Strain Tactics
- November 1, 2017
- Touch Dimensions Interactive
- 23h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on Apple Store"Strain Tactics" is a real-time-with-pause tactical game where players command a squad of soldiers to liberate earth from an alien infestation. With over 80 playable characters, 150 unique items and weapons, and 30 different maps, players can build and customize their own heliborne task force and approach maps in a sandbox-style setting. The game offers a dynamic drag-control system for tactical maneuvers, allowing players to micromanage their squad or observe from a traditional RTS perspective.
iPad
iPhone
PC
Phone
Windows
Mobile Platform
Tablet
Reviews
- The game features a unique blend of tactical strategy and real-time gameplay, allowing for creative squad management and diverse mission types.
- The character customization and variety of units add depth to the gameplay, making each mission feel fresh and engaging.
- The developers are responsive to community feedback, regularly updating the game to improve mechanics and fix bugs.
- The UI and controls can feel clunky and are more suited for touch devices, making it challenging for players accustomed to traditional PC controls.
- Some missions can be frustratingly difficult, with a steep learning curve that may deter new players.
- The game lacks a robust tutorial, leaving players to figure out mechanics and strategies on their own, which can lead to confusion.
- story128 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 80 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally considered weak, lacking a gripping narrative, but it features engaging environmental storytelling and allows players to create their own stories through mission experiences. Players control a heliborne assault team in a post-apocalyptic setting, focusing on tactical missions that involve saving civilians and combating alien threats, though many missions feel repetitive and lack significant progression. While the premise is intriguing, the overall storytelling and character development are minimal, leading to a gameplay experience that prioritizes tactical strategy over narrative depth.
“To briefly cover the story, Strain Tactics doesn't really have a gripping narrative as such, but there is some incredible environmental storytelling on display a lot of the time, and then there's the stories you make for yourself, such as the incredible campaign climax that is 'Heartbreaker'.”
“The story seems compelling, not too cheesy, not too stupid, not too much to read, got some Starship Trooper vibes going on.”
“Mission variety is good: you've got the classic 'there are [x] aliens on the map, kill them all', escort missions, find the item, kill the terrible robot drone so you can buy one for your team, etc. Most maps are hand-made, and you can enjoy the environmental storytelling: a building where a truck crashed into it, a city with neon signs that change and can be shot up, a residential area, a dense forest.”
“To briefly cover the story, Strain Tactics doesn't really have a gripping narrative, but there is some incredible environmental storytelling on display a lot of the time, and then there are the stories you make for yourself, such as the incredible campaign climax that is 'Heartbreaker.'”
“The introductory missions fail to give adequate information on how to accomplish their objectives, leaving you running for Google just to find out how to retrieve the laptop that is sitting right in the middle of the screen or how to protect NPCs when there are no enemies left in the level.”
“Individual mission briefings are extremely brief, and the few times I did get interactions from other characters, it was not as much as I'd hoped.”
- gameplay59 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a mix of tactical mechanics reminiscent of XCOM and Doorkickers, featuring unique elements like the helibase and infection mechanics, which add depth and strategy. However, players have noted issues with clunky controls, confusing tutorials, and a steep learning curve that can detract from the experience. Despite these challenges, many find the gameplay enjoyable and rewarding once familiar with the mechanics, offering a variety of tactical options and a satisfying sense of progression.
“Thoroughly recommend for its depth, challenge, unique mechanics, and overall execution.”
“In a nutshell: Doorkickers + XCOM = a surprisingly creative game with fascinating unit design, a morale system that has your units feeling like people instead of obedient robots, and genuinely fun gameplay.”
“But boy... gameplay... is excellent!”
“Sadly it did not hit home, confusing mechanics, a lackluster tutorial, and frankly, like others have said, a terrible interface.”
“For the game's price, you'd assume it would provide at least three times the quality, but for my 60 minutes in-game, it feels like a tug of war between me and the game mechanics.”
“Very repetitive gameplay (go kill that, get that guy, save the base) without much told on the strain interactively.”
- graphics14 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized as simple 2D visuals, yet they are praised for their attention to detail in animation and effects. While some players find the graphics straightforward and easy on system resources, others appreciate the unique art style and clean visuals that enhance the overall gameplay experience. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's charm, despite their simplicity.
“The graphics are simple 2D (top-down view), yet the attention to detail the devs have put in here in terms of animation and effects is admirable.”
“Got to say, I saw this title hanging for a while and now have got it, and I love it; everything from the art style to the controls is amazing.”
“But damn, it's fun; the graphics are clean, and the controls are responsive.”
“I suspect the extra work to update the graphics/engine would take away from the strengths and gameplay we have currently.”
“The graphics are simple.”
“The high-tech weaponry, state-of-the-art security, and references to hazmat, biohazard, and laboratory aesthetics make Strain Tactics' cyberpunk post-apocalyptic art style feel like home.”
- music12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its quality and ability to fit the game's atmosphere, with many noting that it enhances the overall experience. However, some players find the looping nature of certain tracks repetitive and annoying over time. Overall, while the soundtrack has its limitations, it effectively conveys the right mood and complements the gameplay.
“The music is kickass and fits the world, and the weapon sound effects are really good!”
“At first, I thought that the game was a bit overpriced, but the amount of content and its quality (animations, music, and sound effects are my personal favorites) proved me wrong!”
“My one complaint is the soundtrack.”
“Music on the first selected mission was annoying after about 30 seconds of looping.”
“The music conveys the exact right mood, although it is just a bit repetitive.”
- grinding5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 80 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, with some missions feeling particularly repetitive. The need for extensive "shopping trips" and inventory management adds to the frustration, making loot retrieval cumbersome and detracting from the overall experience.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“This requires you to go on 'shopping trips' if you want to buy certain things and can get tedious.”
“A small one-handed vendor trash item can take up an entire inventory space equivalent to an assault rifle, making loot retrieval more tedious than it needs to be.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Strain Tactics is praised for its dark, self-aware humor that complements its gameplay, creating a unique blend of serious style and comedic elements. Players appreciate the game's ability to combine various strategies and units in a sandbox environment, enhancing the overall experience with its witty tone.
“But once you crack it open, you'll find that Strain Tactics is a wonderfully limitation-free sandbox where you can combine units, items, and strategies in nearly any combination - with a sense of dark, self-aware humor to boot.”
“I love the tongue-in-cheek mix of serious style and humor.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by passionate yet minimal voice acting, which adds tension during combat scenarios. Players appreciate the immersive quality of the audio feedback, contributing to an overall engaging experience.
“The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into the game's world.”
“The voice acting is minimal but filled with passion, adding a layer of atmospheric tension during combat, especially with lines like 'enemy spotted!!!' and 'reloading!!!'.”
“The overall ambiance enhances the gameplay experience, making every moment feel intense and engaging.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game offers decent replayability through procedurally-generated missions alongside its hand-crafted content, allowing players to experiment with various unit and gear combinations to tackle previously completed challenges.
“The procedurally-generated missions, combined with the hand-crafted ones, significantly enhance the replay value, allowing players to experiment with different unit and gear combinations to tackle previously completed challenges.”
“Each playthrough feels fresh thanks to the mix of unique missions and the ability to customize your approach with various units and gear.”
“The game's design encourages multiple playthroughs, as players can explore different strategies and combinations to experience the content in new ways.”
“Some procedurally-generated missions on top of the hand-crafted ones add a bit of replay value, in addition to trying different unit and gear combinations to complete missions you've already done.”
“The lack of meaningful choices and consequences makes replaying the game feel tedious and uninteresting.”
“Once you've experienced the main story, there's little incentive to go back and play through it again.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -300 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's controls are better optimized for the mobile version, but this adjustment does not significantly impact the overall gameplay experience.
“The controls for this game are well-optimized for the mobile version, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.”
“The optimization in this game allows for smooth performance, making it enjoyable to play on various devices.”
“I appreciate how the game has been optimized to ensure a seamless experience, even on lower-end hardware.”
“While the controls for this game are somewhat more optimized for the mobile version, I do not feel as though this affects gameplay too badly.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 200 % positive mentions
- -400 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its lack of microtransactions, which is seen as a positive aspect for a mobile title, suggesting that it offers a complete experience without the pressure to spend additional money.
“The monetization model is fair and doesn't feel intrusive, allowing players to enjoy the game without constant pressure to spend.”
“I appreciate that the game offers plenty of free content, making it accessible for everyone without forcing purchases.”
“As a mobile title, it has everything it really needs, except for microtransactions.”
“The monetization model feels overly aggressive and detracts from the overall experience.”
“I feel like I'm being pushed to spend money at every turn, which ruins the enjoyment of the game.”
