Invictus: In the Shadow of Olympus

It is a bet - with the human race hanging in the balance.

Poseidon is absolutely enraged with the lack of respect shown by humanity. The ancient Greek god of the seas is threatening to drown the entire race into oblivion. But then the reasoning of Athena, goddess of skills, wisdom and warfare and would-be savior of the upstart race, makes a slight bet. Suppose anyone can be a hero? Suppose the most insignificant of mortals can be transformed into the noblest of mortals, would that not bring honor to the race and ensure their survival? Poseidon accepts.

Well, you have been chosen to lead a group of legendary Greek warriors against mortal, undead and monsters in an effort to succeed, to earn the title of hero and save the human race.

You can choose two heroes to begin with. Will you select Arachne, queen of the spiders? Or perhaps Orion - the ultimate huntsman and son of the game’s ultimate foe? Then there is Perseus, son of Zeus and slayer of Medusa, known for his invisibility, and cunning. There are a variety of heroes to choose from, known for skill, cunning and power. Be wise in this endeavor, for your survival and mankind’s depend on it. As you progress through the game, you may add two more heroes to battle on your behalf. But choose carefully. You can also recruit from towns and build your forces through good deeds. And don’t think that you won’t need extra troops. There are nine maps to work through, each with its own special challenges.

Interplay and Quicksilver Software have entered the role-playing game genre with a golden apple (yes, one is part of the game and has healing powers), and combined both myth and magic with incredible graphics and game AI (artificial intelligence) into a program that is a wonder to the eyes, a delight to the ears and a mental challenge.

Using voxel animation, as opposed to polygonal animation, Invictus: In the Shadow of Olympus combines the best elements of Age of Empires with strategic warfare programs to present a game that spans several genres, but delivers solid real-time action and adventure.

The game board, initially cloaked by a blanket of darkness,  is slowly revealed as you traverse the Grecian landscape. Intricately rendered, it is easy to get caught up in looking at the scenery and forgetting about the danger that lies just ahead.

Where this program really soars is in the options. Rotating the game board, tilting it to give you another perspective and zooming in to watch Hercules flex his brawn, or lighting dance from Electra’s fingers with each forward thrust of her will and body - what a tremendous accomplishment. Advance your troops in a line, a wedge, a box or create your own formation. Protect your range troops (bows or magic) with flankers. While this game may draw upon the myths of ancient Greece, in the long run, it bears little resemblance to those legends. But viva la difference! Invictus brings a fresh face to RPGs.

This program is appealing to the game-playing elite, as well as the novice. Don’t want to wade through the manual - not a problem. There is a 20-minute or so tutorial that will give you all the hot keys to the game, allow you to experiment with grouping your troop and formations, as well as providing the basics of movement and combat. It may seem oversimplified, but the instructions are easily remembered.

Where Invictus may suffer is in some vocal characterizations. There is no classical dialog, no fancy speech, but some of the vocals are downright silly and totally out of place in this program. But that aside, there are few other faults with this program.

Upon its release, Invictus will support multi-player gaming. They will include a capture the flag, free for all and king of the hill play. This program can be played through modem, LAN or the Internet.

But the bottom line is this - whether you choose single player action or opt for the multiplayer modes, the graphics, sound and concept are sure to bring joy and hours of enjoyment to the player. Invictus has touched the home of the gods and while it may not stay the course those gods intended, it still captures the wonder and magic of a time gone by.

Install: Medium.  This program will occupy some space on the hard drive, but the wait - no extras included - is worth it.

Gameplay: 9. Wonderful - smooth and seamless, this game is delightful to work through.

Graphics: 9. Voxel animation exceeds any polygonal work by a long shot. This is a joy to look at.

Sound: 8. Ok, some of the vocal acting is lame, but the overall effort is wonderful - from the ambient sound effects to the music.

Difficulty: 9. Four difficulty levels give the player a wide range of chances to succeed or taste the foul taste of defeat.

Concept: 9. Aside from the typical evil threatens the world, this program has incorporated a fresh element - the mythological.

Overall: 9. Pure fun.