Strike Team Gladius

About

Strike Team Gladius is a single player tactical role playing game with warfare and science fiction themes. It was developed by Wave Light Games Inc. and was released on April 8, 2021. It received positive reviews from players.

Strike Team Gladius is a turn-based tactical RPG set in space. Command a team of mercenaries, customize their gear and abilities, and engage in tactical combat against alien enemies. Explore procedurally generated galaxies, take on various missions, and manage your team's resources to ensure their survival.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

90%

Audience ScoreBased on 40 reviews

story4 positive mentions

grinding6 negative mentions

The game offers a great feeling of progression with a variety of upgrades and character choices, making it highly customizable and replayable.
The tactical combat is well-balanced and engaging, providing a satisfying challenge without being overly complicated.
The graphics and sound design are decent, enhancing the overall atmosphere and enjoyment of the gameplay.

The user interface is clunky and unintuitive, making it difficult to navigate and find important information.
AI behavior can be frustrating, with allied units sometimes acting recklessly and not following objectives properly.
The game suffers from some bugs and rough edges, particularly in early access, which can detract from the overall experience.

story
58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
88%
5%
The game's story serves primarily as a framework for its tactical combat missions, with limited depth and a focus on gameplay rather than narrative. Players can experience branching paths by choosing to support or attack different factions, but the overall plot remains largely unchanged throughout the campaign. While the story may not be the main draw, it effectively supports the turn-based mechanics and character progression, making it suitable for those who prioritize gameplay over a rich narrative.
- “I liked Shieldwall's branching paths - even if the story is mostly the same, you can choose to support or attack a few different factions throughout the game.”
- “The story serves as the framework for the game campaign's 40 combat missions, so it’s all about building a team and tactical combat.”
- “Unfortunately, sometimes the AI units behave like kamikazes even on missions where your objective is to make sure they don't die.”
- “If you like turn-based combat and don't want to spend too much time on the story, this game is for you.”
- “Get a brief story to start, pick your team of six characters, and start through the story.”
gameplay
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
66%
17%
The gameplay of Strike Team Gladius features a mix of tactical mechanics, including a counter-fire system, but suffers from a clunky UI and simplistic AI. While it offers fast-paced action and surprising depth once players acclimate to its mechanics, some users feel that recent changes have made the experience feel regressive. Overall, it appeals to fans of tabletop skirmish and turn-based tactics, prioritizing gameplay over narrative.
- “It pretty much immediately throws you in the action, but once you figure out the game mechanics, it's simple yet challenging.”
- “Inject this directly into your bloodstream if you: have enjoyed previous games from Wave Light; enjoy tabletop skirmish wargames or turn-based tactics games; value gameplay over story.”
- “Gameplay: there’s surprising depth here and I haven’t explored it all yet.”
- “Somehow, after playing a bit of this, the changes in the play mechanics and UI felt somewhat backwards.”
- “Strike Team Gladius does somewhat scratch the itch with its own mechanics, but a tactical combat game with a somewhat clunky UI, brain-dead AI, and no dynamic campaign in 2022 is aiming a bit low.”
- “The ST series has a counter-fire mechanic where the unit being attacked can retaliate (counterfire) but is often limited in the number of counterfire available per turn.”
graphics
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
50%
10%
The graphics are generally well-received, with improved character models and nice effects, though some users noted minor graphical glitches. While the visuals are decent and optimized, they may not appeal to everyone, particularly those sensitive to budget or older graphics. Overall, the graphics are considered good but may not meet the expectations of all players.
- “The graphics are quite good, and character models are improved significantly.”
- “Graphics and effects are nice.”
- “Graphics: decent enough and seem well optimized.”
- “It won't be for everyone, and if budget/old graphics are a deal breaker for you then walk swiftly away.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the grinding aspect for its ability to allow extensive character customization and progression, enabling the creation of powerful characters. While some find it tedious, others enjoy the freedom to adjust difficulty and engage in grinding without facing frustrating obstacles. Overall, it offers a rewarding experience for those who enjoy deep character development.
- “You can change the difficulty, but with the endless grinding possible, you will always be able to create almost 'unstoppable' characters, which may frustrate players who dislike tedious points in games.”
- “Very XCOM-like, minus the base building and with more tedious aspects.”
- “The grinding can feel excessive and detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The music in the game is generally well-received, featuring decent audio quality and enjoyable tracks, particularly in the desert levels. Players have noted that certain songs, like the "Total Recall" theme, are catchy enough to linger in their minds long after playing.
- “The audio features decent quality with nice music and ambient sounds, especially in the desert levels.”
- “I had the 'Total Recall' song stuck in my head for an hour.”
- “The music really enhances the overall experience and stays with you long after playing.”
- “I had the Total Recall song stuck in my head for an hour...”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by a lighthearted and nostalgic tone, highlighted by a developer's amusing voice in the intro and playful references to retro gaming elements, such as old-school save slots reminiscent of memory cards. Overall, the humor adds a charming and whimsical touch to the gaming experience.
- “The intro features one of the developers using a funny voice, which adds a delightful touch of humor to the experience.”
- “The save slots are designed in an old-school style, which took me back to the memory card days and made me chuckle.”
- “The overall atmosphere is light-hearted, making even the sparse battlefields feel entertaining.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game's stability is commendable, with players reporting only minor graphical glitches during extensive playtime, indicating a well-optimized experience.
- “The only bugs I encountered in 25.5 hours were a couple of graphic glitches where a shield for cover might show on the map for no reason on one hex; extremely minor stuff.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Replayability is rated very high due to the extensive variety of class and skill combinations available for squad customization, encouraging players to experiment with different strategies in multiple playthroughs.
- “Replayability is very high given the sheer number of class and skill combinations possible in a squad.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The graphics are generally considered decent and well-optimized, indicating a positive reception regarding the game's performance in this area.
- “Graphics: decent enough and seem well optimized.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere in the desert levels is consistently praised for its appealing and immersive qualities, creating a captivating environment for players.
- “The atmosphere in the desert levels is truly captivating.”