Incoming | December 17, 1998

 

Incoming is a 3D shooting game developed by Rage Software and published by Imagineer. It was first released for Microsoft Windows in March 1998, followed by a Dreamcast version released on December 17, 1998, in Japan, October 14, 1999, in Europe, and September 15, 1999, in North America. Set in the near future of 2009, the game primarily involves controlling vehicles and turrets to fight against invading aliens in campaign mode, arcade mode, and cooperative or competitive play with other players. Some stages include simple real-time strategy elements.

At the time, the game was praised for its advanced graphics and sound. The PC version received generally positive reviews, while the Dreamcast version was not as well received. A PC-exclusive sequel, Incoming Forces, was released in 2002, and an arcade version utilizing a unique hardware interface was released in 2003.

Primarily a vehicle simulation game, players control one of various vehicles to achieve objectives. The vehicles used include space fighters, aircraft, defensive structures, or watercraft, typically equipped with a primary weapon (with unlimited ammo) and sometimes a secondary weapon (with limited or unlimited ammo). The game adopts an arcade-style system with high score logging and a "life" system.

There are three game modes: the campaign mode requires players to achieve a series of objectives to neutralize the alien threat according to the main story. Typical objectives include cargo transport and escorting allied convoys. There are two types of campaigns: "Campaign Action," which consists solely of simulation missions, and "Campaign Tactical," which includes additional sub-missions alongside the main missions. These sub-missions allow players to manipulate the deployment of various vehicles and weapons from a "tactical display," similar to real-time strategy games.

Both campaigns consist of 10 missions (referred to as "phases" in the game) across six locations. These locations can also be played in arcade mode, where players can fight against alien aircraft while collecting as many power-ups as possible. The multiplayer mode has a similar structure but varies slightly depending on the selected game type. Split-screen mode is available on both platforms, and the PC version also offers network and internet options.

With a simple story, the game received praise from critics, set against the backdrop of May 15, 2009. Reports of UFO sightings follow, with attacks on various locations on Earth and an alien base established in the Arctic. Countries around the world, having suffered significant losses of space facilities, determine that Earth's existence is at risk and begin a final counter-offensive with their remaining forces. A top-secret operation begins at "ADATA" (Alien Detection and Tracking Array) near Mount Kilimanjaro. The game's events occur after the alien attack on the ADATA facility in May 2008.

The game is set in six locations: Kenya (defending the ADATA facility), the Arctic (attacking alien bases while protecting human bases), the North Atlantic (defending oil platforms and attacking a second alien base), Florida (part of a fleet invading the alien moon base), the Moon (attacking more alien bases), and a planet in the Geyser Nebula (raiding the alien invaders' planet).

When players clear the Campaign Action mode, there are bonus "virus" scenarios in each region, in addition to the 10 missions. Shortly before these missions, the aliens launch four virus bombs that affect four locations on Earth previously visited by the player. Players must destroy all buildings in these areas to prevent the spread of the virus.

Rage Software, the developer of Incoming, was known for its cutting-edge graphics and effects. The game utilizes 3dfx technology and was included with some retail versions of the Voodoo2 graphics card.

In September 1997, Rage Software mentioned at the European Computer Fair that they were considering a Nintendo 64 version of the game. However, as of now, the 64 version has not been released.

The arcade version released in 2003 operates on the Vortek V3 Global VR arcade board and utilizes a unique virtual reality hardware interface.

The Windows version of the game received generally positive reviews, particularly for its explosion and special effects quality, as well as the cutscenes using the main game engine. The Dolby Surround-encoded sound was also highly praised. The British magazine PC Zone rated the game as "very good," noting its "some minor simulation elements" and praising the game's setting as a "fresh change from most futuristic combat simulations, positively affecting gameplay." The review concluded that "it is fun as it looks. This time, even those who buy the game solely based on the beauty of the package photo will realize they are playing a very enjoyable game."

Edge emphasized the efficient gameplay mechanics, giving it an 8 out of 10, stating that the designer "succeeded in creating something beyond a light show, and while not entirely original, the design is a sensibly tuned understanding of gameplay."

Next Generation mentioned that the game is "undoubtedly an advancement in the action/arcade genre and a visual advancement for the entire 3D market." Due to its various units and settings, Incoming offers commendable originality and replayability, making it a title worth checking out.

IGN described the game as "quite challenging," praising its variety and volume. While it commended the sound and graphics, it criticized the latter for being "a significant concern" in getting the game to run on their PC. IGN referred to the game as "visually appealing with excellent gameplay," but gave it a "mediocre" review score due to system issues. In contrast, GameSpot's review did not acknowledge these hardware problems and praised the game's visuals as "top-notch among all action games." However, the reviewer described the game design as "strong but with some flaws... (the game) is certainly appealing, but it is a bit disappointing that it doesn't keep you engaged." GameSpot summarized the game as "a great game and a must-have for arcade fans... what is lacking is the recognition that computer games have surpassed this simple style of gameplay."

The reviews for the Dreamcast port of the game were not very positive. IGN expressed dissatisfaction with the graphics at the time of the North American and EU release in late 1999, citing drawing distance issues as a gameplay hindrance. It criticized the "occasionally distracting" graphics, "very vague" mission descriptions, and "strange flight model" of the aircraft, but acknowledged that "if you are a true shooting fan and want a great challenge, you might want to check out 'Incoming'." Jonathan Licata of AllGame rated it 3 out of 5, stating that "the two-player mode lacks innovation and falls short of expectations, and Incoming essentially exists as a single-player game. Once all campaigns are fully cleared, the game's appeal diminishes significantly." PlanetDreamcast's review was more scathing, labeling the plot as "recycled trash used in many other games of this kind," criticizing the split-screen multiplayer as "terrible," and describing the objectives as "mediocre." It also pointed out graphic issues, clipping problems, and poor controls. The reviewer dismissed the graphics as "a bit outdated," while acknowledging the "great special effects," stating that "Incoming might be worth renting... (it is) slightly better than average." There were some positive reviews for the Dreamcast version, with Game Vortex rating the visuals as "the most stunning among all games." It mentioned that multiplayer was "fun," but emphasized that "the campaign mode is the best," concluding that it is "very enjoyable and recommendable." Famitsu rated it 27 out of 40.