Inca II: Nations of Immortality

Inca II: Wiracocha is a superior sequel to Inca in every aspect, not least because some difficult action sequences can now be skipped.

The plot picks up right after Inca left off: El Dorado (hero in the first game) has successfully established a new Inca Empire in space despite the efforts of a pirate/conquistador named Aguirre. Aguirre is still around, naturally, and plots to destroy the empire using a mysterious asteroid that jams interplanetary communications. The pseudo-mystical mumbo-jumbo that made up the bulk of Inca is still present, especially towards the ending, but this time around it is dominated by the faux-Star Wars elements, particularly when a Han Solo clone named Kelt Cartier joins your side. Like its predecessor, Inca II is a hybrid of Wing Commander-style space combat and point-and-click adventure, proceeding in mostly-linear fashion from scene to scene. It mercifully leaves out the mazes of the original, and adds a third element just as significant to the whole as the combat and the puzzles: extensive cut scenes, most of which are quite impressive. The combat scenes are solidly implemented, but not revolutionary. You have a first-person view, several types of missile to choose from, and even a radar to help locate enemy ships. Some particularly difficult battles are optional, but winning them makes later scenes easier. One annoying point, though: sometimes combat will be interrupted abruptly to show a cutscene. After the cutscene is over, you often won't regain your bearing fast enough to dodge enemy fire. It's a minor point, though, and you can always restore a game. As we've come to expect from Coktel, puzzle sequences are very pretty and pleasingly surreal, focusing on machines and other objects left behind to test you. Unfortunately, your range of actions is limited enough that you don't really have to think. All you can do is click on things with an item from your inventory, or click on things without an item from your inventory. Thus, a potentially clever puzzle, like cracking a glass case by pouring water into it and letting it freeze, is spoiled by the fact that it's all you can do. But, well, many purists would argue that you can always use this "use everything in inventory with everything on the screen" tactic, and that is cheating anyway ;)

Overall, I find Inca II to be a pleasant, surrealistic adventure. Unique and fun enough to merit Top Dog status, but be wary of the game's arcade action and space action elements. Recommended for all adventure fans who don't mind exercising their reflexes. Thumbs up!

Review By HOTUD