I did not expect it to come, but here it is: the most rewarding turn based strategy game series I know. I really like the near future scenario. It's easy to understand gameplay, and being hard to master at the same time - Battle Isle was an instant classic. And what makes it even better: you not only get the golden classic Battle Isle, it's peaking sequel and the awesome brother in time - no, you also get a turnbased squad strategy game: Incubation. Incubation is the Predator game for all Battle Isle commanders: you are lost, have only primitive weapons and an overwhelmingly strong enemy lurkin' everywhere ... hunt them down! All you do is trying to escape and keep moving as the city you are enclosed in is turning into a slaughter for the aliens. On your way you find supplies like exo skeleton parts to make you men faster , bigger an more sophisticated guns an special application stuff. And if you are really good - I find and get even some lost recruits through the levels. Overheating and jammed guns, low ammunition and nowhere to go - there is plenty room for failing in surviving each level, each combat and each new mutation you encounter... There are also some minor weak moments: bad camera on incubation and annoying time pressing levels. But it is still one of the games which I kept my Win95 system around for - until today!
1990 King's Bounty was released the first time (Mega drive, Amiga etc) and made New World Computing a bigger game studio. It also cleared the way for the Heroes of Might and Magic series. This remake from 2008 ist a fine work in keeping the pure essence of round based strategy, hilarious humor and nice graphics. It is on one level with HoMM5 but you will smile far more often - every second quest or so the story takes you through plots you never heard before... or did you know that miller who stole things from the cemetery nearby to get along. But unfortunately he took that one ring that turns him slowly into a zombie and so he barricaded himself in order to keep it a secret. Will you kill him, or help? Or what about the girl that was in love with that dragon a long time ago - will you help HIM to get her back back or slay the beast? You can also marry some girls you meet (like the Queen of frogs, you turned into a human by kissing her) and get some children, extras ... and extra duties ;) Curious? Go and serve your king - by using the 4 spirits that keep whispering to you from that artefact you retrieved, with your army and (most important) your cleverness!
