I initially bought this game on sale for my Switch a good while ago on a whim and never really got round to playing too much of it.
However, in between trying to play any game normally which more often than not I fail at, trying to to fit in life, work, uni work and being a dad there is little time left for gaming. So, having a game like this or Binding of Isaac is perfect to fit in small doses.
I’ve not played it for more than a couple hours having failed miserably on my first few runs as it required me to use my brain. This turn based strategy game with rogue like elements is a quick grab and play.
You play as humanities last hope in giant mechs against the invading alien threat of the Vek. Now you start with a primary squad of three. All teams comprise of three but throughout game play you are able to level up the pilots, find new armour new pilots with different skills, as well as varying types of weapons and armour.
You are tasked with liberating four islands where they are split into separate procedurally generated missions for each run. So no two games are the same where you are tasked with defending civilians or the grid which if buildings are destroyed and it reaches zero you lose.
You drop your mechs into the allotted areas and the vek or boss veks will spawn throughout the game until the turn counter reaches zero and you win the round. Your objectives come with secondary objectives which can reward you further like collecting a pod with new cores and weapons.
Much like each mech the Vek are only able to move in certain manners and attack specifically, so up close and personal, long range bombing or buffing their allies etc.
Now game over here isn’t a complete reset, you are able to transfer a pilot with all accumulated experience with you to start a new campaign.
Each campaign you can choose difficulty as well as a few game modifiers to make it even harder if you wish. I’m not ashamed to admit I had to drop it to easy after a few goes. As I suck major ass at this.
With each run you are awarded coins, to get coins you must reach a milestone or a team specific action. With coins you can purchase new teams to do battle against the Vek with. Along with the standard enemy threat you also have the incoming threat of thunder storms or if you are controlling the terraformer. You can use this to your advantage by punching them into an incoming thunder strike, drowning them in the water or crushing them as grassland becomes desert.
If you are on the defensive you can repair yourself, set up barriers or even if you want to take a hit, place your mech on a square where a new Vek will emerge from halting them completely.
For many I assume this basic tactical play is mere child’s play but for me it can be a wee challenge. But with each round only taking a couple minutes as it runs at a fast pace. You can easily pick this game up in very small goes and achieve a lot even if the Vek win in this timeline. You are always able to go back and give it another run.
I’d rate this game a very respectable and highly tasty 8/10.
An easy but well thought out and executed turn based strategy game that can be played as leisurely as you’d like. With fantastic art direction and infinite re-playability and honestly who doesn’t love a good bit of mech V alien sci-fi action.
Released on Nintendo Switch 27th February 2018.
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