Publisher: Viva Media
Developer: Braingame
System: PC
Minimum requirements: Windows 2000 SP3+/XP/Vista; NVidia 6600+ or ATI9600XT+; Intel Pentium IV 1.5GHZ (or comparable AMD ATHLON XPTM); 512MB RAM; DirectX 9.0 compatible soundcard; 4GB free hard disc space; DVD-ROM
Genre: Adventure
Release date: Available now
Review by: Michael Smith

I have been a science-fiction fan all of my life. I grew up reading the stories of Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke, Robert Heinlein, Orson Scott Card and Anne McCaffrey. I had never heard of the character of Perry Rhodan until I received the Viva Media-Brain Games point-and-click adventure The Immortals of Terra, but it turns out that Rhodan has been around about as long as I have.

Perry Rhodan is the main character of a German pulp novella series created in 1961 by K.H. Scheer and Clark Darlton. Originally conceived as a 30-part weekly series, Rhodan’s intergalactic adventures have extended into the new century, surpassing 2400 editions as of the summer of 2007. His stories have inspired comic books, plays, original music, and even a poorly received 1967 feature film, “Mission Stardust.” Immortals is, however, Rhodan’s first foray into the gaming world.

Perry Rhodan’s story begins in 1971 with his expedition to the moon, where he discovers a crashed alien spacecraft and its stranded occupants, members of a race known as the Arkonides. This first contact with the Arkonides puts humanity on the intergalactic map, resulting in major technological advances for mankind. One such advance, known as a “cell activator,” is implanted in Rhodan, granting him virtual immortality.

Fast-forward 3000 years to 4934 AD. Rhodan has become the Terran Regent, leader of a collection of interstellar human settlements known as the League of Free Terrans. Perry’s residence is attacked by unknown forces, and his ex-wife and current confidant Mondra Diamond has been kidnapped. Confined to his office for his own safety by his chief of security, Rhodan must find a way to escape so that he can search for clues to help him find his missing friend.