I played this game when it first came out in 1987, on my IBM PC XT with a CGA monitor. The plot goes like this: you run a gang in the wasteland of what's left of the United States after a terrorist group releases a virus. While traveling between various cities you recruit new members, search for supplies, and battle rival gangs for their supplies and members. If your gang grows big enough the greatly depleted U.S. government will recruit you to find 8 missing scientists who will be able to find a cure for the virus and help the U.
S. recover.
As your gang travels the country they begin with one small car and only a few members. You must go into the cities and recruit new members either by straight recruitment or by winning battles with other gangs. Battles will allow you to promote members of your gang to higher ranks, thus giving them a slight edge in future combat. You can also search for new vehicles or, again, take them from defeated gangs. Most useful are the semi trucks and buses. They provide better protection for your troops in combat, plus they can carry more troops, allowing you to grow your army.
In every city you can leave caches of supplies, like water, tires, medicine, etc. That way, if you have a surplus of one item,
you can stash them in a city making room for something more immediately necessary.
There are also special locations to be found throughout the country, such as hospitals and fuel refineries. If your gang controls any of these specials, it gives you an edge against any of your opponents.
Overall, the game was well designed and implemented. Gameplay is addictive, and no game is the same twice. I would recommend this game to anyone who remembers when Zork gave way to Wizardry. Just because a game is old doesn't mean it's not good.
