'nah fam you don't get to do anything'. Now maybe there were some hidden mechanics I wasn't aware of, but it sure felt frustrating, on top of the boss enemies taking 2-3 turns to themselves, so 3-4 attacks you just have to sit back and take.”
- “Bosses and 'special' enemies have a nasty habit of taking multiple turns every round, and some enemies are able to ignore proximity mechanics whenever it strikes their fancy.”
graphics
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
83%
7%
The graphics of the game have received mixed feedback, with some players appreciating the updated visuals and stylistic choices, while others note that they still reflect an old-school aesthetic. Many commend the improvements made for modern systems, including better resolution options and a well-organized UI, though some feel that certain character models, like the drayks, still need significant upgrades. Overall, while the graphics may not be groundbreaking, they are deemed decent enough to complement the engaging gameplay.
- “The updated visuals are a real treat, the weapon shaping gives guardians and agents interesting and rewarding melee/ranged options, and the silly 'special' creations category gave me some interesting cans to hunt for in my adventure.”
- “The visuals are properly updated for modern systems, there are some new sound effects in spots, but most importantly there are some quality of life features that will make the game friendlier for players not familiar with the series.”
- “Great graphics and well organized UI.”
- “If you can push through the old style visuals and lack of music, you'll find something immensely satisfying to play.”
- “I was really concerned with the graphics on this one, particularly because some earlier preview art suggested the game was going with the latter Geneforge model of the wingless drakon.”
- “It’s even more glaring when you pair them with drayks, the creatures most desperately in need of an upgraded graphic in the series.”
replayability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers high replayability due to its four distinct factions, multiple endings, and various character classes that provide different gameplay experiences. The remastered version enhances this with an expanded map and new plot twists, while players can also pursue unique achievement runs, such as pacifist playthroughs. Overall, the combination of engaging storylines, diverse quests, and competitive factions ensures players will find plenty of reasons to revisit the game.
- “This remastered version has an expanded map, a few different plot twists from the classic, and there's multiple endings to achieve, giving it a high replay value.”
- “If you like turn-based RPGs with clean sprites, an engaging story, numerous maps and quests, competing factions vying for your attention, lots of fun combat, creating allies with your innate abilities, and lots of replayability (there are 3 character classes that play differently; if new to the genre, I'd recommend the pure shaper--think squishy but builds his mini-army to roll over opponents), check this out!”
- “It definitely has replayability as well with choosing different factions as well as achievement runs like pacifist or no creations.”
music
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
The music, particularly the intro track, is noted for its haunting and unique quality, which some players find appealing. However, others suggest turning off the in-game music entirely to enjoy their own, as the overall soundtrack is perceived as lacking and not well-integrated with the gameplay experience.
- “The intro song track has an awesome haunting quality to it and is pretty unique sounding.”
- “Just turn it off completely and listen to other music while you play.”
- “If you can push through the old style visuals and lack of music, you'll find something immensely satisfying to play.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
150%
Reviewers appreciate the indie game's monetization model, highlighting it as a refreshing alternative to AAA titles that often feature excessive microtransactions and bugs. The game is seen as providing greater enjoyment without the financial pitfalls commonly associated with larger games.
- “You'd get more fun out of this indie game than from any AAA games full of bugs and microtransactions you'd get these days.”
- “The monetization in this game feels excessive and detracts from the overall experience.”
- “It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind paywalls, making it hard to enjoy the game fully.”
- “The constant push for in-game purchases ruins the immersion and makes it feel more like a cash grab than a game.”