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Inca II: Nations of Immortality

Last updated: January 9, 2026

Overview

Inca II: Nations of Immortality is the sequel to Inca, the surreal space combat/adventure game with a fantasy take on Incan mythologies1. Developed by Coktel Vision and published by Sierra On-Line, Inc.1, this ambitious 1993 adventure game combined traditional point-and-click mechanics with arcade-style action sequences in an unusual blend that would prove both memorable and controversial.

The game followed protagonist Atahualpa, son of El Dorado, battling enemy Aguirre1 across environments ranging from Australia to outer space2. Like its predecessor, Inca II featured full-motion video sequences and pre-rendered bitmaps, representing one of the early attempts to showcase CD-ROM technology’s multimedia capabilities1. Available in both standard and limited edition formats, with the special “Série limitée” version3 offering additional content for collectors.

Story Summary

Set in a fantastical interpretation of Incan mythology, Inca II: Nations of Immortality continues the adventures begun in its predecessor. The game’s narrative centers around Atahualpa, son of the legendary El Dorado, who must confront the villainous Aguirre1. The story takes players across diverse locations, from the Australian landscape to the depths of outer space2, blending historical Incan elements with science fiction themes in what critics would later describe as having a distinctly European sensibility5.

The game’s voice cast included Ivan Bond as the antagonist Aguirre and Yasmine Moïra as Aclla1, though the voice acting would become one of the game’s most notorious elements. As one player fondly recalled, “the voice acting is laughable but it’s part of the fun like a hilarious b movie”6.

Gameplay

Interface and Controls

Inca II utilized standard adventure game controls, supporting both keyboard and mouse input7. Players could also use analog joysticks for the game’s action sequences8. The game was designed to run on relatively modest hardware for its time, requiring only an Intel i386 processor, 2 MB of RAM, and PC/MS-DOS 4.08.

Structure and Progression

The game combined traditional adventure gameplay with arcade-style action sequences, including space combat and puzzle-solving elements1. This hybrid approach used pre-rendered bitmaps and digitized video cutscenes to create a cinematic experience1. The game was distributed on both 3.5” floppy disks and CD-ROM8, with the CD version requiring a minimum 1X (150 KB/s) CD-ROM drive8.

Puzzles and Mechanics

Supporting various graphics modes including MCGA and VGA8, the game featured enhanced visuals compared to its predecessor. Audio support included popular sound cards of the era: Adlib, Pro Audio Spectrum, Sound Blaster, Sound Blaster 16, and Sound Blaster Pro8. The musical score was composed by Gilles Douieb1, contributing to the game’s atmospheric presentation.

Reception

Contemporary Reviews

Inca II received mixed to poor reviews from contemporary gaming publications, with scores reflecting the game’s polarizing nature.

PublicationScoreNotes
IMDb3.9/10User rating9
MobyGames4.3/5User rating7
MobyGames70%Contemporary review score1
PC Gamer US81%Professional review5
White Wolf3/5Magazine review5

Computer Gaming World provided mixed commentary, praising Inca II’s graphics, action, and music while criticizing what they called the “schizophrenic gameplay” and voice acting5. The publication noted that “Inca II was designed in France; a European sense of humor certainly comes through. While this arcade adventure has several unique features and a few really enjoyable segments […] much of the game may strike you as bizarre”5.

Modern Assessment

The game’s reputation has become somewhat cult-like among retro gaming enthusiasts. One nostalgic player commented, “This was a masterpiece of my childhood”6, while others appreciate its unintentional humor. For many players, it represented one of their first experiences with CD-ROM gaming technology6, making it memorable despite its flaws.

However, Inca II also earned some dubious honors. Computer Gaming World included it in their November 1996 rankings as both the “#18 Worst Game of All Time” and “#4 Worst Back Story of All Time”1, cementing its reputation as a notorious entry in adventure gaming history.

Development

Origins

Developed by French studio Coktel Vision4, Inca II represented the company’s ambitious follow-up to their 1992 original Inca game1. The development utilized the Gob engine2, which was specifically designed to handle the game’s multimedia elements and complex scripting requirements.

Production

The game’s production involved creating extensive full-motion video sequences and pre-rendered graphics1. As an adventure game with origins in France, the title carried a distinctly European design philosophy that would prove challenging for some international audiences5. The voice cast featured Ivan Bond and Yasmine Moïra in key roles1, while Gilles Douieb composed the musical score1.

Technical Achievements

Inca II showcased early CD-ROM multimedia capabilities, featuring digitized video cutscenes and high-quality audio1. The game supported up to 2 players7 and carried a 15+ age rating7. Distribution included both floppy disk and CD-ROM versions8, with the CD release offering enhanced audio and video content.

Legacy

Despite its poor critical reception, Inca II found new life through digital preservation efforts. The Internet Archive now hosts the game for modern players, providing DOSBox compatibility for Windows 11 systems4. The title was later included in the “Inca I & II: Collector’s Edition” compilation released in 19957, which contained both original games plus a soundtrack disc7.

The game’s cult following continues through community wishlist requests on platforms like GOG6, where players advocate for official digital re-releases. While various abandonware sites like MyAbandonware10 continue to make the game accessible, official digital distribution remains limited, with Steam searches returning no results11.

Inca II stands as a fascinating example of 1990s multimedia gaming ambition, representing both the possibilities and pitfalls of early CD-ROM adventure games. Its blend of serious mythological themes with unintentionally comedic execution has secured its place in gaming history, even if not for the reasons its developers originally intended.

Downloads

Purchase / Digital Stores

Download / Preservation

References

Footnotes

  1. MobyGames Nations of Immortality – - Comprehensive game entry with credits, awards, and detailed information ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12 ↩13 ↩14 ↩15 ↩16 ↩17

  2. Wikidata Entry – - Structured metadata about the game including engine and platform information ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  3. MobyGames Search Results – - Search results showing limited edition version details ↩

  4. Internet Archive - Inca 2 – - Downloadable version with DOSBox compatibility for modern systems ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  5. Wikipedia - Inca II: Wiracocha – - Comprehensive encyclopedia entry with reception details and critical assessments ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  6. GOG Dreamlist – - User community wishlist with player comments and experiences ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  7. MobyGames Collector’s Edition – - Information about the 1995 compilation release ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  8. MobyGames Technical Specs – - Detailed technical specifications and system requirements ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7

  9. IMDb Game Entry – - Basic release information and user rating ↩

  10. MyAbandonware Search – - Abandonware site with game availability information ↩ ↩2

  11. Steam Search Results – - Steam platform search showing no available results ↩

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