When Firaxis introduced XCom again to life, it felt like an oasis of squad ways in the course of a boundless, barren desert. Now, the heavens have opened and the nice deluge has begun. We’re virtually drowning in squad-based tactical fight now, and the newest sport threatening to pull me underneath this rising tide is Steam Marines 2. Sequel to tactical roguelike Steam Marines, the very first public alpha construct of this promising squad ways sport has simply breached the hull of Itch.io, and has begun sweeping for threats.
After taking part in a few (failed) missions because of a handily supplied preview copy, Steam Marines 2 feels somewhat extra like basic tabletop Space Hulk than modern-day XCom, although there’s a extra modernized show of to-hit probabilities. Still, lethality feels excessive, and unchecked corners are dying, as is splitting your squad. Four marines (as much as six later) in chunky pseudo-steampunk armor comply with your instructions in conventional turn-based style, taking pictures robots and aliens in randomly generated maps, though the overall marketing campaign construction appears partially hand-built.
While it appears unfair to critique a primary alpha construct an excessive amount of, one factor I really feel the present model of the sport might enhance on is suggestions, particularly relating to enemy assaults. I misplaced my commander on the second flip of my first sport to threats unknown. There was a sci-fi laser ‘Pew’ noise in the course of the enemy flip, and the display screen immediately turns black, informing me that my avatar has gone and croaked. No dying animation, no kill-cam, simply sport over. The UI additionally feels a bit uncooked and programmer-art’y in the mean time, though that appears par for the course for a primary public alpha.
I’m nonetheless simply determining the essential ways of the sport in lieu of an in-game tutorial, and it might appear that some enemies are able to attacking from past participant sight vary, so I’m going to need to be taught to be very cautious round corners any more. There’s additionally nice potential for the sport to alter – the developer states on their Itch.io development blog that relying on what sort of suggestions they obtain from gamers, the scope of the sport might shift in the direction of broader strategic selections, tighter tactical gameplay or one thing else completely.
If you wish to poke round this early construct of Steam Marines 2, you possibly can seize it for $25 via Itch.io here.
