MegaTraveller 2: Quest for the Ancients is the second instalment of this series, following MegaTraveller: The Zhodani Conspiracy. MegaTraveller 2 was released in the early nineties by Paragon Software. It is a science fiction role playing game hybrid which offers extremely detailed skill-based character development, as well as some combat and puzzling. The game is played from a top down view with a friendly user interface and many menu driven sequences, such as flight.
MegaTraveller 2 features the same universe as its popular predecessor. However, the quest in this true sequel involves finding and unlocking the mysteries of the alien race known as the Ancients, who ruled the galaxy three hundred thousand years ago.
They have left behind pyramids as tributes to their existence, and one has started to leak a toxic substance that threatens to destroy the planet of Rhylanor. The adventurers must travel the Spinward Marches and solve the mystery of the Ancients before Rhylanor is engulfed in slime.
One of the best parts of the games is the character generation at the very beginning. Gamers can choose from two races and numerous career paths to send their characters down. There are attributes ranging from physical to mental that can be tweaked and skills can be added to each character’s repertoire. Some skills that are selected (because they seem cool and useful) will never be utilized at all, and other, seemingly less important skills will be
very handy. Such is the way of actual life. There are also several predetermined characters available to play, and each of them is well equipped to handle the story.
The story line is nonlinear, taking the gamer to any one of one hundred planets in virtually any order. Each planet has multiple cities, miniature quests and games to experience. There are even numerous ways to explore, including hiking on foot and renting a vehicle. Like its forerunner, it follows the pen and paper game faithfully and offers excellent attention to detail in this single player adventure. The attention to detail almost becomes too much, since there is a lot to remember in order to succeed in MT2. Still, its complexity is its beauty and it definitely is that. This is a fun game, full of surprises and twists and featuring a great replayability factor because of its customizable characters and vast maps.
