Suddenly, Dysentery Doesn't Seem So Bad

As a post-apocalyptic, zombie-filled send-up of The Oregon Trail, Organ Trail has some really clever ideas: scavenging for supplies while shooting zombies, maintaining vital car parts, and keeping your party healthy as you travel across the U.S. to a safe haven (encountering hidden movie and TV references along the way). As a game, it's slightly less successful, arguably doing too-good a job of emulating ancient computer games. Poor luck can come in random, intense bursts; and some events, such as biker gang attacks, become extremely repetitive. It doesn't help that the game is balanced such that, to keep a healthy amount of supplies, you'll need to do even more repetitive scavenging and questing.

But I have to give Organ Trail credit for a genuinely cool premise, and for at least one really neat mechanic, in the form of its pull-and-release shooting combat. Even though it was clearly designed with mobile touchscreen gaming in mind, it works well enough with a mouse -- and confers an appropriately-hectic feeling in high-tension situations. If there's anything that makes the one-to-two-hour trip worthwhile, it's that.

Better than: Majesty: The Fantasy Kingdom Sim
Not as good as: Swords & Soldiers
Extra-special props: for the Breaking Bad reference in the Albuquerque portrait. The game's art is light, but a really nice touch.

Progress: Reached the Safe Haven on Easy.