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No more orcs & goblins! This is a Sci-Fi adventure!

Incitement 2 is the game I'll review today, and it's a sci fi RPG Maker VX Ace rpg made by Matseb2611.
Ok, but why starting with the second episode?
Well I admit that the review of the first episode somehow discouraged me for trying it (but I may change my idea later, who knows), also the developer wrote that even if this is a sequel, there is no necessity to play the first game, since this game follows its own plot and also recaps on the key past events in a short scene at the start.
So here we are, playing a... sci-fi rpg game! Oh yes, the Incitement series is set in the far future!
I admit that the setting is really well developed and interesting: it's a nice change of location from the usual fantasy world despite keeping the usual jrpg structure.
The characters are also pretty interesting, clearly I liked some more than others, anyway not bad, not bad at all, also considering that we have a total of seven playable characters (a good number since most games usually stop at the usual obligatory four of a full party).


A classic puzzle: press a combination of buttons to make those three blue lasers disappear and access that room!

For what concerns the gameplay, well here expect nothing really new or particularly original: combat is the usual RPG Maker VX Ace system, adapted to the sci-fi setting. It's very classic and I also found some abilities more useful that others, so I used them neglecting others, despite the various skills available. Well not too bad, I mean maybe other strategies are possible...
What I liked a lot were the enemies: game uses a first person view, so no battlers, anyway the enemy sprite were all coherent to the setting and that's really unusual fighting futuristic swat soldiers, cyber bikers or droids. But cool, the enemies are all coherent and well selected, nothing is out of place here!
Bosses are very tough and they often have attacks that hits everyone, but luckily they are often devoted to a single element, so equipping a protection that defends from that particular element will make things far easier, and there are some that protects a lot (useful since some party members may also be weak to a particular element!). So what? Buy, them, buy them now, all equipment is found in stores, like in old styled rpg games, of course!
Oh and weapon have also some additional powers in some cases, anyway they may become soon less useful as better versions are introduced while progressing during the adventure.
Combat uses random encounters for the most part except some that are evented, anyway you can choose between a normal difficulty that it's pretty good if you want to enjoy the story, or a Challenging one if you're an hardcore player that likes having a hard time. Your choice, I guess you can understand what I chose, and well, I did not complain at all!


Ouch! This hurts, and it hurts EVERYONE! Me included...

So combat is more or less nothing special, but still ok, anyway there are some other activities, sidequest and puzzles. It's all rather linear and average, and nothing really new, except for the sci-fi outlook.
That's not to say that the game is bad, on the contrary it's a well made classic adventure, but there is little interactivity, it's linear and... not so unique, for what concerns the gameplay.

For the story, it's another matter: this game is set six years after the first episodes and features some of the old cast members (like the one-eyed Hesper, to mention one, that was one of my favourites characters in this game, that probably will become the reason for me to play the first game).
We play as Adrial, a guy that is starting an enhancement program to join the Sophorian army. Anyway a group of strange soldiers attack the laboratory in which he was, so he joins Eryn, a lab assistan to avoid capture. Clearly other party members will join him as he uncover the reasons of the attack and prepares to face an unknown enemy.
The setting is well made, the world created by the developer is interesting and mapping is pretty good (despite the lack of interactions I mentioned before). Maps are big when needed, not just huge rooms with lot of empty space, and it really make you feel you are visiting hi-tech laboratiories and futuristic cities. The characters also have portraits that fits the charsets, and these are not limited just to the party members, to kudos to that!
And the story... is pretty much the reason why I played the game! It's interesting and well written and with a sense of urgence that made me compelled to finish and see what was going to happen.


Do they really think they have a chance to stop us? Fools!

Final Verdict
Incitement 2 is a well made rpgmaker game with a classic structure and gameplay. Anyway I liked the storyline that makes this a sort of Mass Effect of the rpgmaker games.
Characters are a hit or miss, some are really well written and interesting, others are a bit boring (like the protagonist!), anyway in the end this is still a cometently made game with a pretty interesting story. Can I recommend this game? Probably yes, but especially if you like the old-style classic rpgmaker games like I do, with the difference that you will fight troopers instead of orcs, but except for this, nothing is really very different.
Well if you want to invest less than eight hours and you do not like this kind of gameplay look elsewhere, otherwise you're in for a fun ride! See you later!