Strike Team Gladius
- April 8, 2021
- Wave Light Games Inc.
Get on SteamStrike 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.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Playstation 4
Playstation 5
Windows
Xbox One
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- The game offers a great variety of characters and classes, allowing for diverse tactical options and strategies during combat.
- Players appreciate the sense of progression through character upgrades and the ability to customize loadouts, making each playthrough unique.
- The turn-based combat mechanics are well-executed, providing a satisfying balance of challenge and accessibility.
- The user interface is clunky and difficult to navigate, making it hard to access important information and manage the team effectively.
- There are reports of bugs and AI issues, such as unresponsive units and erratic behavior during missions, which can detract from the overall experience.
- Some players feel the game lacks depth in its story and mission variety, leading to repetitive gameplay.
- story37 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 84 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's story is minimal and primarily serves as a framework for its tactical combat missions, lacking depth and character development. Players can choose different paths and factions, but the overall narrative is linear and repetitive, often revolving around the objective of eliminating enemies. While the focus is on gameplay and strategy, those seeking a rich story may find it lacking.
“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.”
“Get a brief story to start, pick your team of six characters, and start through the story.”
“Campaigns are very linear with little backstory or characters you can bond with.”
“Reading anything about the story or tutorial was a no go.”
“Mission objectives could have more variety -- it's basically 'eliminate all aliens' (really?) every mission.”
- gameplay11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game features a mix of tactical combat mechanics, including a counter-fire system and turn-based strategies that emphasize cover and line of sight. While some players appreciate the depth and challenge it offers, others criticize the clunky UI and AI, suggesting that the overall execution feels somewhat outdated. Despite these issues, the game provides fast-paced action and is particularly appealing to fans of tactical and tabletop wargames.
“It pretty much immediately throws you in the action, but once you figure out the game mechanics, it's simple yet challenging.”
“Overall, it's pretty clear that a lot of thought was put into the combat mechanics, and frankly this is where the game shines.”
“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.”
- graphics10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the improved character models and attention to detail, while others criticize the overall quality and user interface as lacking. Minor graphical glitches were noted, but many agree that the graphics are decent and well-optimized, though not a primary focus for a turn-based strategy game. Overall, the visual experience may not appeal to everyone, particularly those sensitive to outdated graphics or poor UI design.
“The graphics are quite good, and character models are improved.”
“Graphics and effects are nice.”
“The graphics are very well done and show much love to detail.”
“The graphics are just bad.”
“The graphics and UI look bad; the maps don't look that different, and the 'campaign' is just a screen of three buttons ('missions', 'team', and 'shop').”
“If budget/old graphics are a deal breaker for you, then walk swiftly away.”
- music6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players find the voiceovers and soundtrack to be somewhat cheap and unappealing, others appreciate the decent audio quality, ambient sounds, and a fitting soundtrack that evokes nostalgia. Overall, the music enhances the experience for some, but others prefer to turn it off.
“Audio: decent audio with nice music and ambient sounds (at least in desert levels).”
“Nice and fluid animations, all guided by a very nice and cool soundtrack that fits very well.”
“The game is modern but gave me also the old school touch I love in this genre, paired with this cool music.”
“The voiceovers and soundtrack are a little chintzy; I ended up turning the music off.”
“The voiceovers and soundtrack are a little chintzy; I ended up turning the music off.”
“I had the Total Recall song stuck in my head for an hour...”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the grinding aspect for its ability to create powerful, customizable characters, making it enjoyable for those who thrive on character development. However, some find the endless grinding tedious, comparing it to XCOM but without the base-building elements. Overall, the experience is polarizing, catering to both grinding enthusiasts and those who prefer a more streamlined approach.
“You can change the difficulty, but with the endless grinding possible, you will always be able to create almost 'unstoppable' characters, which can be frustrating for players who dislike such mechanics.”
“Very XCOM-like, minus the base building and with more tedious aspects.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is generally praised, with users noting stellar performance during intense gameplay scenarios, such as defeating multiple enemies simultaneously. The graphics are considered decent and appear to be well-optimized, contributing to a smooth gaming experience.
“Stellar performance (e.g., killing 3 aliens simultaneously) can result in 'command points', which you can use for buffs.”
“The graphics are decent enough and seem well optimized.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, users report a high level of stability, with only minor graphical glitches noted during extended gameplay, 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.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
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.”
“Each playthrough feels unique due to the diverse choices and paths available, making me want to dive back in.”
“The game offers multiple endings and branching storylines, encouraging players to explore different outcomes.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the desert levels is praised for its appealing and immersive qualities, contributing positively to the overall gaming experience.
“The atmosphere in the desert levels is truly captivating.”
“The ambiance created in the game immerses you completely.”
“Every location has a unique atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by quirky elements, such as a developer's amusing voice in the intro and nostalgic references like old-school save slots, which evoke a sense of playful nostalgia amidst the sparse battlefields.
“The intro features one of the developers using a funny voice, which sets a lighthearted tone right from the start.”
“The humor is cleverly woven into the gameplay, making even the sparse battlefields feel entertaining.”
“I love how the save slots remind me of the old school memory card days, adding a nostalgic and humorous touch!”
