“What If” scenarios are a well-established trope of science fiction. What if JFK had survived? What if the Magna Carta was never signed? What if the Axis powers had won World War II?
Over the years many games have played with this idea and created unique and exciting settings.
1588: Lionheart: Legacy of the Crusader (PC)
Although a disappointment for an RPG that used Fallout’s SPECIAL system, Lionheart had a great premise. Bloodshed during the Siege of Acre (1189-1191) opens a rift that allows a demonic horde to invade the world, making magic a dominant force in history. Gamers play a decendant of Richard the Lionheart, who wants to prevent a second opening of the rift. You’ll get help from famous historical figures like the great Wizard Leo, or Leonardo Da Vinci, as he is better known.
1937: Crimson Skies (PC/Xbox)
In 1937, the United States is un-united, split into republics like the Confederation of Dixie and the Nation of Hollywood. Air travel is the lifeforce of these new nations, but air pirates rule the sky. Gamers play Nathan Zachary, leader of a band of air pirates called the Fortune Hunters. This flight combat game allows you to fly really cool fighters based on concept aircraft. This is one of those games we’ve been begging to make a comeback.
1950s +: The Red Alert Series (PC/PlayStation 3/Xbox 360)
In 1946, Albert Einstein develops a time machine, which he uses to travel back to 1924. There he meets a young Adolf Hitler and eliminates him from history. As a result, there’s no WWII. At least, not the one in our history books. Unfortunately, with no Nazi Germany to occupy Stalin, the Soviet dictator creates a massive army to conquer Europe. A different version of WWII is the result. More monkeying around with the timeline over the series creates a third superpower: The Empire of the Rising Sun.
1951: The Resistance Series (PlayStation 2/PlayStation 3/PSP)
Following World War I, the Earth is invaded by an alien force called the Chimera. They spread a highly contagious virus that turns humans into hideous creatures, increasing the Chimera’s numbers. Gamers play various soldiers in the increasingly desperate battle to end the Chimera threat. Similar ground is explored in the World at War novels by Harry Turtledove, who is no stranger to alternate history fiction.
1953: Turning Point: Fall of Liberty (PlayStation 3/Xbox 360)
In this first person shooter, Winston Churchill is struck and killed by a cab in 1931, leaving Great Britain without a leader at the critical time. Europe is conquered by the Nazis in 1940 and then they turn their eyes overseas to the United States. The German invasion of the United States begins in 1953. You are construction worker Dan Carson, minding your own business until the parachutes appeared over the skies of New York…
1964: Iron Storm (PC)
This shooter assumes that the First World War did not end in 1918, but continued to 1964, the year of the game’s setting. Borders, factions and countries have changed forever as the Russo-Mongolian Empire battles the United States of Western Europe. Weapons and technology have advanced somewhat, but retain a very retro flavour. Gamers play a soldier in the armies of the USWE on a mission to stop the Empire from developing a nuclear weapon.
1976/1982: Interstate 76/Interstate 82 (PC)
The 1973 Oil Crisis did not end, and now three years later heroes and villains fight for control of it in an alternate 1976. This car combat game by the team that did MechWarrior 2 was made with a breezy 1970s cop show theme, down to “actors” playing the part of the game’s characters. Groove Champion, for example, was played by “James W. Styles” (actually, the voice of Greg Eagles). Whereas Interstate 76 was all Starsky & Hutch flavoured, the sequel Interstate 82 was Miami Vice flavoured. It even had a soundtrack by Mark Mothersbaugh of Devo.
-Jason MacIsaac
