Impossible Creatures - PC

Also known as: Sigma: The Adventures of Rex Chance

Got packs, screens, info?
Viewed: 3D Combination Genre:
Strategy: Combat
Media: CD Arcade origin:No
Developer: Relic Soft. Co.: Microsoft
Publishers: Nordic Games (GB)
Microsoft (GB)
Released: 14 Feb 2003 (GB)
14 Jun 2016 (GB)
30 Jan 2003 (US)
Ratings: PEGI 12+, ESRB Teen 13+ (T)
No Accessories: No Accessories

Summary

The release of another god game/RTS for the PC was never going to raise many eyebrows - any PC gamer will attest to the fact that there's no shortage of similar titles already available for the platform. But Impossible Creatures places a different spin on the usual proceedings, a spin for which developer Relic deserves to be commended. As the title suggests, the game places an emphasis on creating 'impossible creatures'. This is achieved by combining the DNA of a range of different species in order to construct your own mutations, which are then used to build armies and fight big, epic battles.

Set in an imaginative world of remote and diverse islands in the 1930's, the story involves hero/adventurer Rex Chance as he attempts to thwart the plans of a super-villain bent on taking over the world. Travelling across a string of islands in the South Pacific, the player commands dozens of these creatures in the fight against several mad scientist villains.

Over 50 real life animals feature in the game, resulting in over 40,000 possible different mutant creations. For example, if you require a stealthy ranged unit, you could combine a chameleon with an electric eel. If you want a powerful ally that can burrow underground, you could combine a rhino with a lemming. You can then use these, and thousands of other potential creations, to customise armies and strategies, guaranteeing that no two games will be the same.

For the single player there's a total of 17 different story-driven missions, which take place across 14 different islands. A detailed 3D world plays host to these islands, encompassing four unique world ecologies, complete with daylight cycles and varying weather and temperature.

For the multi-player fanatics amongst you, there's also a host of options that allow a total of six players to rumble for dominance across more than 20 multi-player maps.

Impossible Creatures is certainly a novel concept with regard to the usual array of RTS games. It's also very involving and requires a fair amount of your time. If you can spare it, however, it's time well spent.