Two years after the release of the original B.A.T. game, B.A.T. 2: The Koshan Conspiracy was born and released for play on the gaming market. UbiSoft published this interesting blend, and it was designed by Computer’s Dream in the early nineties. Like its predecessor, but with even more spunk, B.A.T. 2 is an exciting blend of many different types of games. It is a unique and original game that seems to have a little bit to offer game players of most any flavor.
While it is mainly a role playing type of game, no seasoned gamer could miss the twinge of adventuring in the game play. There is a strong emphasis on puzzle solving and inventory collection. On top of that, there are a great number of action sequences in B.A.T. 2, most of them being shooters. Like the original B.A.T. game, this sequel was played primarily on the personal computer running the DOS operating system, however it made its way into minor markets also, such as the Amiga and Atari ST.
B.A.T. 2 features a dreary and dark cyberpunk theme and the main game takes place in the futuristic setting of the planet Shedishan. The user finds himself in ROMA 2,
the planet’s largest and most influential city. The gamer will play an agent in the office of B.A.T. (the Bureau for Astral Troubleshooters) and he has been called to ROMA 2 to investigate a deadly plot. Sylvia Hatford, one of B.A.T.’s more renowned agents has been murdered while investigating a somewhat tricky case. A dealer had been importing raw materials to the planet, but the circumstances were cloudy and it appeared that some shady dealings were afoot. When she winds up dead, Jehan Menais, a second agent played by the gamer, will be sent to Shedishan to investigate both Sylvia’s death, as well as the questionable businessman.
So much of the game takes place in the two-dimensional world of point-and-click adventuring, that is almost easy to forget that the agent will grow and become more skilled as the game goes on. Jehan will have to collect both inventory and evidence and will become involved in a lot of dialogue with non-playing characters. These characters are nicely done, both intellectually and aesthetically. On top of everything else, there are multiple mini-games, as well as the previously mentioned action sequences to keep the user busy in this large gaming world. There is a lot to do here, and a lot of fun to be had.
