Rifts: Promise of Power
DeveloperBackbone Entertainment
PublisherNokia
ComposerChris Rezanson
PlatformsN-Gage
ReleasedEU: October 27, 2005[1]; NA: November 28, 2005[2]
GenreTactical role-playing[3][4]
ModesSingle-player, multiplayer

Rifts: Promise of Power is a 2005 video game licensed for the Rifts role-playing game (RPG) from Palladium Books. It was released for the N-Gage in 2005. The basic mechanics of the game are adapted from the pen-and-paper version, utilizing an action point turn-based system.

In 2025, Palladium Books announced plans to crowdfund the re-release of the game on PC.[5]

Gameplay

There are three character classes available in Promise of Power. There are three proto-classes from which players can select at the outset of the game: Mercenary, Psionic, and Magic User. Upon reaching fourth level, players may choose a specialization such as Borg, Burster, or Ley Line Walker, some of which are restricted based on proto-class. One character class specially designed for the game – the Elemental Fusionist – was adapted into the Rifts Ultimate Edition core rulebook.

The game covers five different locations on Rifts Earth from the sourcebooks. Promise of Power is set on Rifts Earth, a post-apocalyptic world a few hundred years in the future. It features advanced technology, magic and psionic powers, alien and monstrous beings from other dimensions, mutants, and vampires.

Development

Shane Neville loved the Rifts adventure book as a high school and university student, and began to envision a game based on them once he entered the video-game business; when he joined Nokia's fledgling Richmond studio in 2003 and saw that Rifts was one of the company's options, Neville met with Kevin Siembieda to collaborate on the game.[6] Siembieda refused all video game licensing requests for the game for 14 years, but finally agreed to license Rifts to Nokia.[7] Nokia announced a dedicated Rifts Promise of Power mini-site, which went live on April 2, 2005 for the upcoming Rifts role-playing on the N-Gage.[8]

Reception

The game received "generally favorable reviews" according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[9]

References

  1. ^ "Rifts®: Promise of Power(TM) enters a brave new world as the pen-and-paper RPG ships on the N-Gage platform". GamesIndustry.biz. Gamer Network. 27 October 2005. Archived 14 April 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  2. ^ Abolins, Mike (28 November 2005). "Rifts Ships in Time for Gifts". Pocket Gamer. Steel Media Ltd. Archived 14 April 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  3. ^ Coleman, Stephen (27 October 2005). "Rifts: Promise of Power Hits N-Gage". IGN. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on 30 December 2005. Nokia today announced that it has shipped Rifts®: Promise of Power TM, heralding a new era in tactical role playing as this renowned pen-and-paper RPG meets video gamers for the first time.
  4. ^ Tierney, Adam (17 September 2004). "Rifts: Promise of Power (Preview)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived 6 October 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  5. ^ Siembieda, Kevin (2025-05-22). "Promise of Power – Palladium Books® – Weekly Update – May 22, 2025". Palladium Books. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  6. ^ Andrews, Marke (2004-09-15). "Vancouver games maestro to launch two new titles". Vancouver Sun
  7. ^ "Rifts: Promise of Power. N-Gage plays host to a little old-school roleplaying". Computer Gaming World. No. 245. December 2004. p. 204. Retrieved 2025-10-19. – via Internet Archive
  8. ^ "Rifts site goes live". The Globe and Mail. 2005-04-04. Archived 2025-10-19 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2025-10-19.
  9. ^ "Rifts: Promise of Power (ngage: 2005): Reviews". Metacritic. CNET. Archived 13 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 9 March 2017.