Darkspore is a science-fiction action role-playing game set in deep space. Players take the role of one of the last remaining Crogenitors, a highly advanced race that developed genetic engineering and created heroes, or "Living Weapons." In the single-player campaign, players unlock, customize, and control these heroes through successive levels, fighting corrupted Living Weapons called Darkspore. Besides leveling up, players may improve heroes by adding items in a customization system based on the character creator in Spore. As part of the marketing campaign for Darkspore, the alternate reality game HelpEDNA was launched in 2010.