Writing this while it's still very early access, so take it with a pinch of salt,
But this is just a really, really good entry into the X-Com/TBS genre.
-Combat
The meat and potatoes of the game, it doesn't disappoint. The pressures of escalating/evolving enemy threats, primary and secondary objectives, and keeping your squads intact keep most missions engaging all the way through, although I'll throw in a caveat for late game that I might discuss under progression. The popcorn-style turns bouncing between the player, allies, and the enemy creates a ton of decision-making around which of your units is most exposed, which enemies take priority in being suppressed/killed, which limited resources to expend when etc. The diversity of squad compositions, vehicles, and squad leader perks adds a ton of granularity to individual actions and further keeps missions engaging. Enemy factions are varied and feel dramatically different to face compared to each other. There is also *Redacted* whose introduction adds a further wrench into the combat.
-Strategic Layer
The veggies in the dish. Lots of engaging decisions here as well. Deciding on which squad leaders you recruit, which modules on your ship you build, what you bargain for on the black market etc. are all well done. As you complete missions, you unlock perks that effect further missions within a specific operation (an operation being a series of linked missions, culminating in a finale and then an operation reward) which further adds decisions to which missions you pick. While not rising to the level of complexity found in the X-Com games, there's plenty to sink your teeth into.
-Aesthetics
While not jaw-dropping in terms of graphics or design, there's a lot to like here as well. Enemies, player units and equipment, vehicles, and map designs are all well done, and generally exhibit unique themes specific to the setting/factions. Sound design is notably great, and environmental destruction get's a particular shoutout. Weapons in this game generally feel like they're meant to kill things, if you catch my drift. Squad leaders have contextual combat yelps and interactions with each other that are all really well done, alongside enemy factions own combat yelps, which are also well done. Speaking of the Squad Leaders, they're *really* good. They have distinct personalities, perk trees, and stats, which work to contrast and compliment each other. The characters trade in cliches and tropes, but do so intentionally, pulling from 80's action, war movies, etc. The VAs do a great job selling these characters as well.
-Setting/Plot
Menace's universe pull liberally from various franchises, but, in my opinion, creates enough separation from any single source and has enough of its own ideas that it avoids being a soulless/temu version of its source material. Without spoiling too much, the situation the Impetus (the Player's homebase) and its crew ends up in has a ton of potential, and I'm eager to see where the broader plot ends up.
-Progression
The game is still very early access, so who knows if this holds true for the completed game, but atm, Menace has a really solid progression, creating that classic feeling of racing against the enemy's escalating threats. New types of gear, perks, and tiers of weapons and armor, all add dimensions to missions. However, as it is early access, I will point out that, once you reach a certain point in the progression, your Squad Leaders will continue to gain stats and unlock perks, and you will continue to max out your gear/vehicles/etc. and the game will have run out of new wrenches to throw at you. I assume that as the game continues to get new updates (such as the recent addition of battle tanks and new Squad Leaders) this will eventually be rectified.
I guess that's all I want to write for now- maybe once the game is complete I'll have more to add.
tldr- Very promising start, very entertaining and engaging game already. Lots of potential.
