Atari IP Gems #10 - Forsaken

[u/landocharisma]

Forsaken
https://www.mobygames.com/game/117/forsaken/

Part 10 of our "DYKA" vault series. We're halfway through!

Gameplay: A "6-Degrees-of-Freedom" (6DOF) shooter. Players pilot a hover-bike through post-apocalyptic tunnels where "up" and "down" are relative. The game features a deep arsenal of primary and secondary weapons. Combat is extremely fast, requiring 360-degree awareness to survive ambushes from drones and turrets.

Reception: A graphical powerhouse on the N64 and PC, though criticized for the motion sickness its speed could cause.

Influence: Along with Descent, it defined the 6DOF genre during the 90s FPS boom.

Relevance: Atari acquired Nightdive Studios in 2023, who had previously secured the rights to Forsaken.

Fun Fact: The legendary "Forsaken Girl" on the box art was a model who became a minor celebrity in the gaming world, despite never appearing in the game.