The Ward PC Game

The Ward is the first release from the developers at Fragile Bits Interactive. A routine 1978 mission to investigate and gather data regarding unexpected seismic activity on the moon turns deadly in the blink of an eye. An alien spacecraft destroys the orbiting command module as it passes on the dark side of the moon and then obliterates the landing module as well. You, playing as David D. Walker, a crewman aboard the ~Apollo XIX's lunar rover, watch as your crewmates die horribly and quickly in the unprovoked attack.

With this simple beginning, a complex and involved story of multiple alien races, the future, secret moon bases, ancient destinies, space compression, time travel and the potential destruction of the very existence of mankind evolves as the adventure plays out through an interactive, cinematic style. The mystery of why you've been spared intensifies and leads to discoveries of strange technologies and artifacts, abduction, mind control, conflicts between alien cultures, and experimentation.

Thrust into the predicament of trying to make sense of all you see and learn as the adventure progresses, you, as Walker, become embroiled in three distinct phases of action: fugitive, detective and saboteur Forced to play middleman between two ancient alien factions, you must solve puzzles and deduce solutions to many mysteries as The Ward unfolds. Through exploration, dialogue and descriptive on-screen text, you discover answers and piece together clues and hints leading to the ultimate revelation.

The Ward employs a point-and-click interface supported by a handful of specific hot key functions. Conversations with NPCs encountered are initiated via clicking on multiple dialogue choices, and a drag-and-drop inventory is used to store items, objects and weapons. The inventory display shows only five objects at any given time but can be frozen at any point to display a particular set of items.

The game features virtually an unlimited number of save slots (up to 10,000) as well as quick save options. Cut-scenes are used (and saved automatically after the first instance) to advance the action between certain segments of the adventure and can be reviewed at any time in three different modes: interlace, pixel doubling or interpolation. In-game devices are used to reflect alien technology and include such items as a Memorizer, medical panel, ring panel and microscope.

Can you stay the course and help Walker discover what may well be the salvation (or destruction) of the human race? Are you ready for fantastic revelations and mind-boggling alien intrigue? Perhaps you'll find the answers in your own genetic makeup as you discover your true destiny as ~The Ward ~ Michael L. House, All Game Guide