Nomad, sometimes marketed as N.O.M.A.D. or Project Nomad, is one of the most overlooked of all classic space simulation games. It has elements of a roleplaying game and also some adventure features, making it very well rounded and deep. It was developed by Intense Interactive and Papyrus Design Incorporated and was released for play on the MS-DOS operating system in the early nineties. Its futuristic theme is still very popular in modern games, and the great science fiction feel of Nomad should have garnered it more popularity at the time of its release.
There are two overall goals of the game, but both revolve around power. You want to have a powerful enough military to fear nothing and remain unthreatened in the solar system, and you want to have enough financial clout to do whatever you want, since nothing can physically harm you. One leads to the other and circles back around again. Money is used to pay for military endeavors, and it is the military that defends your holding so that you can make money. The underlying goal is to find an ancient civilization that has a coveted technology of the hyperdrive. The only clue to the whereabouts and existence of this civilization is a crashed ship on the planet
Earth, discovered by information hungry scientists that now wish to learn the secrets of the hyperdrive. The crashed ship is repaired, and you will captain it back into space to find its origin and the secret technology.
Nomad is nonlinear, but you will make gains by completing specific tasks that are awarded to you. The game is very large and also flexible, giving it some really awesome replay value. You will meet many aliens, both friendly and hostile, and will garner many quests from these non-playing characters who are having problems within their own civilizations. You will become involved in alliances and rebellions against powerful races that are harassing more peaceful alien races. You will gain technologies and commit the human race of Earth to a war against the alien robots, the Korok.
The combat in the game is easy to learn and does not take up nearly so much of your time as the economic micromanagement of your race. Making money is truly the key to a powerful military and that you will definitely need with all that goes on in Nomad. There are too many subplots and quests to even begin discussing, as this is a gigantic game.
