Indie tactical strategy game that is as enjoyable as the old classics.
There are only eight missions, but they take place in various huge environments, and each takes several hours to complete. Although secondary missions can be completed alongside main missions, they do not provide any rewards. No story connects them, and they have to be completed in order.
Depending on the mission, you can have as many as five commandos. They are standard experts, such as a sniper and sapper. They have a name, but no personality. Some of the abilities are shared among them. One allows you to quickly carry dead bodies into nearby bushes. As soon as you pick up a body, bushes are tagged to help you identify the nearest hiding area.
Each of the heroes possesses five distinct skills. Some can be used indefinitely but require a short cool-down period, whilst others, such as throwing knives and cigarettes, have a limited usage unless you pick them up again. When tossed, items display an icon, making them easy to pick up by just stepping over them. Of course, bullets and other offensive goods are highly valued because they can only be found in designated supply boxes.
The enemy either stands in one area or patrols along a predetermined path. They are a little difficult to spot in the environment due to their uniform, but any surprise will not be too costly if you remember to check the minimap and quick save on a regular basis. This can be done as many times as you like, with no restrictions. Another nice feature is fast-forward, which eliminates extended wait times for an enemy to complete his routes.
The difficulty option affects bullet damage, the amount of enemies, and how quickly the enemy spots you. If you remember to move in a crouch position, you will be quite safe from detection. Because sound plays a part, you cannot run when an enemy is nearby or attack when their cry may warn more enemies.
A view cone has to be activated by right-clicking on an enemy. Fans of similar games will recognize the famous green view cone, which is divided into two parts: light, in which the commando are spotted every time, and dark, in which the commando can only be seen when standing. Another interesting feature is the night and day cycle. During the night, the enemy will not notice certain things, but you will have to cope with searchlights that alert them to your location.
An enemy will also investigate if you throw something interesting in his light view. Some, however, are more professional and refuse to leave their position. When you move your mouse over such enemies, you will see a pink outline.
Enemies will also investigate if they see someone has left his place or if they observe footprints or blood. They will not make a fuss, but they can still be lured away from their path. It is possible to kill multiple enemies with a single lure, just as it was in the past.
Overall, the game doesn’t add anything to the genre, but it also doesn’t break anything. One issue is that there are voices, but they are not subtitled. This is a problem when your commander explains the objectives. You do not understand anything, and all he says is lost.
What’s very surprising is that gameplay isn’t ruined by bugs. Enemies don’t magically see you through cover and your heroes do an action when you tell them. The only bug I noticed is that sometimes bodies clip through the ground. This actually helps you because you don’t have to hide them.
