Icarus Studios News

Ever since I grew tired of "World of Warcraft" I've been trying to latch on to another online role-playing game, but so far, none have held my interest for very long.

"Aion," the latest fantasy-themed online title, debuted late last month but has been working through its share of problems. I'm not quite sure I want to test those waters yet.

But a funny thing happened around the time of "Aion's" launch: a little indie game called "Fallen Earth" (PC, $15 monthly fee; rated Mature) slipped in under the radar.

It's unlike anything currently on the market, both in theme and gameplay.

"Fallen Earth" is set in a post-apocalyptic America in the year 2156. You and other players comprise a population of scientifically-engineered clones living in and around the Grand Canyon.

If you've played any of the "Fallout" games (or have watched a "Mad Max" film), you already have a good idea of what to expect from "Fallen Earth," at least in terms of visual style and tone.

Players start off dressing in ragtag armor and some sport ornate facial tattoos. Weapons begin with primitive rifles and pistols, as well as an impressive selection of improvised melee tools (lawnmower blades, shovels, etc.).

Unlike the vast majority of online games, "Fallen Earth" handles combat in realtime. You manually aim and strike with weapons, ideally using a first-person shooter view. Special attacks and abilities can be purchased and used via a traditional hotbar, but the meat of the fighting requires reflexes.

It's an engaging system and quite refreshing if you're used to the auto-attack fighting prevalent in other titles.

The other big selling points of "Fallen Earth" are the deep crafting system and leveling process. The raw materials needed for crafting are plentiful throughout the landscape, allowing players to make everything from weapons and ammo to armors, food and vehicles.

The game has no traditional classes, so players are free to develop skills as they wish using points from leveling and quests. It's entirely possible to be a solid combat character who can still craft the essentials for getting by.

Despite some underwhelming graphics and a few unpolished areas (erratic enemy behavior, minor glitches), "Fallen Earth" is still incredibly fun and immersive.

I can't possibly cover all the game info here, so check out www.fallenearth.com