Rage 2
RAGE Rewind
Rage 2
When the first RAGE launched in 2011, it was a technological marvel – a best-in-class shooter from the FPS geniuses at id Software.
It had its flaws (cough the ending cough), but overall it was received well by both the public and the press. Now, a sequel being developed by two industry legends – id Software and Avalanche Studios – is on the horizon. RAGE 2 takes place in the same world, but 30 years after the events of the first game. There’s a new main character, new locations to explore, new shit to blow up and new adventures to be had. But the series hasn’t forgotten its roots. We’ve put together a handy guide to some of the key people, places and events from the first game. Whether you played the original RAGE and want a refresher, or you never had a chance to check it out but still want to be informed, this guide is a great jumping off point.
Lore
“Humanity is over. A just end to a few thousand years of exploitation, destruction and war, we deserve it. As in all things, nature will exact her revenge without a second thought and with devastating consequences.” – New York Times, 2037
Apophis
Ah, Apophis. The real reason we can’t have nice things. Nice things like survival. Your intro to the first game stars the asteroid Apophis as it hits Earth, leaving devastation in its wake. This catastrophic event wiped out 80% of the planet’s population and created a lawless wasteland where humanity once flourished. The first RAGE takes place just over 100 years after Apophis hit and the world is a vastly different place. Thirty years later, when RAGE 2 begins, the world is on its way to recovery. Civilization and life are reemerging on Earth and things are seemingly on an upswing. Sure, the population has to contend with ruthless, roving gangs and The Authority’s tyranny, but it’s progress!
Arkists
With Apophis’ collision with Earth imminent, some of the population were cryogenically frozen and placed in Arks, deep below the planet’s surface. Years after the asteroid hit, some of these survivors began to wake up and make their way back out into the surface to find the world completely changed. Known as Arkists, these are the only people on Earth capable of commanding unique and powerful Nanotrite abilities, making them both potential saviors of the planet, as well as potential targets for those seeking to control the world. Both the hero (Nicholas Raine) and the villain (General Cross) of the first RAGE are Ark survivors.
Mutant Bash TV
Even the wild factions of the wasteland need entertainment – and that entertainment comes in the form of Mutant Bash TV, a bloody and brutal showdown between hordes of mutants and the contestants bold enough to test their mettle. Mutant Bash TV returns with brand-new trials in RAGE 2.
Feltrite
Feltrite is pure power, in crystal form. When refined, it can be used for all sorts of things, from powering Authority battle armor to the juicing up the most bleeding edge weaponry. Feltrite is the most valuable commodity in the wasteland, and its scarcity makes it a resource that people are willing to kill and die for. Of course, when you consider the bloodthirsty new factions in RAGE 2, there isn’t a lot that people in this anarchic society aren’t willing to kill and die for.
Nanotrites
Damn, are these micro-machines important. Maybe the most important. Before entering cold sleep in the Arks, each survivor was injected with these tiny scientific miracles. Once the Arkists wake up, they receive another Nanotrite infusion, designed to kickstart the self-healing and repairing process. This is why Arkists have such handy things like the defibrillation ability and augmented vision. These Nanotrites will continue working overtime for the remainder of the Arkists’ lives, repairing their host bodies and even augmenting them in potentially unforeseen ways. These Nanotrites are the true reason behind Walker’s powerful abilities in RAGE 2.
People
General Cross/The Authority
Though just a name you hear in the first game, General Martin Cross is the leader of the oppressive Authority, an organization seeking to rule the wasteland by force and hunting down all remaining Ark survivors along the way. Under General Cross’ leadership, The Authority created an army of mutants and super soldiers equipped with cutting-edge technology. You’ll finally get your chance at a showdown with General Cross in RAGE 2.
Nicholas Raine
Nicholas Raine is an Ark survivor and the protagonist of the first game. In the years between the two games, he seems to have simply disappeared into the wide-open wasteland, though his trail of destruction left a lasting impression on many of the wasteland’s inhabitants. Cults worshipping Raine as a sort of god of death have sprung up among what remains of the populations he decimated. Raine has no relation to Walker in RAGE 2. Or does he? He doesn’t. Or does he?
Captain John Marshall
A leader of men, John Marshall is the captain of the Resistance forces in the first game, taking the fight to the Authority in a way few dared to. The years haven’t been kind to Captain Marshall, and he’s now just an old dude running a bar in Gunbarrel, ranting about the return of the Authority. Maybe we should all start listing to batty old bartenders. They might be onto something.
Dr. Kvasir
Dr. Antonin Kvasir is a former Authority scientist who defected to the Resistance and now spends his days making Feltrite-based weaponry to be used against his former comrades and the mutants he helped create. Already pretty ancient when you meet him in the first game, Kvasir is now 30 years older (Read: old AF) and 30 years more… eccentric. He has traded in his hoverchair from the first game for Legs. Not actual legs for walking; that would make too much sense. Legs is what he calls the mutant he has enslaved and cybernetically attached to himself.
Loosum Hagar
Loosum Hagar is the woman responsible for teaching Raine the ways of the Wingstick, the fan-favorite weapon from the first game. She’ll have some new tricks for Walker with the much-improved Wingstick of RAGE 2. That being said, she’s the mayor of Wellspring now, so she’s a pretty busy woman. Try not to get in her way. Now, some of you who read the RAGE novel might be thinking, “But wait, didn’t Loosum die in the book?” And to that we say, “Shhhhhhh.” Who reads books?
Mayor Clayton
When you dealt with Clayton in the first RAGE, he was the mayor of Wellspring. Now he’s the mayor of being dead, so you won’t see him again, but you will meet up with his corrupt-as-hell son, Klegg.
Places
Wellspring
During the events of the first game, Wellspring was the largest and safest city in the wasteland. The years since then have seen quite a bit of growth in the city, and it’s now prospering under the leadership of Loosum.
Gunbarrel
Whispers and rumors from Gunbarrel played a key role in the first RAGE. A close neighbor of Wellspring, Gunbarrel was a key trading partner for the people in the wasteland. You never actually got to visit Gunbarrel in the first game, but RAGE 2 will rectify that.
