No Plan B
- April 3, 2024
- GFX47
- 8h median play time
Get on Steam"No Plan B" is a single-player warfare turn-based strategy game with a good plot, taking about 8 hours to beat. Assemble your squad, gear them up with a range of firearms, armor, and grenades, and carefully study 3D maps to synchronize your team's movements. Every choice is crucial, as there is no second chance, making each decision a matter of life or death for your team.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers a unique planning mechanic that allows players to strategize their approach before executing their plan, creating a satisfying gameplay loop.
- The customization options for characters and weapons are extensive, allowing for a personalized experience.
- The game has a strong replayability factor due to procedurally generated maps and various factions, keeping the gameplay fresh and engaging.
- The user interface can be clunky and unintuitive, making it difficult to manage units and execute plans smoothly.
- The game can feel punishing, as losing a mission often means restarting an entire chapter, which can be frustrating for players.
- Some players have reported bugs and performance issues, particularly with AI behavior and pathfinding, which can detract from the overall experience.
- story152 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 80 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is minimal, with many players noting a lack of narrative depth and character development. The focus is primarily on tactical mission planning and execution, where players must commit to a single strategy without the option to adapt mid-mission, leading to a high-stakes environment that can feel punishing. While the procedural generation of missions offers variety and replayability, the absence of a compelling storyline or engaging campaign structure leaves some players wanting more in terms of narrative content.
“The gameplay loop alone is fun enough to justify the price, but after planning your missions and seeing how well you planned, it goes into a replay mode with an in-depth camera system that allows for incredible cinematics where your imagination is really the limit on what you can achieve.”
“It's very satisfying to have a mission go exactly as you planned it.”
“If you like door kickers, but really enjoyed planning the whole mission out ahead of time: then this is the game for you.”
“The story is just about nonexistent.”
“Campaigns are not really interesting in the story arc compared to some similar games.”
“There is no going back after this, so if the plan fails, then you've failed that mission and cannot do it again.”
- gameplay38 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "No Plan B" is characterized by a unique loop of planning and execution, offering a satisfying tactical experience that encourages strategic thinking and emergent gameplay. While the mechanics are intricate and rewarding once mastered, players have noted issues with bugs, a lack of clear explanations for certain mechanics, and frustrating design choices like the inability to save progress mid-campaign. Overall, the game shows promise with its innovative features and dedicated updates, but it requires further polish to enhance the overall experience.
“The gameplay loop of planning phase and then letting the action play out is satisfying and pretty unique, plus a lot of fun to watch.”
“What sets No Plan B apart from other games in the genre is how it divides the gameplay into the 'planning' and 'execution' portions.”
“The gameplay is great, and the campaign sticking to the 'no plan B' style of absolutely getting it right the first time because there's no going back really gives flavor and difficulty to the game.”
“Another problem is how unwilling it is to explain anything about its mechanics for the efficacy of the squad members and equipment. It does that Ubisoft thing where they just give percentages as a barometer for how 'good' the weapon is, which is completely meaningless without the equations or numbers they use to calculate health and damage.”
“Overall, I enjoy the difficulty and mechanics, but the game's too buggy to recommend.”
“Tldr; very good concept, but the game implementation of the ideas and mechanics are unpolished and lacking; leading to exasperating and frustrating moments, and a feeling of a waste of time.”
- graphics22 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are described as simplistic and cartoony, with a unique art style that many players appreciate for its suitability to the game's tactical mechanics. While some reviewers note that the visuals may not elicit a "wow" factor and can feel cold or lacking in depth, others highlight the decent performance and customization options available. Overall, the graphics are considered adequate for a solo-developed title, contributing positively to the game's aesthetic without overshadowing its gameplay.
“The music is amazing and the art style is my favorite thing about the game.”
“To wrap it all, graphics are unique and honestly I like this art style better for this game; I wouldn't want this to be a hyper-realistic type of graphic and this suits the game more.”
“This game is not only addicting, but the art style and game look great, it runs great (GTX 1070 @120+fps), and something about it feels right.”
“The graphics don't elicit a 'wow'.”
“And the graphics, even if 3D, don't really add much to the scope of the game; instead, they look cold and didn't help me get into the mood to enjoy the action.”
“Graphics are not the greatest, but I love the control that you have to make your plan!”
- replayability10 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game boasts exceptional replayability due to its dynamic maps, mission generator, and diverse factions, each offering unique gameplay experiences. Players appreciate the ability to experiment with different strategies and character builds, enhancing the game's longevity and enjoyment. Overall, the combination of these features creates a highly replayable tactical planning experience.
“Coupled with the mission generator, this game is extremely replayable, allowing you to show off your most daring missions in its robust theater mode.”
“The replayability on the exact same levels is excellent, and the ability to randomly generate levels makes that exponentially greater.”
“Outstanding tactical planning game with surprising depth and limitless replayability.”
- stability9 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 89 % negative mentions
The game is plagued by numerous bugs that can significantly hinder gameplay, including unplayable missions and frustrating UI navigation. While some players find enjoyment in its mechanics and visuals, the overall stability issues lead to a recommendation to wait for updates or try the demo before purchasing.
“This game is not only addicting, but the art style and graphics look great. It runs smoothly (GTX 1070 @ 120+ FPS), and something about it feels just right.”
“The game can be a bit buggy; however, sometimes when selecting when a flashbang goes off, the timer can jump to the end, messing up the timeline.”
“As it is, right now, the game is incredibly buggy, and some missions are actually unplayable, as you'll get stuck in a loading screen, or the game crashes.”
“Overall, I enjoy the difficulty and mechanics, but the game's too buggy to recommend.”
- grinding6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 83 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a double-edged sword; while it can be enjoyable, it often becomes tedious and time-consuming, especially when dealing with complex maps and frequent adjustments. The need for meticulous planning and the presence of bugs can add to the frustration, making the experience feel overwhelming at times.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“It took me a while to get used to them, and even then it felt a bit tedious and tiring to plan something out, especially if there's a time limit hanging over it.”
“Since some maps are very complicated, it can become tedious to make changes if you change your mind before executing the operation.”
- music4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised for its brilliance and thematic relevance, enhancing the overall experience during gameplay. Reviewers recommend enjoying the soundtrack in a calm mindset, as it complements the game's art style and problem-solving elements effectively.
“The music is amazing and the art style is my favorite thing about the game.”
“Best played with a calm mindset and the soundtrack is brilliantly set for each raid.”
“Kudos on the thematic music!”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find moments of humor in the game, but the enjoyment may wane when considering the prospect of replaying with multiple factions, suggesting that while the humor is appreciated, it may not be enough to sustain long-term engagement.
“I had funny moments with it, but I can't really see myself playing through three other factions after SWAT as the game is now.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers appreciate the depth of character designs and the variety of attachments, indicating a strong emphasis on character development that enhances player engagement and immersion.
“I really enjoy the variety of attachments and character designs.”
“The character development is incredibly deep, allowing for meaningful choices that impact the story.”
“I love how each character evolves throughout the game, making their journeys feel personal and engaging.”
