Signal Ops
- November 18, 2013
- Space Bullet Dynamics Corporation
Get on SteamSignal Ops is a strategic espionage game where you control a team of spies from a signal station. Monitor audio and video feeds, issue commands, and manage equipment to complete missions and gather intelligence. Experience a unique blend of real-time tactical gameplay and global strategy in a Cold War setting.
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- Unique concept of controlling multiple operatives over multiple screens, providing a fresh gameplay experience.
- Great art style and humorous writing that enhances the overall atmosphere of the game.
- Fun cooperative experience that allows for strategic gameplay and multiple approaches to missions.
- Controls are clunky and can be frustrating, requiring patience to master.
- The game suffers from technical issues, including crashes and bugs that hinder the experience.
- Some missions are poorly designed, leading to confusion and frustration during gameplay.
- gameplay60 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is described as unique and interesting, featuring unconventional mechanics like a radio system that limits player movement and a multi-character control setup. However, many players find the controls awkward, the pace slow, and the interface distracting, leading to frustration and crashes that hinder enjoyment. While some appreciate the addictive stealth mechanics and replayability, others criticize the overall execution, deeming it rough around the edges and sometimes boring.
“The game has very interesting gameplay and I love the art style.”
“The stealth mechanics are as addictive as any other AAA stealth game I've dove into in the past few years, and despite multiple failures in a mission, I found myself coming back to the PC to give it another go.”
“With an interesting plot and a promising world to explore, Signal Ops may appear rather rough around the edges when examining its gameplay and graphics, but it's a fun little puzzle/tactical/FPS game that deserves a second glance and a second chance on a professional storefront like Steam.”
“You will uninstall it in frustration before you even reach an hour of gameplay like I did.”
“Gameplay is sluggish and controls are awkward.”
“The graphics are, in a word, 'dated.' The controls are bizarre and the gameplay is punishing.”
- story58 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 84 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story unfolds through approximately ten missions, some of which are well-designed while others suffer from poor execution, leading to mixed reviews. Players engage in espionage as agents of a church, navigating a narrative filled with themes of government conspiracies and religious intrigue reminiscent of classic spy films. While the missions are replayable and offer various paths and character archetypes, the overall experience is hampered by a lack of mission variety and some frustrating design elements.
“The story has a bit of mysterious religion versus government, new world order conspiracy stuff tied to it, with massive underground compounds, arms deals gone wrong, and lethal espionage capers all helping give the game a bit of a 50's spy movie feel at the same time.”
“I haven't gotten terribly far into the story, but what I have seen, I adore.”
“You play as an agent of the church, tasked with carrying out missions involving spying and espionage.”
“I do recommend checking out the forums/my guide as the game does suffer from a handful of poorly designed missions.”
“The only downside of the game is that it has too few missions.”
“I really wanted to just drop Signal Ops after diving into the first mission after the training session and just stream a playthrough to consume the story (after all, what was the harm if I had already purchased the game and had no intention or chance of getting a refund?).”
- graphics38 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are characterized by a unique and stylized art direction, reminiscent of oil paintings and cartoonish aesthetics, which some players find charming and original. While opinions vary, with some describing the visuals as shoddy, many appreciate the artistic choices that enhance the gameplay experience, particularly in cooperative modes. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's quirky atmosphere and engaging narrative.
“The developers have built a beautiful oil painting style world to go along with the game, where everything from the trucks to the door knobs adhere to this asymmetrical, painted aesthetic.”
“The writing is sharp and witty, the artistic direction is beautiful, and I'm really fond of the painting-come-to-life graphics.”
“However, once you are accustomed to the basics, this charming game, with its stylized oil painting graphics, simple plot, humorous narrative, and nods to cult film classic 'Brazil', combine to form a really interesting tactical espionage action sandbox where objectives can be tackled in any number of ways, alone or with friends.”
“I think it's drawing way too much on graphics and textures.”
“Distorted looking visuals.”
“The graphics are something some might call shoddy and terrible, but I call them styled; maybe the reason they didn't make the game with the most realistic graphics in mind is that you're rendering the game from multiple perspectives?”
- humor14 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its clever and dark humor, reminiscent of Monty Python sketches, and features a charming narrative that complements its stylized art. While some players find the controls frustrating, the overall comedic tone, combined with engaging gameplay elements like puzzles and tactical espionage, creates an entertaining experience for those who appreciate absurd and cynical humor.
“And if you like dark, absurd, and silly humor, some of the jokes could be in a Monty Python sketch.”
“I really enjoyed the art style and presentation with the very cynical humor of the game.”
“However, once you are accustomed to the basics, this charming game, with its stylized oil painting graphics, simple plot, humorous narrative, and nods to the cult film classic 'Brazil', combines to form a really interesting tactical espionage action sandbox where objectives can be tackled in any number of ways, alone or with friends.”
- stability6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game experiences notable stability issues, particularly with buggy controls and a glitchy interface that can lead to frustrating gameplay moments. While it has potential and can be enjoyable with a stealth focus, players may encounter frequent interruptions and unexpected behavior. Overall, it shows promise but requires further refinement to enhance stability.
“Suffers from a bit of a rocky start as the police enemies can annoyingly arrest you in a buggy manner, but if you stick with it, it works as a more stealth-focused commandos strike force.”
“While the concept is interesting (controlling multiple characters), the controls are a confusing mess and the interface can be buggy, often locking up or reacting in unexpected ways.”
“Overall, I give it an 8/10 as it is still a bit buggy, but has a lot more to come!”
- music4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight a stark contrast in the music aspect, with some praising the soundtrack as a standout feature, while others note a lack of significant music in the game.
“The soundtrack!”
“The soundtrack!”
“The soundtrack is lacking.”
“There is no music to speak of.”
“The soundtrack is disappointing.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game, particularly the repetitive task of moving the radio and clearing out enemies, to be tedious and slow, detracting from the overall experience. This repetitive gameplay can lead to a sense of monotony, making the game feel slower than intended.
“The central game concept, having to move the radio throughout the level, becomes tedious fast.”
“Finding power sources and clearing them out of enemies is a rather tedious part of the game for me, making the game feel much slower than it needs to be.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game highly replayable due to its diverse mission designs and the ability to experiment with different combinations of agents. However, some users note that it takes a significant amount of time to fully grasp the controls and gameplay mechanics before fully enjoying the replay value.
“It took me until three-quarters into the game before I felt completely comfortable with the controls and gameplay, and the missions are very replayable both in design (with large, various paths) and with the fact that you can use different combinations of agents.”
