BioForge was one of the earliest "movie-games", that is, a game created to immerse the player into a storyline like that of a movie. Like most movie games this was a flop. There are excellent graphics used in the game, making the aesthetics one of BioForge's redeeming qualities. It is partially a puzzle game, and almost an action game. The main goal of finding every datapad hidden in the game is quite challenging, but the enemies are not, so it balances out somewhat.
The graphics were revolutionary for the time, and playing for the visual appeal might keep your interest for a while. BioForge is one of the few games of this era that focuses on looks instead of game play.
BioForge was the model for later games like the Dinocrisis series of the late 90's. For its time the game was quite revolutionary, and the look alikes it produced have had a share of successes.
The cut-scenes and live voice acting are the best of any game of that era, and still hold a high rank in my view. Most voice-over games are bogged down by poor lines and acting by the avatars on screen, BioForge managed to avoid this, making the acting and rich
sound of the cut scenes second only to the graphics.
The game is very rich in detail, too rich by most accounts. Much of the gameplay is lost in searching for clues to your amesiatic character's past. The datapads are found along the way (and there are many) and work at the unfolding plot (which has most subplots and twists that Tolkien's Lord of the Rings). It is so highly detailed that it can become confused and frustrating if the player is not paying attention.
It was considerate for the scientists in charge of the facility to leave the history of the facility along with your own biography lying around the place. This is how you will begin to understand the plot and learn what your goal is in the game (finding the datapads). Your character starts the game in a cell, where you beat your cellmate to death WITH HIS OWN ARM. You are a genetically enhanced human, apparently some secret DARPA project gone amuck. Aliens are introduced, of which you only get to fight one (who happens to be the last boss). The humans' best troops are mere ants compared to your fearsome fighting abilities, and in fact, no opponent poses a challenge once you understand the fighting controls. All in all, BioForge is a visionary game that could have benefited from a bit more game play and some harder enemies in this arcade action game.
