Gene Splicing

Gene Splicing is a video game in the role-playing (rpg) genre developed by Nachos Software and published by Nachos Software originally released in 1999. It is currently playable on DOS.

Gene Splicing is a first-person role-playing game based in the traditional style of a science fiction setting, with grid-based movement and turn-based combat. The story takes place in the near future, late 21st century to be exact, where human life has spread and the population has grown too large for Earth's government to aggressively promote the colonization of space. A new organization, the Space Security Agency (SSA), has been created to monitor alien activities and maintain order. The game begins with the player, a new SSA agent, arriving at SSA headquarters on the Moon. The player receives an alarm signal from SkyCorp's research facility on the Moon, receives training at headquarters, and then heads out to investigate.

The game mechanics can be compared to early first-person role-playing games, such as 'Bird's Tale', albeit in a science fiction setting. The game world is represented by a flat map divided into masses, and one of the game's interface windows displays a static pseudo-3D first-person view of the surroundings, showing only the most important details, such as walls and doors. Encounters appear as separate images, with static or limited animation (unlike recent titles, where enemy sprites are imported into the landscape view). For example, during combat, the first-person view is replaced by an animated image of the enemy looking at the player. Also, objects in the game often have no visual representation; only a text message is displayed when the player enters the box where the object is located.

The game starts with the player character alone, but over time other characters join the party. As in 'The Bard's Tale' and other games, multiple characters can be arranged in battle order, with some characters in the front row and others in the back row during combat, out of range of melee attacks. There are also friendly NPCs who offer dialogue, hints and items.

The character system is based on four attributes. Strength, Intelligence, Agility and Stamina. These determine the character's life points, offensive and defensive abilities, ability to carry items, and PSI ability, which is the sci-fi equivalent of magic. Characters level up based on accumulated experience, up to a maximum of 20 levels.

Stylistically, the game is very similar to Nachos Software's previous title, Psionics, and the gameplay mechanics are comparable. It was released and distributed as freeware.

It is possible that we have multiple downloads available when different versions exist.