Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Betrayal of the Obsidian Baboon builds on a classic RPG loop—venture forth, vanquish foes, collect loot, and level up—but it elevates every step through astonishing depth. You’ll start by choosing from an array of bizarre and delightful race/class combinations, from soul‐swapping shapechangers to the stalwart “Basket Weaver.” Even the meekest tradesman class can forge a living in Seratika’s bustling marketplace if you master its nuances. Each decision feels weighty, as your chosen path influences not only combat prowess but also your standing among the city’s competing factions.

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Character progression in Obsidian Baboon is anything but linear. As you rise through guild ranks or curry favor with one of the strange new gods, you gain exclusive abilities and access to hidden quests. Whether you’re dispatching magical monstrosities in the Neutral Zone’s perilous outskirts or engaging in high‐stakes gambling in the city’s neon‐lit taverns, each activity bolsters your fame, fortune, and the narrative threads that bind Seratika’s fragile peace.

The PvP component is a glorious mash‐up of strategy and spectacle. After shaking down unsuspecting NPCs or besting players in devilish finishing moves straight out of Mortal Kombat, you can recruit—or retaliate—at will. The optional “implants” system allows you to install user‐generated modules like the Assassin’s Guild or the Hall of Justice, ensuring that no two campaigns ever feel the same. This blend of structured adventuring and sandbox mayhem keeps you on your toes for dozens of hours.

Graphics

As a BBS door game, Betrayal of the Obsidian Baboon leans into the nostalgia of ASCII and ANSI art, transforming simple characters into sprawling cityscapes and monstrous bestiaries. Each screen feels meticulously crafted: labyrinthine dungeon maps unfurl in blocky glory, and menu interfaces glow with color codes that guide you through complex systems without ever feeling cluttered.

While modern gamers may scoff at the lack of polygonal models or dynamic lighting, the retro aesthetic here is more than a gimmick—it’s a deliberate choice that reinforces the game’s tongue‐in‐cheek, old‐school charm. A neon‐green serpent coils around the “Fight” command, while your status panel is framed by ornate ASCII borders, all contributing to an atmosphere that’s equal parts whimsical and menacing.

Even the occasional user‐created graphic module integrates seamlessly, leveraging existing color palettes and font styles. Whether you’re perusing the Obsidian Baboon rumor screen—where the titular beast’s silhouette flickers in low‐res menace—or examining a gilded ASCII statue in Seratika’s central plaza, the visual presentation never detracts from the gameplay, but instead amplifies the game’s distinct identity.

Story

Set against the backdrop of ten millennia of conflict, Betrayal of the Obsidian Baboon plunges you into a world where shapechangers toppled empires and an uneasy armistice holds at the whim of Seratika’s council. The ceasefire, brokered by the enigmatic warlord Hjenlnath, has lasted thirty years—but peace in this realm feels as precarious as a spider’s web in a storm.

Seratika itself is more than a mere hub; it’s a microcosm of the wider political intrigue. Representatives from all ten races rub shoulders in crowded taverns, exchange whispered rumors in dark alleyways, and jockey for influence in candlelit council chambers. Every side‐quest you undertake—be it protecting a diplomat from assassin drones or recovering stolen treaties—peels back another layer of the city’s delicate equilibrium.

Yet, for all the talk of treaties and covert operations, the true heart of the narrative lies in the looming specter of the Obsidian Baboon. As whispered rumors coalesce into grisly folklore, you’ll find yourself chasing elusive clues in every corner of the Neutral Zone. This ever‐present mystery provides a thread of suspense that binds together the open‐ended gameplay loops, ensuring that even veteran adventurers never feel like they’ve seen it all.

Overall Experience

Betrayal of the Obsidian Baboon stands out as a triumph of imagination over technical spectacle. It may run in your terminal, but it invites you into a living, breathing world brimming with political machinations, bloody duels, and eldritch mystery. The sheer variety of race/class permutations, gods to worship, and guilds to join means your first character will be nothing like your tenth—or twentieth.

Its mature, darkly comedic tone—infused with filthy whimsy—strikes a perfect balance between tongue‐in‐cheek parody and genuine stakes. Whether you’re a newcomer curious about retro BBS adventures or a veteran RPG enthusiast longing for something off the beaten path, Obsidian Baboon offers an experience that’s refreshingly different from polished triple-A fare.

In an era where mod support often feels like an afterthought, this game embraces community creativity by design. Official implants and user‐contributed modules continuously expand the world, making each new playthrough feel like a rediscovery. If you’re willing to trade high‐definition textures for deep systems and irreverent storytelling, Betrayal of the Obsidian Baboon is an absolute must for any adventurer seeking a fresh challenge.

Retro Replay Score

null/10