(17.3 hours to see credit roll and unlock all maps according to Steam Clock.)
I didn’t hear about Tactical Breach Wizards until the June before its launch. Being someone quite enjoyed 2013’s Gunpoint, I am bound to like this puzzle game with turn-based tactical game appearance. The game’s best moments are about physical comedy, the kind at least enhanced by interaction. But there are times in this game when math and geometry conspire against some of its audience.
Despite the title saying “wizards”, this game only has one single wizard named Zan (The other lad on the 5 people team is a shape shifting druid, which does not register as “wizard” in the Diablo 2 part of my mind.). After a mission went wrong years ago, Zan’s commando partner was back for revenge in the middle of a military coup. Fortunately for Zan, his investigator friend Jen and others came with him to even the odds.
TBW’s interactive comedy is both enhanced and limited by its writing. The game on the surface has the vibe of any modern military game this side of Call of Duty 4 Modern Warfare. But nothing can be taken too seriously here. However, none of the game’s mission let the player to select the party so to speak. Different fixed pairs share banters before they kick in doors. Player can switch character between left and right. Some maps have more than entrance so that is about the only change players can make. This game is made by a very small team after all.
Speak of small team, Tom Francis’ Suspicious Developments is a studio only made games for PC so far. Although this “third game of theirs” on Steam has controller support, the interface still feels “designed for mouse and keyboard”. I can testify to that since my playthrough was separated between Steam Deck and the 7 years old Surface Pro I am currently typing on. Of course, the game runs better on the Deck. Although controller button mapping to skip cutscene is faster than drag, point and click the skip button on the right down corner, most of the control like changing camera angle and confirming multiple targets of actions are much better with a mouse.
The game starts with the typical “grunt and spook” duo then expanded into an RPG party as healer, tank and “glass canon” join in. Only Zan fits into the XCOM agent mold, as a gun for kill and active or passive “Overwatch”. The healer in the party heals with a gun as well, though it just looks funny. Jen is a witch as stun baton who can only do damage when she pushes enemies into objects. And this being a Tom Francis joint, many dudes would be shoved out of many windows before all is said and done.
All units can only move once per turn but can make more than one action. Actions spends action point and mana, some both and others either. Some action like take cover (An action the tank in the team cannot take), flip a switch or pick up intel (Or other items in the final chapter) to restore mana take none. Units also have unique items (Decays to draw enemy fire, broom for window breach, traps, covers and bombs) that can only be used a certain numbers of times per encounter.
Since the game only has one gun totting friendly unit, it’s more Into the Breach than XCOM despite appearance. As the game introduces new types of melee enemy (The worse kind of which moves within one turn, after player makes one move or take an action.), positioning itself becomes more important than finding cover. Shoving enemies into each other is more effective than relying on the little advance on the firepower front. Especially in the final boss fight where their final defeat relays on player throw henchmen back at them.
The whole game is separated into 4 Acts, with 4 to 6 chapters each. Chapters are then separated into several encounters, with cut scenes of people talking before kicking in doors in between. Those encounters all have their own optional objectives, on top of characters skill sets can be reassigned, TBW can be played again with good reasons.
The game does not have a “Game Over” screen, the Rewind button on the left down corner is all it gives. Though Rewind is only allowed within one turn, after one or more objectives turned red and if the mistakes were made long before that final turn, player does need to restart the level all over again.
The game is generally fast and loose with only a few exceptions. Like one boss who would one-shot friendly unit when they are directly attack. It took me about 2 hours of trail and error to take this one down, one error is caused by not aware of enemies’ Overwatch after said boss was taken down and the mistake was made in a point that I could not rewind to.
TBW is nice late summer game one can take their leisure. It bite-sized encounters can be played slowly one at the time or binged through like yours truly did. It does comedy well both on paper and in action. Whether one needs a brain tease or have some ridiculous laughs, TBW is well worth its asking price.