Impossible Creatures

"A Unique and Very Good RTS"

Impossible Creatures is a mostly unknown RTS from Microsoft Game Studios and Relic Entertainment. Although it's much like other RTS games, Impossible Creatures has a unique feature: you create your own army by combining 60+ stock animals. Using this, you can create an army of nine hybrid creatures.

Story: For single player mode, you control Rex Chance, an explorer that encounters bizarre creatures created by his father's technology, and he must fight back with creatures of his own. Kind of weak. 6/10

Gameplay: There is a single player campaign mode, which can get to be frustratingly difficult at times. I really haven't played it that much, as I've focused on the aspect of the game which really shines: multiplayer. Playing against other players online with your created armies provides for some good fun. Unfortunately, there aren't very many people online (which can probably be attributed to the relatively low fanfare behind the game at the time of this review). You can also play skirmishes against AI controlled opponents. One more thing: if you are new to RTS games, you're going to get slapped around at first. Don't give up on the game. Play the computer until you learn the ropes, then start playing online. This game (as well as pretty much every RTS) has plenty of controls, and mastering them is important to success. There's a very good tutorial to help you out, and the game has a user-friendly interface. 9/10

Graphics: Nothing breathtaking, really, but the creatures and environments look pretty nice. In game, the creatures are quite detailed. You can create some pretty ''interesting'' looking monsters, to say the least. The graphics get the job done. 7/10

Sound: Good stuff here. The growls and yelps the critters make sound great, and your henchmen alert you to important events (this can get annoying, however). The music picks up when battles begin, which is a nice touch. 9/10

Replay: Once you get used to the game, you'll be hooked. It's great fun creating creatures and sending them in to attack, or trying to beat back a rush by your opponents. You'll spend a great deal of time in the creature combiner by itself, trying to create the perfect creature, or simply making goofy looking critters. 10/10

Bottom Line: 9/10. Great concept, great gameplay, great sound, good graphics = excellent game. It's a shame that a game this good doesn't have more of a following behind it, although interest may pick up in it yet.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 03/15/03, Updated 03/15/03