Putting the 'role' back in role-playing games since 2002.
Donate to Codex
Good Old Games
  • Welcome to rpgcodex.net, a site dedicated to discussing computer based role-playing games in a free and open fashion. We're less strict than other forums, but please refer to the rules.

    "This message is awaiting moderator approval": All new users must pass through our moderation queue before they will be able to post normally. Until your account has "passed" your posts will only be visible to yourself (and moderators) until they are approved. Give us a week to get around to approving / deleting / ignoring your mundane opinion on crap before hassling us about it. Once you have passed the moderation period (think of it as a test), you will be able to post normally, just like all the other retards.

Squad-Level Tactical Games

Ladonna

Arcane
Joined
Aug 27, 2006
Messages
10,636
All of them are the same in virtually every way (Except storyline) so if Obediah is seconding one....
 

obediah

Erudite
Joined
Jan 31, 2005
Messages
5,051
Ladonna said:
All of them are the same in virtually every way (Except storyline) so if Obediah is seconding one....

I recommend just playing the first two games in each series.Then if you like those, you can brave the higher level games. But high level combat in AD&D is such shit, that the games really really bogg down.
 

LCJr.

Erudite
Joined
Jan 16, 2003
Messages
2,469
Missionforce Cyberstrom, turn based tactical mecha game set in Sierra/Dynamix's Earthsiege universe. A very well done mecha game. Units are customizable individual mechs. Your pilots are "bioderms" something similiar to BR's replicants. Each bioderm has certain skills it's good at which can be improved through training, a varying lifespan.

A very solid game all around. No obvious signs of rushing and it was definately heavily playtested for balance. Interface and controls are well thought out and easy to use. Weapons and other components are balanced very well also. Challenge increases gradually which eases the learning curve. One nice feature is you get full resale price for all components. So you can customize and try different configurations to your heart's content.

From HOTU
Basically, by completing missions. At any one time, there are nine missions available to the player. Four of these are mining missions, fairly profitable and not dangerous. Then there are four military missions, more dangerous but more lucrative. Finally, there is the Cyberstorm version of the end of level monster. This mission is a real bastard but if you complete it, you will have cleared the Cybrids from this particular solar system and can go on to the next one. There are three solar systems altogether.

Clarification, there are 9 missions at any time, NOT just 27 missions in a game. You can do the same mission types as many times as you like.

And whatever you do don't bother with the CD rape. Way too much was cut out. In particular the planetary info. Nothing like having a bunch of energy weapon armed Hercs land on a planet to find out their weapons near useless because of the planets EM field. Either buy it or dl the iso.

Technical note, the game runs in 256 colors and will crash on launch if you don't set your desktop to 256 or use a compatibility tool to force it.
 

Deacdo

Liturgist
Joined
Oct 24, 2004
Messages
585
LCJr. said:
Missionforce Cyberstrom, turn based tactical mecha game set in Sierra/Dynamix's Earthsiege universe. A very well done mecha game. Units are customizable individual mechs. Your pilots are "bioderms" something similiar to BR's replicants. Each bioderm has certain skills it's good at which can be improved through training, a varying lifespan.
I'd kill for a game like that with today's technology. Hell, I'd kill for a quality PC mech game, too. Death for all!
 

Drone39

Novice
Joined
Feb 27, 2007
Messages
22
does Icewind Dale count?

Does Icewind Dale (and the sequel) count? It's party based. It's a real-time/ turn-based hybrid like all the infinity engine games. It's action-oriented (Black Isle's answer to Diablo:)). It's main attraction was in its tactical combat. I'd put it in there as a squad-based tactical game.
 

obediah

Erudite
Joined
Jan 31, 2005
Messages
5,051
Re: does Icewind Dale count?

Drone39 said:
Does Icewind Dale (and the sequel) count? It's party based. It's a real-time/ turn-based hybrid like all the infinity engine games. It's action-oriented (Black Isle's answer to Diablo:)). It's main attraction was in its tactical combat. I'd put it in there as a squad-based tactical game.

Well, fuck. I guess I would say yes, with the qualification that I'm not very fucking happy about it. I liked the first Icewind Dale as a party-based dungeon crawl, but I would never recommend it to someone on it's merit as a squad-based tactics game.
 

Severian Silk

Guest
Eh... I don't want to add the IE games to my list.
 

obediah

Erudite
Joined
Jan 31, 2005
Messages
5,051
Crazy Tuvok said:
Eh... I don't want to add the IE games to my list.

You don't consider: "hit pause" tactics?

I don't think the pause button was the main problem. It's just that IWD only had three tactics:

1) concentrate your attacks
2) don't fireball yourself
3) pull as few monsters as possible.

Success was largely dependent on party composition, phat lewt and buffing. So while you could make the battle much harder with poor tactics, there wasn't much incentive to pause each battle, get the lay of the battleground and work out a plan of assault.

While it does have the basics, I'm not going to fault Mikail for not adding it to the list.
 

Severian Silk

Guest
Would you consider Panzer General a tactics game or a strategy game? The wikipedia article states that it lies somewhere in between.
[edit] Woops! It's not squad-level. Should have started a new thread.
 

Severian Silk

Guest
I removed GearHead 2 from the list as it's not party-based, and even with the new Tactics Mode the game still doesn't feel very tactical.

I may re-add it if things change considerably.
 

Severian Silk

Guest
I've read that the early Ultima games featured combat similar to Japanese TRPGs. Can anyone confirm this?
 

Mr Happy

Scholar
Joined
Jul 15, 2006
Messages
574
I'm pretty sure the Omega Syndrome doesn't feature party-based combat. Plus, the website is down.
 

Hory

Erudite
Joined
Oct 1, 2003
Messages
3,002
Jesus, why are there so few good tactical turn-based games? What is there worth playing apart from Jagged Alliance, X-Com, Incubation, Odium, Silent Storm and perhaps Spellcross?

Edit: is Night Watch worth it? The setting seems good, the engine is good, the developers are the same, yet I didn't hear people praising it...
 

quasimodo

Augur
Joined
Oct 11, 2006
Messages
372
Have any of you tried Chaos Gate by Random Games. It is a pretty decent TB squad game. It is a Warhammer Universe game, but is pretty light on the Mechs. You mostly control a few 5 man infantry squads. The graphics are about level with FO or JA2. It won't work under XP, but I keep a Win98 machine around just so I can play it.
 

callehe

Liturgist
Joined
Dec 5, 2004
Messages
459
Location
Gothic Castle
I'm a complete noob when it comes to this type of games so could someone recommend me a fun turn based tactics game with multiplayer?
 

As an Amazon Associate, rpgcodex.net earns from qualifying purchases.
Back
Top Bottom