I've always been intrigued by the game Paranoia. It's got great tongue-in-cheek style humor (albeit dark humor), and lot's of action.
The basic setting is a utopian (dystopian?) society, where "The Computer" controls the underground city called "Alpha Complex." You as a citizen soldier called a "Trouble Shooter" must root out various conspiracies hatched by subversive groups like The Communists, mutants, PURGE, Humanists, Psion, Frankenstein Destroyers, Free Enterprise, Illuminati, and the Sierra Club. But be warned, these groups may try to kill you or even worse, blackmail you.
Now this game ironically came out in 1984, so it's dated in concept. Mongoose has a current version of the game, and I was thinking about getting it but I wasn't sure if it would translate very well to today's times.
Until I read this.....
The Perfect Citizen is almost a Paranoia trademark infringement! Could it be that our government is trying to make this almost 30 year old RPG relevant again? Or is it just art imitating life?
"SERVE THE COMPUTER THE COMPUTER IS YOUR FRIEND!
The Computer wants you to be happy. If you are not happy, you may be used as reactor shielding.
The Computer is crazy. The Computer is happy. The Computer will help you to become happy. This will drive you crazy."
Only ever played one game of Paranoia - it was a gas, though. Think of a twisted "Logan's Run" as directed by Terry Gillam and you'll get the idea, or check out Gillam's own "Brazil".
ReplyDeleteVery much a product of its time, but with elements of Kafka and "1984". Could be fun to play it straight, but without the PC clones.
Mongoose has done a good job with Traveller, and I've heard that Paranoia was also pretty good. I'd love to get a copy of the first or second editions though.
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