Preservation Proposal: Wrath Unleashed on GOG
In the ever-evolving landscape of digital entertainment, it is crucial to preserve unique and genre-blending titles that risk fading into obscurity due to hardware limitations and lack of digital availability. One such title deserving a revival is Wrath Unleashed—a strategic action-fantasy hybrid developed by The Collective and published by LucasArts in 2004 for PlayStation 2 and Xbox.
Wrath Unleashed is a rare gem that combined turn-based strategy with real-time arena combat, all set against a mythologically rich world divided between Order and Chaos, Light and Dark. Featuring god-like demigods commanding armies across a board-game-style map, the game demanded tactical thinking, unit synergy, and individual combat prowess. It blended the cerebral depth of Risk or Heroes of Might and Magic with the visceral thrill of Power Stone-style duels. Few titles before or since have married these mechanics so fluidly.
What makes Wrath Unleashed an essential candidate for digital preservation on GOG is its uniqueness and untapped potential for rediscovery. Despite mixed reviews at launch—largely due to its unconventional design—it has cultivated a modest but vocal cult following. In a gaming world increasingly embracing remasters, reimaginings, and indie revivals of niche classics, Wrath Unleashed deserves a second life, especially on a platform like GOG that champions DRM-free access and archival efforts.
Additionally, the game’s creative DNA is a time capsule of early 2000s experimentation from a now-defunct developer (The Collective) and a pre-Disney LucasArts. With original Xbox and PS2 hardware aging and physical media degrading, GOG represents one of the few platforms that could ensure Wrath Unleashed remains playable and accessible to future generations.
Releasing Wrath Unleashed on GOG would not only preserve a distinctive piece of interactive art—it would offer players a window into a bold, imaginative title that dare