Scorched Earth

The player is a U.S. Army Special Forces member sent to prevent an ancient godlike being from awakening.

The mission involves entering a pyramid in the Yucatan Peninsula, reaching the bottom, and detonating a nuclear device to stun the Dreaming God.

The player's parachute fails, separating them from the team and leaving them with only a flashlight and survival knife.

The pyramid is filled with monsters created by the slowly waking god, who will fully awaken in five game days.

Gameplay blends first-person shooter and RPG elements with survival horror conventions.

Players must fight monsters, solve puzzles, and converse with dead individuals via a magic yellow crystal to learn secrets, strategies, and story information.

Conversations involve typing keywords into a dialogue box, with dead individuals responding to specific terms.

Combat is challenging: monsters respawn, ammo is scarce, players are often under-equipped, and movement speed is similar to monsters.

Health can only be regained by resting (which speeds up time and leaves the player vulnerable) or by rare blue potions that also cure poison.

The player starts with a Walther P4 handgun and a survival knife for roughly half the game.

Items found in the pyramid grant points, with every two points adding one health point.

Items include Weapons, Crystals (with unique powers that deplete with use, except the yellow crystal), Potions (offering temporary effects like invincibility or time slowing), Miscellaneous Items (used for puzzles or inventory), and Treasure.