Robinson's Requiem Collection

Meh.. I thought maybe I was too young when I played it the first time - so I tried again. But still, it's way too difficult for me. But! If you like the "you're all alone on this damn planet!" theme and if you're interested in a dying simulation (this theme alone is worth a look), you may try your luck against fevers, tigers and starvation ;-) If only the water was always clean...

I played this games long time ago and I am very glad to find it back on GoG. I like the survival idea behind these games, it's fun oldschool DOS gaming. The game is really rich, and there's virtually anything you can do. I recommend it for those who don't care too much about graphics. You will have hours of fun with this pack.

I've been playing Robinson's Requiem and Deus for a few hours now and I have to say, it's much easier that everyone says it is. Actually I think they're moreof adventure games with survival elements to make it seem less generic (The plot is a sign for instance: Your ship crashes on a planet, you have to escape. Extremely generic if you ask me). The survival elements alone make this game interesting in the first place since everything else is so incredibly dull. While the simulation is quite detailed, it still misses quite a lot of more challenging aspects, like fatigue (i. e. maximum daily work capability) for instance or developing terminal illness like diabetes. That said I also have to add that micromanagement is not needed, eating, drinking and treating injuries are considered common sense, illness cures itself after some days of rest and simple logic can deal with most of the other survival-related perils you will face. Actually the survival elements can be considered gametime-padding since the game by itself is rather short.

Robinson's Requiem was unique in its mechanics, a survival gem, as well as incredibly frustrating. Sadly, the graphics have aged poorly. RR comes with a survival guide, that you must read, or else you won't know make it past the mole monster in act 1, without bleeding to death. I suppose much of the frustration and confusion with the game is due to this unexplained "copy protection" mechanism. You play as a former explorer, discarded on a hostile alien planet, and left for dead. Each of your former classmates, dumped along with you and scattered across the planet, has a portable computer. You will need to retrieve them all to find a way off this godforsaken rock. All while crafting and salvaging new gear and necessities, keep an eye on your nutrition and water, as well as fight off the cold, heat, diseases, injuries, and all sorts of wildlife. Treat wounds, find out which medicines to apply and when you run out, find medicinal herbs to replace your stock. Not to mention, that your medical tech has a limited battery life, and you can't simply go to the store to get more. Managing scarce resources is everything. And try not to lose a leg or an eye. Because you absolutely can. The game tells you your body temperature, heart rate, etc, and you need to figure out the rest. When to make a fire, what to do when it rains, which meds and tools to use when in which order, aso--or die trying. And that was cool! Back in 1993. Today? Not so much. The blurry 3D graphics leave you guessing half of the time what you are even looking at. The controls are tedious at best. And reading the guidebook was way more satisfying on paper than PDF. Deus improved graphics a bit, dumbed down suvival and upped combat, but looked dated on release, and lost a lot of the original charm. It received bad reviews at the time, and rightfully so. In short: RR is a frequently overlooked gem and milestone of survival gaming. It's hard as bones, too. But, it aged poorly. So, don't expect too much.

Difficult, unforgiving and GREAT. This is what comesto my mind when thinking of RR & Deus value. RR has the oldest graphics of the two. But if you can see beyond that and let your imagination soar, they won't matter. Your survival will matter. And you will be hard pressed to explore without losing some bodypart along the way. Deus is moreplayer friendly, with its improved graphics and interface. More replayable, and just as enjoyable. There are lots to do in those worlds, with what you can scavenge.Just try combining what seems natural. If you don't know either game, play Deus a bit before trying Robinson's Requiem. If it doesnot trigger your interest, you can as well stop there... for now.