Dungeon Siege/Impossible Creatures

Estimated release: April 2002

Hack ‘n Slash

Getting very close to release now is Chris Taylor’s hack ‘n slash action RPG, Dungeon Siege. The game features a 3D engine whose primary hook is that it is totally seamless and continuous. Unlike games like Diablo, where players have to wait for new levels to load, Dungeon Siege never has to stop to load, whether you’re transitioning from one environment to the next, or an above-ground forest to an underground dungeon, and vice versa. This means the action never stops, and as Taylor’s resume shows (Total Annihilation), he’s a huge fan of over-the-top, non-stop action.

Blood in the Water

Canyon village

Two heads are better than one

Fourth of July

Players will be able to choose to add as many as eight characters to their party as they move along through the game. Dozens of weapons and spells will be at your disposal, and nifty features like potions that only get used up partially (only need half the health potion to restore your health? Then you’ll only drink that much of it. The rest gets saved), and a pack mule that carries your extra loot (admit it…how many dummy Diablo II characters do you have just holding extra stuff?) are available in Dungeon Siege.

Flying skull

Vicious scorpion

Pretty purple

Beat him with the rake!

Impossible Creatures

Estimated release: Summer 2002

The last time we examined Relic’s new real time strategy game, it was still called Sigma. For those who haven’t been keeping up – Impossible Creatures allows players to assume the role of a mad scientist and create genetically altered mutant monsters to do battle. Snap the tail of an electric eel on to the winged body of a dragonfly and get an airborne electrical attacker. Slap the head of a rhino onto the body of a cheetah and get a fast moving, powerful melee attacker. You get the idea. There are over 50 different animals you can use, and depending which body parts you choose, you can bestow your crazy creatures with different abilities.

Landshark!

Flying apes and sharks?

Electrical goodness

Beating down a building

Players build their armies offline using a monster creating laboratory called the Combiner – you’re limited to a set amount of creatures within the game, and you’ll need to make sure your army is balanced. You’ll need some flying creatures, some ranged attackers, some that can swim, some that can fly, etc. The more powerful abilities also cost more resources, so you’ll need to keep a mind toward stacking your army with some less powerful, cheaper animals as well, lest you get rushed early. A built in army analyzer helps you determine if there are any glaring holes in the set of creatures you’ve made. The army you create is akin to creating a deck of Magic cards – the army you’ve created may indeed play a role in your victory or demise. If it’s not working out for you in-game, go back to the drawing board and make a new set.

Camouflaged chameleon faces sonic attack of whale head

Extreme close up

Tactical view

Use the combiner to make a new monster