Incubation: Time Is Running Out - PC Review - Gamecenter

Free Email

Search

Shell Platinum MasterCard

CNET: Gamecenter: PC

Reviews

Incubation: Time Is Running Out
Rating: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 best

CNET Gamecenter Review
By Hugh Falk
(11/20/1997)

Game at a Glance
Recap: The crack rock of turn-based strategy games
Ups: Engrossing turn-base model; graphics that add to play
Downs: No editor; limits in customization
Multiplayer: Very good
Single player: Good
Demo: Available
Patch: Available
What do you call a game with the graphics of Quake and the playability of X-Com? Well, I'd call it "Quake 'n Wait," but Blue Byte Software decided to call its stunning new strategy game Incubation: Time Is Running Out instead. (Probably to avoid litigation with Kraft Foods' equally tasty Shake 'n Bake.) After playing Incubation for a couple of weeks, however, I think I'll just call it "Awesome" for short.
Incubation is a turn-based strategy game in the same vein as the X-Com or Breach games. It's actually more like the latter because Incubation doesn't contain X-Com's technological research. In short, the focus is tactical combat. The player controls a squad of space marines in an attempt to suppress an alien onslaught. Units gain experience points for each kill. Experience translates into skills, which can then be used with equipment points to acquire better armaments.
Dressed to Kill
Success in Incubation requires an understanding of squad-based tactics and a talent for problem solving. In fact, some of Incubation's single-player missions are very puzzle-oriented (occasionally with illogical solutions), and tactics become secondary. However, players turned off by puzzles can spend their time in multiplayer games for pure tactical combat.
What really makes Incubation special is its gaggle of multiplayer options and fantastic graphics. Graphics are often considered superfluous in a strategy game, but in Incubation they create a truly engrossing environment.
There are approximately 30 single-player missions in the campaign game. The plot has your marines called to duty on the planet Scayra. The locals, called Scay'Ger, have been infected by human herpes, which has mutated the friendly aliens into human-eating maniacs. The world is supposedly based on Blue Byte's Battle Isle games, but the manual doesn't mention the plot, and it is by no means intrusive on the gameplay. There are optional cut scenes after some missions, which are rendered impressively with the game engine itself. But they generally focus on mission goals rather than the plot as a whole. Even without plot, Incubation can stand on its true strength: multiplayer mode.
Nearly every multiplayer option I could hope for is included. Although the box doesn't mention all of the following, up to four players can connect over a LAN, Kali, Mplayer (which wasn't ready as of this writing), TCP/IP, modem, serial cable, one PC, or via play-by-mail.

Give me more!

Browse CNET Editors’ Top Picks

Review Leading Edge Notebooks • Top 5 Portable MP3 Players • Phones with Sex Appeal

Incubation: Time Is Running Out

Click for printer-friendly format
Email this story to a friend
SPONSORED LINKS
Buffalo Wireless LAN
Price DSL Providers
Shop B&N.com Today!

Comics
CDs
DVDs
Inline
Movies
Skateboards

Search for more products:

mySimon
a CNET Networks Company