One-inch Tactics
- May 19, 2024
- KOGADO STUDIO
Get on SteamIn "One-inch Tactics," a turn-based strategy game, players must use nuanced strategies to turn the tide of war. Despite its simple design, the game boasts deep strategic complexity and an interactive 3D playing field. With various missions and challenging environments, players must carefully search for enemy positions and consider line of sight and fire to gain the upper hand.
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Reviews
- The game successfully retains many mechanics from the Power Dolls series, providing a solid and enjoyable wargame experience.
- Mission design is excellent, featuring a variety of scenarios that keep gameplay engaging and fun.
- The game embraces a unique tabletop aesthetic, making it approachable and cozy, reminiscent of classic board games.
- The lack of a cohesive narrative and story can make it difficult for players to stay invested in the campaign.
- The user interface can be sluggish, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences, especially during combat.
- There is a notable absence of features like a map editor, multiplayer options, and a comprehensive manual, which limits the game's depth and replayability.
- story22 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The game "Powerdolls" lacks a compelling narrative, which diminishes player investment in the campaign, as the primary motivation is to complete varied missions rather than follow a story. While the gameplay offers a range of mission types and customization options, the absence of a strong storyline leaves players without a significant hook beyond the mechanics of the game. Overall, the experience is described as charming but ultimately shallow in terms of narrative depth.
“The game has a very particular charm and it's by no means a shallow experience, forcing the player to make use of many weapons and tools to win the mission.”
“Game was called PowerDolls and it had waifu pilots with stats up the wazoo, a myriad of vehicles to crew from mechs to transport planes, and a grocery store's worth of different equipment to customize your vehicles, all that in the first mission.”
“So far the missions are varied; granted, I only did 3 of the tutorial missions, but you do get a decent feel for the game just from that.”
“The lack of a story means there is no hook to keep players invested in the campaign besides wanting to see what the next scenario requires of the player and what equipment will be made available.”
“- mission briefing done by a faceless guy with a mustache”
“Which is fine but after you're done with the campaign you can either play individual missions again or start a new campaign.”
- gameplay8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The gameplay effectively retains core mechanics from the Power Dolls series, emphasizing artillery effectiveness, the vulnerability of armored vehicles to anti-armor weapons, and the significance of ISR, reflecting real-world military developments. However, players have noted that the gameplay can feel sluggish, and there are questions regarding the clarity of line of sight mechanics.
“Being a Power Dolls spinoff, it does well in retaining many game mechanics from the same series.”
“The game mechanics emphasize the effectiveness of artillery, the vulnerability of armored vehicles to specialized anti-armor weapons, and the importance of ISR, mirroring developments in Ukraine.”
“The gameplay is sluggish.”
“The most pressing being how exactly do the line of sight mechanics work?”
“Or more topically, the game mechanics emphasize the effectiveness of artillery, the vulnerability of armored vehicles to specialized anti-armor weapons, and the importance of ISR, mirroring developments in Ukraine.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game's graphics feature sharp 3D visuals that contrast with its cutesy chibi art style, reflecting a relaxed tabletop wargaming aesthetic. While the simplified design may feel jarring to some, fans of the genre and waifu-style characters may find it appealing. Overall, the graphics effectively support the game's unique blend of themes.
“Overall, if you find the tabletop aesthetic appealing and enjoy waifu-style characters, this might be a game that interests you.”
“This is a little jarring, considering the 3D visuals are sharp.”
“It's streamlined and simplified, bringing everything down back to PD1 level; it's cutesy chibi stuff, without elaborate briefings, and plays at this tabletop wargaming aesthetic.”
“A spin-off of the series Power Dolls which never made it to the West, this game replaces that series' guerrilla warfare aesthetic with that of a more relaxed hex and miniature tabletop game.”
- music4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music is characterized as smooth jazz, evoking nostalgia for classic soundtracks, particularly reminiscent of titles like Breath of Fire 3.
“The music is a nice smooth jazz.”
“Makes me remember old soundtracks at times, like Breath of Fire 3 for some reason.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The optimization in the game appears to be lacking, as players note that characters with different experience levels, such as a three-mission veteran and a new recruit, exhibit identical performance. This suggests a need for better differentiation and balance in character abilities.
“Your 3-mission veteran is going to have the same performance as the new recruit.”
“Your 3 mission veteran is going to have the same performance as the new recruit.”
