Waterworld: The Quest for Dryland

***Waterworld: The Quest for Dryland*** (or shortened to ***The Quest for Dryland***) is a 1997 real-time strategy video game unrelated to the earlier Waterworld video games.

Released two years after the film, the game was developed by Intelligent Games, published by Interplay and released for PC MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows.

## Live-action cutscenes

The game is notable for its live-action cutscenes, which totalling half an hour were more extensive than most other games of the era. These made use of unused material and music cues from the earlier film, combined with new footage filmed especially for the game that utlised sets, props
and costumes from the film, and featured several actors from the film reprising their roles or in similar roles. Scenes were recreated on a soundstage in Hollywood on a budget of $40,000.

## Gameplay

When the Waterworld film was released in 1995, several related console video games were released at the same time. These were a mix of platformers and sailing games in which the player takes control of the The Mariner. *Waterworld: The Quest for Dryland* was released in 1997, two years later, and is unrelated the earlier video game releases.

*Waterworld: The Quest for Dryland* is a ¾ top down perspective real-time strategy game similar to *Warcraft* or *Command and Conquer*; the developer Intelligent Games was also a developer of the latter series. The player is an atoller War Chief who must bolster your ranks and acquire resources through military victory, and at times protect against external threats.

The takes place over 25 missions, and for each mission you select and command a taskforce of 2 to 14 warriors, depending on the mission. You arm them from a choice of 17 weapons, including firearms, crossbows, flame throwers, bolas, chainsaws and war hammers. There are also a number of watercraft to obtain and control, from jet-skis, assault craft and rocket barges.

The Mariner can be hired as a mercenary in various missions, however he is quite expensive to hire and even when hired remains an NPC. He is quite a powerful ally, but will simply abandon the mission by jumping into the water if he takes too much damage.

Another aspect of the game is managing resources. After each successful mission, you can trade for new and improved wares with the Atoll Banker.

### Weapons

* Machetes
* Bolas
* Warhammers
* Crossbows
* Pistols
* Blunderbuss
* Splattertube / "Zooka"

### Enemies

* Rival atollers
* The Brothers
* The Laymen
* The Smokers
* The Choppers
* Organo People

## Plot

The player character is an unanmed atoller who is "War Chief" of an unspecified atoll. Whilst away on a scouting mission, your home was raided and sacked by smokers, and you return to find many dead and the settlement in ruins. The survivors are ekeing out a doomed existance on a small salvaged gathering of boats.

The atoll elder (Zakes Mokae) tells you that he has bartered the last of your dirt and hydro with a passing drifter for information on nearby atolls. The elder now has the location of a hostile atoll commanded by a rival tribe, "The Brothers". The Elder commands you to select a group of warriors and weapons and claim their atoll for your new home, and you are debriefed by the Enforcer and the Tallyman. Any who surrender will be spared and absorbed into your own tribe. Any who resist are to be 'plant food'.

Upon acquiring your new home, the Enforcer (R.D. Call) brings the bad news that the seawater desalination machine of the atoll is broken and you are out of hydro, but fortunately he knows the location of another Brothers stronghold with a functional desalination plant. Again you must select your warriors and weapons for battle. In the next mission, you must protect your new atoll and desalination machine from a smoker raid.

You will also come into conflict with The Laymen, a technology-minded tribe who have repurposed submarines with which to raid your atolls and who are initially believed to be sea monsters. You will also come into conflict with The Choppers, a group of hulking brutes who rely on heavy weaponry and close-range melee combat. You will eventually come into possession of the Eye of God - which according to folklore is a divine artefact that can lead your tribe to Dryland, and over which much blood has already been spilled.

Later in the game, you will rescue Old Gregor from his inventor's bargee and who has the knowledge of how to activate the Eye of God. First, you will have to obtain a powerful enough generator to run it, which is in the possession of the smokers. After acquiring the generator and powering the Eye of God, you will learn of the direction to Dryland and begin to move your atoll in that direction. Whilst on your final journey, you come into conflict with the 'Organo People', a savage cult who are also in pursuit of the Eye of God.

In the final mission, your atoll arrives at Dryland. However you discover that The Deez has been shadowing your atoll and then beat you to Dryland, and a vicious battle ensues with The Deacon and his inner circle himself for the destiny of Dryland.

## Galleries

### Box artwork

CoverJewel case coverAlternate coverBack coverAlternate back coverAlternate back coverDisc
### Titles and menus

Main game titleMain game menuControlsTrading turorialSelecting your warriors and weapons
### Journal entries

A 2044 newspaper clipping inside your journal from during the early stages of the Great DelugeArticle on the SmokersArticle on the BrothersJournal entry in the aftermath of a successful raid on an an atoll (1)Journal entry in the aftermath of a successful raid on an an atoll (2)Journal entry on rescue missionMacheteWarhammersBolasCrossbowHandgunsBlunderbuss
### Gameplay

"Blood for Water" mission"Defend Hydro Machine"Raiding party disembarkTaking the city wallsPitched battleRaiders vs defendersBlowing up the gate
### Live-action cutscenes

Old Gregor, the narrator of the gameOld Gregor congratulating the War ChiefOld Gregor giving bad newsThe Elder gives the War Chief orders to take a new atollAn unnamed yet typical atoll claimed for your tribeThe War Chief (left) shares a drink with The Elder (right)War Chief (left) and The Elder (right) go over war plansElder watching the horizon for hostilesThe Enforcer and The Elder looking for hostilesThe Enforcer debriefing the War ChiefThe EnforcerThe Elder rallying the atollers to warThe Tallyman debriefing the War ChiefThe Tallyman happy with the spoils of your raidsAn atoller depiction of the Eye of God guiding a ship to DrylandThe Eye of GodAfter gaining power for the Eye of God, Old Gregor switches it on

## Credits

### Crew

* Director: Michael M. Conti
* Writers:
	+ Steven Colberg
	+ Mark Giles

### Cast

* Vincent DeNardo as the War Chief (mainly voice; only seen just out of frame)
* John Fleck as Old Gregor
* Zakes Mokae as Atoll Elder
* R.D. Call as The Enforcer
* Rick Aviles as the Atoll Gatesman
* Jack Kehler as the Atoll Banker

## Trivia

* It is unclear as to whether *The Quest for Dryland* fits into the same canon/continuity of the film. It appears to be set in a similar yet different/alternate timeline.
	+ It is implied that the atoll attacked and destroyed by smokers in the beginning of the game is the same Oasis Atoll from the film, and the small settlement the survivors are found on is New Oasis. This would be implied by the fact a number of actors from the film reprise their roles as residents of Oasis, and footage of Oasis from the film is used. However the atoll in the game is never explicitally stated to be Oasis. There are a number of contradictions to the game being either a prequel or sequel to the film - for example, Old Gregor and Enforcer had left New Oasis and found Dryland at the end of the film. Another example of that the elder (portrayed by Zakes Mokae, named Priam in the film yet unnamed in the game) had already died during the smoker attack on Oasis (or at least, he does the extended version of the film). However in the game the elder plays a major role and survives the events of the game.

## Behind the scenes

* Several actors for the cutscenes respired their roles from the film. This included the Enforcer (R.D. Call), the Elder Priam (Zakes Mokae), the Gatesman (Rick Avales), and the Atoll Banker/Tallyman (Jack Kehler).
	+ John Fleck appeared in the film as the Smoker Doctor. Fleck appears in *Waterworld: The Quest for Dryland* as Old Gregor, who narrates the game and plays a major role in the plot of the game. Michael Jeter, who had portrayed Old Gregor in the film, had been unavailable for filming new footage for the game.

## Reception

The game received polarising reviews.

*to be completed*

## Sources

* Behind the scenes images courtesy of The Atoll @ Instagram

## References

1. ↑ https://theunheardnerd.com/filmandtv/chapter-three-the-quest-for-dry-land/
2. ↑ https://www.mobygames.com/game/waterworld/mobyrank

## External links

* MobyGames article
* IMDB page
* Collection Chamber review including game download for emulator DOS Box
* Deep dive into the game by *The Unheard Nerd*