History VideoGame / AMindForeverVoyaging

One of the most blatantly liberal games of all time, and, depending on your personal politics, you'll probably find either it a sustained headache or one of the most effective uses of AnAesop ever... it especially comes out against hyper-patriotism and the harmful effects of religious fanaticism. The political 'solution' offered at the end appears to be one of pacifism and social-welfare statism. However, the fact that its dystopian worlds are ones that you get to explore yourself makes up for a lot. In any case, it is one of the IF game most frequently cited as an inspiration by the current generation of interactive fiction authors, and worth checking out.

* CrapsackWorld: The 2041 simulation appears to show Ryder's plan working. The first signs of trouble begin to appear in 2051, with pollution levels rising, the economy in a depression, and the government beginning to curtail civil liberties. 2061 is even worse, with widespread poverty, the government turning authoritarian, and the Church of God's Word growing in influence. By 2071, the Church has basically taken over America, rationing of food and water has been implemented, and the ecosystem is is ruins. The 2081 sim shows the world reduced to a post-apocalyptic ruin.

* EngineeredPublicConfession: [[spoiler: In the endgame, Senator Ryder is all too happy to show his [[BeneathTheMask True Colors]] to Dr. Perelman. Your job is to let the world see them as well.]]

* EverythingTryingToKillYou: The 2081 simulation. Described in the official hints as "very deadly", almost every direction leads to a death event. It doesn't help that by this point in the simulation's timeline, PRISM's analogue is elderly ''and'' starving to death.

* FailedFutureForecast: The USSR is not only still in existence in 2031, it appears to have enjoyed a renaissance. The Soviet Bloc has expanded to include countries such as Greece and Guatemala. Also, [[PersecutionFlip South Africa is run by a black-dominated government that oppresses white people]]. It's also implied that the apocalyptic state of the world in 2081 is the result of the Church-led US government starting a war with the Soviet Union that went nuclear.

* FromBadToWorse: After you explore the horrific 2071 simulation, Perelman insists on a 2081 sim, reasoning that things might still turn around for Rockvil, and that at least it can't get any worse. He's very wrong.

* KidsAreCruel: In the 2061 simulation, you see children torturing animals, harassing a Jewish person, and making fun of you for being old. This is {{exaggerated|trope}} in the 2071 sim, where kids torturing near-extinct animals is glorified, and other children straight up kill you by throwing stones at you.

* ReducedToRatburgers: If you diagnose yourself in the 2081 sim, you'll find that you've been reduced to this state. And that's when you're ''lucky'', as the only thing you can remember about your last meal is picking at the remains of a dead squirrel "weeks ago".

* {{Feelies}}: The original game box included a ''Dakota Online'' magazine and a map of Rockvil.

* HasTwoMommies: In the technical sense: when you ask Perelman about your parents, he tells you that they are just a part of your simulation life, while in real life you don't have any real parents, unless you count these "parents" to be himself and Dr. Randu (although, to be sure, Dr. Perelman himself was married to Leah, whose daughter Esther she gave birth to, a few years before Leah passed away).

* JustBeforeTheEnd: The 2071 simulation gives this vibe, with environmental degradation reaching critical levels, poverty and crime being widespread, and the government being increasing totalitarian and belligerent.

* PlayableEpilogue: One of the greats.

* WhoWantsToLiveForever: [[spoiler:In the end, PRISM [[PinocchioSyndrome chooses to live out a simulated normal human life]], including an eventual death.]]

Dr. Abraham Perelman, PRISM's "father", informs PRISM of his true nature and gently brings him from simulation mode into reality. Perelman explains that he has awakened PRISM so a vital mission can be performed: running a simulation of a revitalization plan (dubbed the Plan for Renewed National Purpose), sponsored by Senator Richard Ryder. The Plan calls for "renewed national purpose" through de-regulation of government and industry, military conscription, a unilateral approach to diplomatic relations, and a return to traditional and fundamental values. PRISM will enter a simulation of a typical American town -- Rockvil, UssefulNotes/SouthDakota -- at 10 year intervals following the Plan's enacting, continuing his existence as "Perry", and record the Plan's results... for good or for bad.

Dr. Abraham Perelman, PRISM's "father", informs PRISM of his true nature and gently brings him from simulation mode into reality. Perelman explains that he has awakened PRISM so a vital mission can be performed: running a simulation of a revitalization plan (dubbed the Plan for Renewed National Purpose), sponsored by Senator Richard Ryder. The Plan calls for "renewed national purpose" through de-regulation of government and industry, military conscription, a unilateral approach to diplomatic relations, and a return to traditional and fundamental values. PRISM will enter a simulation of a typical American town -- Rockvil, South Dakota -- at 10 year intervals following the Plan's enacting, continuing his existence as "Perry", and record the Plan's results... for good or for bad.

** Perry Sim's human avatar (presumably depicted on the game box cover art) bears a strong physical resemblance to the man depicted in the Creator/NormanRockwell painting ''Freedom of Speech''.

* StrawCharacter: Senator Ryder, a conservative of the LargeHam variety. Absolutely everything he's in favor of is shown to be wrong and/or immoral.