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The Last Exodus is not the first apocalyptic RPG to be released in the new millennium. Yet I can say it is the most original and the most extreme that I have seen to date. This is a game that deals with very strong adult subject matter. It is not a game for the immature or those with a lose grip on reality. Physically the book is a stunner. Oversized and beautifully printed on slick paper. The cover art does an excellent job of portraying the feel of the game and sets a deserved anticipation of the setting within. Carrying it in my briefcase and dropping it on tables for the last two months has provided me with a nicely worn book that has not fallen apart.

I do detest spoilers in reviews, and the game does a great job of conveying the basics of the theme and setting without revealing everything. Each player is on the side of either a Christ or an Antichrist. The Last Exodus tells the story of the final time of prophecy. The setting is right about now, or a few years in the future. This allows for the players to be immediately familiar with the setting, but also allows for some new technology and advancements.

The art in the game is both a sore point and a feature depending on your view. The styles presented clash horridly from an aesthetic perspective, at least my perspective. The dissonance is that each of the artistic styles presented may differ intentionally to convey the different styles of play possible. If this is the case my hat goes off to the art director for going out on a limb, but next time explain a bit more to the audience what you are doing. If it was an accident Synister should consider a more uniform artistic presentation. I do realize that many may consider this two-sided opinion troubling, however I feel that the wheat within more than makes up for any chaff. More simply, I like this game, and I want to like all of this game.

Flipping to the back of the rulebook I find the system. Base mechanics are always interesting, at least to me, and this one does not disappoint. The base mechanic is based on a deck of 54 cards, suits of Spades, Hearts, Clubs and Diamonds, as well as two Jokers. The system, called the Vegas Rules has a lot of flexibility. One of the things that is interesting is the fumble mechanic. Should a character draw a Joker he or she draws again, then halves the result of that card. If the player then draws a high enough card the action may not fail so spectacularly. If the player is lucky enough to draw a king the player cancels the fumble and draws again. Similarly the player can draw a king and double the result of the next draw. If that card is an ace the two again cancel each other out.

There was one thing that really perturbed me about the Vegas Rules. Nowhere could I find the table or chart that would tell me what exactly each suit was preferred for. I would guess that Hearts are social, Diamonds are economic, Clubs are conflict, and Spades are intellect. I could be wrong. A one-page rules "flashcard" is all the game needs for clarification and hopefully the company will make one available on their web site. A pdf character sheet would also be very helpful.

I must say that The Last Exodus was well worth the wait. I would even go so far as to say that this is one of the most novel settings I have read. The mechanics compliment the styles of play presented without being overly complex. This does allow the possibility for abuse, but does not encourage it.