This game deserves better!

[stimuli]

Two things still draw me to Impossible Creatures:

1) Its such a fresh concept...for RTS games and in general. In a gaming world rife with clone after clone and sequel after sequel of the same rehashed themes and gameplay, I found IC to be a very refreshing idea implimented very well.

2) Customisation. IC allows you to create your own force...design your army to your own specifications even done to the genetic makeup of your soldiers. That's a level of customisation that is sorely lacking in RTS games (and most games IMHO). I love the feeling of unleashing my own creations onto the battefield as opposed to being handed a premade army.

I agree with an earlier poster who said the game lacks depth in certain areas (namely battle itself) but I disagree with the same poster who said that army creation is a negative. I believe the army creator is the best part of the game...I would actually like to see it expanded.

The style of the game was also very refreshing. The early 20th century young science feel was a great way to turn instead of the obvious high tech approach that most games take....although this style, leaning somehwhat towards the younger gamer, may have been the biggest factor in turning away audiences.

Things that I believe could add more to the game:
-squad and formation control
-larger, more complex maps (this could give much more significance to the speed and range of different animals)
-more animals (obviously)
-ability to build any building on water (this would make more of the map useable and also make swimming units more useful)
-mythological units...maybe...possibly...

I'm sure the people at relic could come up with better ideas than this but I figured I'd throw it out there.

The idea of making IC freeware is an interesting one. If used properly it could be a good advertising tool for Relic, other Relic games, or just about anything if the right splash screens were included.
A game of this size and quality distributed free could grow quickly in popularity and set the stage for a very popular and financially lucrative sequel.

Those who created this game deserve a good deal of praise for their creation.
Although it may not have sold well, IC did recieve its fair share of good critical response and should be included in IGN's list of "most underated games". (oh look! there's another advertising oportunity!lol)

[Belgarion]

Head on over to IC planet.
It has most of the things you are looking for.
The only thing I disagree with you about is that this game is FRESH.
Look up Sigma on the net.
This game and concept has been around for 6 years I know of and I still love this game.
Play it occassionally online. Small but diehard community still exists
IC 2 Would be the best thing ever

[ÜberJumper]

I quite liked the game, but the lack of engaging battles were a disapointment.

I think that if they ever did an IC2 that the hand to hand battles between the creatures would have to be violent, bloody and as realistic as possible.

[stimuli]

Thanx Belgarion. I will check that out =)

[Riess]

I disagree on the bloody & violent part. I like the overall cartoony and "harmless" feel of the game, it has great comedic potential. What I think is missing is some more interesting animations, a bit like the sync-kills of DoW.

[Belgarion]

Moveable bases was the one thing I thought IC should have had. The base is a Hover Steam Train(Back to the Future anyone) but it only ever hovered in the cut scenes in the campaign

[ÜberJumper]

Riess, yes, that's the core of it. The combat animations were meh.

You'd expect vicious terrorizing creatures to be AWESOME in combat.

[Simon]

Although I can see your point about the battle animations, Über, it doesn't bother me so much. I was more annoyed by the vulnerability of the lab (which, as has been pointed out, was a vehicle that you couldn't move during gameplay). I wouldn't have minded seeing a bit more ferocity from the creatures in battle, though, now that you mention it. They are equipped with some fairly viscious weaponry, after all.

[fuggles]

IC was just a bit dull with a flawed concept. The ability to only queue up 9 animals, or whatever it was, made it feel a bit false, like the outcome was decided already regardless of what you did.

What didn't help was that the lobster moose was OP either.

Allow me to build creatures on the fly or give me more blueprint slots!

[ÜberJumper]

Clearly you never faced the wrath of my Snakaroo creatures.

[fuggles]

OMG! I had a Giant Kangconda - massive leap, the highest possible damage, but a loner with low hp?

[monkeyman2490]

IC was a really fun game. i say "was" because i dont have it anymore. it broke in my disc drive. would anyone know if and where i can buy it again?

[fuggles]

it's still published I think? Anyway, Tescos tends to stock it, or your usual E-distributors.

[Timeless]

Good Idea. Poorly implemented. The online numbers showed this from the start as did the extremely lackluster sales.

[Phlaeming_Fenix]

Oh man, I love this game! I don't even have the full version, and the demo doesn't work on my computer anymore, but I LOVE this game! My brother got a demo disc in the mail with IC, Warcraft 3, and I think Dungeon Siege demos. I only played IC. But it was AWESOME. The animal customizer thing was cool, and I thought it was the only game with something like that at the time, and the missions were pretty cool. The only thing I remember not liking was having to go out and get DNA samples of the animals with my little dude.... I think.... I haven't been able to play even the demo on my computer for... 2 or 3 years. But I remember things...

[Belgarion]

OMG get a half decent PC.
This runs on the most basic PC now

[CamaspEmperor]

IC has three gigantic problems.

1. It was never advertised.

2. There isn't enough depth once you're in game even though there's tons of depth in the combiner.

3. Relic had no clue whatsoever how to balance it.

[Benefiend]

I'd say it had one gigantic problem #1.
The marketing and distribution of the game was horribly fumbled. I could swear I saw it for $5 in Walmart's discount bin before I even saw it on the shelves at major game stores. Of course, I was really low on cash back then so who knows. But the only reason I ever new of it was because I had been following Relic since Homeworld.

There was a second factor of learning curve.
Relic didn't really need to balance it because everyone had access to the same possible unit types. However, for a new player coming in, the task of "design" a good scout, or a good raider, or a good defender, etc... is rather daunting. As that was the case, IC intimidated all but the most serious RTS gamer.

[Belgarion]

I stick to my point that this game was genious.
Its a shame that the only other game that might have come close, Paraworld has flopped so badly.
Give me IC2 tomorrow and I would pay £50 for the damn game

[fuggles]

It will never be as good as Gene Wars though

[stimuli]

I agree with belgarion.
I'd snap up a larger IC2 in a heartbeat.

[roflmao]

The thing is, certain combinations were way better than others, it was just a matter of time finding which ones are the better ones. Once you learn which units, its mirror games all the way through, therefore too straightforward. The game was lots of fun for a while though.

[Mac_Bug]

video game sales are a self fulfilling prophecy. While AlexG pitches his childhood idea of combining animals, which direction the game takes is really largely up to the publisher, in this case MS. If Microsoft wanted something kiddy, less violent, more zoo tycoon morphed into RTS, then that's what Relic delivers because that's what marketing wants to sell. When marketing doesn't have much faith in the game then they don't budget the advertising for it, and when you don't budget the advertising for it it doesn't sell. That's really all there is to it.

[Carabou]

Yea its like another game that i like Nerf Arena Blast. It runs on the same game engine as UT but it wasnt advertised... Also because it was nerf gunes people are like WHAT THE HECK MAN its not violent... i thought it was awesome same with this... i also got bored of IC because the story line is the same basicly there is nothing besides destroy other enemies base that and i got stuck... then one day i poped it in and BAM i saw people online i played some and i was like O_O i suck... i cant beaat these people... and i got bored agian >.< i might play some today Not Sure...

[Belgarion]

He he try some strats like lev 1 rush and suchlike and feel the wrath of this game.

A descent programmer could spend a week on this game and turn it into a blockbuster the likes of which has never been seen before

[Carabou]

then why would it take a year to actually make the game if one programmer can make a game awesome in a week ;P

[Belgarion]

Cause Microsoft wiped their hands of it and Relic cant change it. It took years to write but would take zilcho to refine

[Carabou]

good point

[Rell_S]

Maybe if another year was spent in developing this concept it could of came out perfect.

With all units balanced perfectly.

Construction speeds based on power, the maths of the engine working in harmony of the needs of the disign concept. Also No super units! Combining things with other things was what MADE the super units, so we dont need that do we?

[robnubis]

I'd love if relic could get a small team together to make an IC sequel on the Essence Engine perhaps, that'd be awesome.

[Belgarion]

OK here is my patented idea ©
Bring the Gene splicing to the modern day and have all creatures from history a la Jurassic park and have a 12 creature army as opposed to 9 for fighting with. Destructable battlefields like COH and Voila the best thing since sliced bread