Putting the 'role' back in role-playing games since 2002.
Donate to Codex
Good Old Games
  • Welcome to rpgcodex.net, a site dedicated to discussing computer based role-playing games in a free and open fashion. We're less strict than other forums, but please refer to the rules.

    "This message is awaiting moderator approval": All new users must pass through our moderation queue before they will be able to post normally. Until your account has "passed" your posts will only be visible to yourself (and moderators) until they are approved. Give us a week to get around to approving / deleting / ignoring your mundane opinion on crap before hassling us about it. Once you have passed the moderation period (think of it as a test), you will be able to post normally, just like all the other retards.

Turn-Based Tactics Incubation

Karm Veland Morelake

Literate
Probated
Joined
Jan 28, 2014
Messages
11
Hey who remembers this? I think it's time for me to play it again, was watching some space hulk vid and remembered about incubation.

incubation2.jpg
 

Baron Dupek

Arcane
Joined
Jul 23, 2013
Messages
1,870,765
Good introduction to tactical games. Easy rules, lot of fun with blowing alien scums.
I can only imagine matches in peer2mail, like chess.
Still need to make some stuff in editor.

Addon kick nuts.
 

Cadmus

Arcane
Joined
Dec 28, 2013
Messages
4,264
Incubation is amazing! I played it a lot. The game has a wonderful atmosphere and soundtrack. Too bad the campaign is a bit short. Perfect voice acting, too. Dunno what else to say about it, in a sense it's a perfect game, imo.
 
Self-Ejected

Ulminati

Kamelåså!
Patron
Joined
Jun 18, 2010
Messages
20,317
Location
DiNMRK
I recall having all kinds of trouble getting it to run proper on a modern PC. And the level editor stubbornly refuses to run unless you have a 3DFX Voodoo graphics card installed. :p

A shame really, because the game was quite good. Best part of the expansion was the advanced laser that allowed you to bypass those aliens that were immune to damage from the front and could oneshot your dudes. (They were interesting the first time you met them, but the encirclement mambo soon got old).
 

Misconnected

Savant
Joined
Jan 18, 2012
Messages
587
Heh, I was so happy when GOG finally got this, I think I ended up giving away like 5 copies at the GOG forums.

Incubation is still the best Space Hulk/squad-puzzle-tactics game I've ever played.

There's also a fun little Incubation-inspired flash game, by the way.
 

Zboj Lamignat

Arcane
Joined
Feb 15, 2012
Messages
5,523
I remember running it just fine some time ago with some non removed package that contained a 3dfx emulator. And yeah, it's a very good game, came out around the same time as the first Myth and they both gave me a huge tactical boner. Goddamn 1997, how I miss you.
 

Riel

Arcane
Joined
Apr 29, 2012
Messages
1,357
Location
Itaca
I remember beign stuck in the second mission of the Wilderness Missions, not sure exactly what was the problem since it's been too long, but those Scaiger had my marines for breakfast. I had a blast with Incubation OC though, shame it became too easy in the second playthrough, once I started being cautious with XP spending so I got my marines specialised and with decent ammo capacity the game became almost too easy.

Btw, notice how in modern games having a party member die means nothing? In incubation a corpse was a corpse, all you could do is restart or recruit a rookie to replace you experienced marine.
 

Cenobyte

Prophet
Joined
Feb 13, 2010
Messages
1,117
Location
Japan
Yes, this is a great game. Enjoyed it quite a bit back in the day. I have never tried the expansion, though.
 

asper

Arcane
Joined
Nov 14, 2007
Messages
2,207
Project: Eternity
Hell yeah I remember it. It's a great, fun game. Even played it a bit a while ago, after years. It's available on GoG as part of the Battle Isle pack.

There is also a Flash tribute / re-make that nails the feel and gameplay perfectly. Made with true love for the original.

http://armorgames.com/play/12509/xenosquad
 

kyrub

Augur
Joined
Aug 13, 2009
Messages
347
After reading a few reviews I realized this is actually well worth playing and it is the good old type of TBS with extra puzzle element. Very solid combination, in my book, so I gave this game a try.

Notes
1. This game is much more similar to the new XCOM-whatever than the original UFO Enemy Unknown. Limited squad size? Check. No reloading ammo? Check. Limited actions/APs, prescripted missions, camera tricks to make the game more pleasing to eye, no real strategic overlay? Check, check, check, check. Instead of "XCOM", they should've name it: InXubation.Yeah, I know, "XCOM" sells better...

2. The original game (Incubation: Time is running out) is basically a puzzle game with soldiers. The puzzle solving seems more important than actual squad strategy, so that you can win without having the "right" weapons or the "best" equipment, if you can think out a good way to go in every level. I love puzzles, so I find it great and challenging. But it disapoints a bit since it drags away the juice from the RPG elements of the game. I stopped caring for weapons (most of them suck as well), soldiers are all similar in development, what a pity. With a bit more care, they could've done so much better. Also, the puzzles are not that hard, so that became boring after a while.

3. The expansion (Wilderness). The reviews were good, but very few players enjoyed it. The game, as it seems, had broken and bugged missions in the release version, which turned people away. It can be fully patched today. I briefly tried the Wilderness, expecting less (the acclaim was non-existent). What a surprise: I find the expansion thriliing and the experience is similar to the TFTD. An excellent gem, the missions are open-ended, sometimes really hard to finish but always doable. Moreover, the game is challenging for my tactical nous and optimal "thinking-in-advance" like a few games ever did. How to split the squad (which is now frequent!), how to combine weapons in sub-squads. I don't mind reloading and this game needs it because of the ever-present blend of puzzle and tactics. In the expasion, however, the puzzle is not over-weighed like in the original.

4. On top of it, I found that the game was made fully moddable (see LCLdecode program in this place http://scayra.free.fr/incubation/index.html). So the useless equipment and weapons (about 60% of it) can be easily valorized. You may strengthen the RPG element of soldier development. You may also, with help of Notepad, set up when weapons occur in the game, how strong are your opponents. I raised the damage of the "Claws" of the most useless Scay-ger, which made the easy levels more exciting.

Incubation the Wilderness: Just perfect.
 
Last edited:
Self-Ejected

Ulminati

Kamelåså!
Patron
Joined
Jun 18, 2010
Messages
20,317
Location
DiNMRK
I loved incubation back in the day. Looking back, there were a bit too many puzzle-y maps. Especially whenever those whatchmacallit purple monsters were involved. The ones who were invulnerable from the front, one-shottable in the back and could kill your dudes in one hit. The balance was good though. You were constantly worrying about running out of resources and agonizing over how to make every bullet and action point count. the atmosphere was top notch too, at least in the original. I didn't care too much for the jungle tileset in the wilderness expansion and chainsaw babe was more of a liability than an asset.

I remember multiplayer being really enjoyable too as long as people had gentlemans agreements to not use the most broken weapons.
 

Zboj Lamignat

Arcane
Joined
Feb 15, 2012
Messages
5,523
Yes, the balance and difficulty were good if you abstained from savescumming. It did break down once you got jetpacks and lasers (including the ability to make final boss completely incapable of hurting your guys), but that was only near the end.

I thought the puzzle maps were pretty tense too, especially the one that combined the aliens you mentioned with the artillery ones that could only be killed in overwatch + falling bridges + moving platforms. Holy shit, a game that got you thinking hard about the way to successfully complete a mission, fortunately we moved past such obsolete design and my brian is free.
 

Cadmus

Arcane
Joined
Dec 28, 2013
Messages
4,264
I think Incubation had more atmosphere and depth than the new XCOM.
There's something about the graphics, I can't put my finger on it, but it's awesome. The voice acting too.

Is there a similar game? I've never played the other Battle Isle games, I think they were just regular strategies?
Maybe the original XCOM? I like the focus on tactics and puzzles in Incubation, coupled with the great atmosphere and art direction so I'm a bit afraid of the old XCOM, it sounds kinda funky and bloated with unnecessary stuff.
 
Last edited:

spectre

Arcane
Joined
Oct 26, 2008
Messages
5,382
I'm a bit afraid of the old XCOM, it sounds kinda funky and bloated with unnecessary stuff.
:nocountryforshitposters:
What you seem to be describing is Terror From the Deep which is basically the same game but reskinned and with added stuff.
XCOM1 is a quite simple game, not a lot of bloat, just some weapon imbalance.
If you can get past the graphics (not sure why you wouldn't, the early 3d of incubation is much fuglier) and the interface (no tooltips, RTFM, other than that it's pretty simple), you're in for a treat. Just go play it now.

Other than this, you can try Silent Storm series and Jagged Alliance.
 

Cadmus

Arcane
Joined
Dec 28, 2013
Messages
4,264
I'm a bit afraid of the old XCOM, it sounds kinda funky and bloated with unnecessary stuff.
:nocountryforshitposters:
What you seem to be describing is Terror From the Deep which is basically the same game but reskinned and with added stuff.
XCOM1 is a quite simple game, not a lot of bloat, just some weapon imbalance.
If you can get past the graphics (not sure why you wouldn't, the early 3d of incubation is much fuglier) and the interface (no tooltips, RTFM, other than that it's pretty simple), you're in for a treat. Just go play it now.

Other than this, you can try Silent Storm series and Jagged Alliance.
I keep trying Jagged Alliance every few years because people like it so much and even though I really like the turn based tactical combat, it just bores me for some reason =/
I think Incubation looks great.

Every time someone calls a game like Incubation "early 3d" I rage a little bit.
What are some examples of an early 3D?
 

As an Amazon Associate, rpgcodex.net earns from qualifying purchases.
Back
Top Bottom