This Is Not a Test: A Survival RPG Comic (2013)

Overview

This Is Not a Test is an apocalyptic survival RPG graphic novel gamebook that challenges players to navigate a world under threat from a lethal death gas. Each panel presents crucial decisions, shaping the direction of the story and determining whether players survive the deadly scenario or fall victim to the chemical wasteland. The game combines elements of a classic Choose Your Own Adventure with role-playing mechanics, offering a unique interactive narrative experience.

Gameplay Mechanics

Players select skills, gather items, and recruit companions, all of which influence the available choices and survival outcomes. Decisions in each scenario are pivotal, and the gamebook structure ensures that every action can open new paths or lead to failure. Survival is not guaranteed, and careful planning is essential to navigate the apocalyptic environment.

The original version includes black-and-white artwork, a life regeneration timer, and banner advertisements. Upgrading to the pro version removes timers and ads while unlocking full-color backgrounds for every story panel, enhancing the immersive visual experience. The game emphasizes both strategy and narrative, keeping mechanics streamlined without overwhelming players with excessive statistics.

Art and Writing

All scenes and user-interface elements are hand-illustrated by comic artist Jeff Edwards. His gritty, apocalyptic style complements the blunt and pulpy writing, placing players directly in the desperate final moments of humanity. The story is concise and engaging, with art serving as a major focal point of the experience. Players encounter a vivid depiction of mayhem and destruction, emphasizing the harshness of survival.

Survival in a Doomsday Scenario

The setting is marked by explosions, widespread panic, and the looming threat of death gas. An emergency broadcast announces a mandatory evacuation to Fort Eisenhower, signaling the immediacy of the doomsday threat. Survival requires careful attention to decisions, resource management, and skill selection.

• Survival Tip – Your Decisions Decide Your Fate: Each choice impacts the progression of the story and unlocks new opportunities in the quest to survive.
• Survival Tip – Choose Your Skills: Skills determine how effectively players navigate challenges and interact with the environment and other characters.
• Survival Tip – Stash Gear for Later: Scavenging for items is critical, as these resources can aid in overcoming obstacles during the apocalypse.
• Survival Tip – Bring Others With You: Recruiting companions enhances chances of survival, adding strategy and depth to gameplay.
• Survival Tip – Do Good or Evil: Players can influence the world positively or contribute to societal collapse, shaping the overall narrative outcome.

Player Interaction and Contributions

The game encourages community input, allowing players to suggest new choices, report issues, and engage with developers via an in-game transmission feature. This interaction helps evolve the story over time, making the experience dynamic and responsive to player feedback.

Audience and Appeal

This Is Not a Test is recommended for fans of narrative-driven survival games and RPGs, including enthusiasts of The Walking Dead, Fallout, Fighting Fantasy, A Dark Room, ZDay, pen-and-paper RPGs, and telnet MUDs. Its combination of graphic novel storytelling and interactive RPG elements offers a distinctive approach to the doomsday survival genre.

The game’s design prioritizes concise, engaging storytelling and strategic gameplay, creating an intense survival experience. Players are immersed in a perilous world where choices, preparation, and alliances determine their fate against the encroaching death gas and apocalyptic chaos.