Puzzles and Solvability
We need MacGyver here |
Score: 3.
Interface and Inventory
The interface of the adventure game parts hasn’t changed that much, and while there were some oddities in the space simulator phases, overall, I think, the action sequences were much easier to handle than in the first game. And the best renovation they did to the game was replacing the code system of Inca I with a tolerable autosave system.I just found out the game had also this possibility. I just fail to see where would have I needed it |
Story and Setting
Score: 5.
Sounds and Graphics
The inca pop of the first game is back, and although I didn’t make a full comparison (I’d be mad to fire up the first one again), most of the music seems just recycled. Then again, while the breathtaking views of early 1990s are not that impressive in 2020s, at least there were more interesting visages to look at than in the Inca I. I think this one is going to go even-steven.I'll take this over the bland corridors of the first game |
Environment and Atmosphere
While the first Inca was a confusing melange of real historical facts about Inca, cheesy B-rate scifi and aggravating action sequences, the sequel seems a smoother experience. The producers have clearly emphasised now the B-movie elements, which at least makes the game more consistent in its tone, although the main point I found interesting in Inca I or the use of the traditions of the ancient Incas is all but lost. This felt a very middle of the road experience, so that shows in the score also.Score: 5.
Dialogue and Acting
I seem to have picked the floppy version of the game, without any spoken dialogue, but I later sampled a Youtube recording of the CD-version. I am glad I didn’t play that one, since the “actors” are cheesy as hell, and it would have been torture to listen to them for more than five minutes. The text itself is again cliched, but serviceable. I think I’ll let the game off the hook this time and won’t detract any points for the travesty that I heard in the CD version.Interestingly, Inca II got almost a solid line of 5s! It’s (3 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 5)/.6 = 47! Checking against the Inca I and its final rating (40), this seems fair, since the sequel was definitely a better game. It’s a surprisingly decent enough experience, if you don't have high expectations and especially don’t try to take any of the plot seriously, and you can finish it so quickly that you won’t get tired with it.The overall score guesses were much lower (many of them going even lower than the first game got), but Alex Romanov guessed the highest and nailed the score this time. Considering that he had the advantage of having played the game, this seems quite appropriate.
CAP Distribution
- Blogger Award - 100 CAPs - For blogging and playing Inca II for our enjoyment
- True Companion Award - 25 CAPs - For playing Inca II with Ilmari during the review
- Psychic Prediction Award - 10 CAPs - For guessing the correct score for Inca II
- Reminiscence Award - 5 CAPs - For a Sunday afternoon spent on Inca II
- Ancient Games Award - 3 CAPs - For reminding everyone of the gem that was the Snoopy game
- Snoopy Conoisseur Award - 6 CAPs - For a mass of Snoopy facts
- Needles Conoisseur Award - 3 CAPs - For knowing where Snoopy's brother lives
- How to Melt Your Car Award - 2 CAPs - On Mythbusting an Inca II puzzle
- Snoopy Star Award - 3 CAPs - For information on the fame of Snoopy in Hollywood
- The Most Useless Character Award - 2 CAPs - For an in-depth analysis of the (first) protagonist of Inca II
- Red-blooded American Award - 5 CAPs - For an in-depth analysis on the effect of Peanuts to American mentality
- Woodstock Award - 3 CAPs - For a factoid on Snoopy's sidekick
Great playthrough ! I've never heard those voices before, I don't find them appaling, but they seem out of place with all the french + peruvian exoticness and weirdness.
ReplyDeleteThat intro music though .. I remember it too well. It has a similar tune to Carnavalito song
The ending always was something weird
ReplyDeleteInterestingly, for once I think the rating of a Coktel Vision game should have been worse than what it was. It's not the worst, worst needs something to hate, which this doesn't have, but it does feel like the worst of the Coktel action/adventure games so far. To shorten my own review, Inca 2 doesn't feel like an experience like it's predecessor did. (Or the other two you didn't play) It's just the game version of something like Krull. It's just weird enough to be different, but not weird enough to be surreal and not good enough to be interesting more than once.
ReplyDeleteIt'll be interesting to see if The Last Dynasty improves upon any of these problems, but that won't be for another couple of years.
Yes, it might be that I am rating this more against the "pure" Coktel adventures, since those are the ones I've played most (although come to think of it, many of them also had some actiony parts, also). This one's at least playable compared to some of the earlier games, and while it wasn't good, it wasn't bad either - it didn't really rouse any passion for or against it in me. But I do understand that the fact that it really doesn't have anything memorable in it (not even that much of surrealism) might lower the score for another reviewer.
DeleteI still would like to know what was the release price of this game, was it a AAA price ? AA ? cheap release ? That's super important
DeleteAccording to the Spring 1994 issue of InterAction (Sierra's magazine), the floppy version was "around $30" and the CD "around $35". That's about $65-75 today.
DeleteWhile looking for this information, I found that someone editing IMDb claims that the floppy version not only lacks the voices but is actually shorter: "The game has two versions, the complete CD version and the shorter floppy version. The shorter version of the game removes the final section of the game that features a difficult to navigate maze and the final puzzle."
that's an amazing find ! I've never heard of the game being shorter in floppy version, clearly they ran out of time and finalized the game later. Maybe it should be included in the review, will probably lower the score more, but it's interesting
DeleteI mentioned that last time, also, my own review shows some of it:
Deletehttps://almostafamine.blogspot.com/2024/08/inca-ii-won.html
The TL;DR version is that it is noticeable once you're aware of it, but it's removal doesn't actually harm the ending in any way.
Also, anybody have any idea what the French price tag was? Foreign sales are always less important than domestic, even if you are owned by a foreign country.
DeleteHow to Melt Your Car Award - 2 CAPs - On Mythbusting an Inca II puzzle
ReplyDeleteI-- what? LOL I have to go find this comment now because I have no idea what this is referring to.
Ohhh the thing about using alcohol to melt ice. Okay. I was picturing melting an entire car and was really confused.
DeleteMaybe "How to Defrost Your Car Award" would be less confusing.
DeleteWhatever happened to "CoktelVisionGameFan"?
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure I've seen anything posted by them at all this year.
Delete