Tactical Breach Wizards
- August 22, 2024
- Suspicious Developments Inc
- 20h median play time
Get on Steam"Tactical Breach Wizards" is a turn-based tactics game where you lead a team of renegade wizards in kevlar to unravel a conspiracy plot. Each wizard has unique abilities, and you can combo spells for satisfying results. With a story-driven campaign of about 14 hours, you can experiment freely and rewind mistakes, allowing for creative problem-solving.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Clever, funny, and engaging writing with well-developed characters.
- Gameplay combines tactical elements with puzzle-solving, allowing for creative strategies and experimentation.
- Beautiful art style and design, with a unique blend of modern and fantasy themes.
- Some players may find the game too easy, especially on normal difficulty, with limited challenge in the main campaign.
- The story can feel rushed towards the end, with some character arcs not fully explored.
- The dialogue may not appeal to everyone, with some finding it overly quippy or reminiscent of Marvel-style humor.
- story2,287 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The story of "Tactical Breach Wizards" is widely praised for its engaging narrative, witty dialogue, and well-developed characters, blending humor with serious themes. Players appreciate the clever integration of gameplay mechanics with the storyline, allowing for a unique experience that keeps them invested in both the plot and character arcs. While the main campaign is relatively short, lasting around 15-20 hours, the game offers plenty of optional missions and challenges that enhance replayability and deepen the overall experience.
“With a main cast capable of pulling on your heartstrings, stunning you to silence, making you cry, or leaving you in hysterics, all amidst a story that puts novelists to shame, enormous credit for the game's degree of quality lies with the writers.”
“The story is incredibly well told, the missions are challenging without being too frustrating, and bonus objectives and additional non-story missions are there to round out the package beyond my playtime.”
“The story is fun, the levels don't ever feel like they drag on too long, the combos are engaging to pull off and rewarding.”
“The story is captivating and the writing is constantly making me chortle.”
“The characters, the gameplay, the story, the setting, it's all filtered through one voice and that voice is grating, predictable, and uninteresting.”
“The story is simple and easy to follow, making it quite enjoyable, but the writing and humor is great.”
- gameplay1,596 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Tactical Breach Wizards" is widely praised for its engaging blend of tactical and puzzle elements, reminiscent of titles like "Into the Breach" and "XCOM." Players appreciate the innovative rewind mechanic that allows for experimentation without penalty, making the game feel more accessible and less punishing. The combination of unique character abilities, clever level design, and witty writing creates a satisfying and dynamic gameplay experience that encourages creative problem-solving and strategic thinking.
“The gameplay shares a kind of puzzle feel with Invisible Inc. and XCOM 2 that makes my brain tick.”
“The blend of puzzle-solving and tactical gameplay really shines, making every challenge satisfying to overcome.”
“The gameplay is incredibly satisfying, just right for a binge or for a quick level or two when you don't have much time in the day.”
“The gameplay is solid, but the writing is what makes it truly great.”
“The gameplay is more puzzle-like than tactical; think into the breach but with real characters and dialogue that is fun to read.”
“The gameplay is definitely more on the 'puzzle' side over the 'tactical' side, you won't have to manage Greg the Grenadier's PTSD in between levels nor spend any time convincing a nearby militia to construct any radio towers.”
- humor1,266 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in "Tactical Breach Wizards" is widely praised for its cleverness and charm, blending witty dialogue with engaging gameplay. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to balance lighthearted humor with deeper emotional moments, creating a narrative that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. The writing is consistently funny, often eliciting genuine laughter, and the characters are well-developed, adding to the overall enjoyment of the game.
“The writing is sharp and genuinely funny, with the game’s episodic structure making it easy to jump in and out of play sessions.”
“A fantastic game featuring humorously charming dialogue that I enjoy so much that I often found myself more excited for the next chatting bits than the combat.”
“The humor stayed on the right side of Marvel-esque with the banter between characters and the one-liners.”
“The main character is a prissy girl boss and everything she says is supposed to be funny, but it comes off as holier than thou and condescending, with every other line being an unnecessary quirky one-liner.”
“Only big issue I have is the dialogue writing; it's not Forspoken level but more in the quirky D&D character sort of area, featuring unfunny jokes that interrupt exposition and descriptions of items with zany lines. I don't hate that style, but there's an art to it, and I really don't think the game does it well.”
“Cringe, unfunny Reddit-tier writing made me feel embarrassed for you.”
- graphics334 mentions
- 51 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received a largely positive reception, with many players praising its unique and charming art style that blends modern military aesthetics with fantasy elements. While some reviews noted that the graphics are simple or low-poly, they are often described as visually appealing and effective in conveying the game's themes and character designs. Overall, the art direction is highlighted as a standout feature, contributing to an engaging and enjoyable gameplay experience.
“The graphics and art style are amazing and distinct.”
“The clean art style is perfect for a tactics game that requires readability while still looking beautiful - in particular the dialogue scenes and the mission complete cinematics are packed with visual detail and interest in a way that makes the whole campaign feel a cut above.”
“The art style is unique and wonderful, the writing is snappy, funny and heartfelt at the same time, irreverent without being flippant.”
“Graphics and art are boring and limited.”
“The low-poly graphics are charming, but sometimes it feels like things lack detail and polish, with certain scenes being quite forgettable.”
“It's inoffensive at best, but at worst can feel somewhat sterile, similar to Heat Signature (though thankfully, this game's graphics still manage to be more expressive than Heat Signature).”
- music114 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its energy and fit within the gameplay, while others find it repetitive and lacking in variety, often wishing for a more diverse soundtrack. Many appreciate the sound design and how it complements the overall experience, but a notable number of reviewers feel the music can become forgettable or even annoying over extended play sessions. Overall, while the music is generally considered serviceable and occasionally excellent, it does not consistently stand out as a highlight of the game.
“The music slaps, the narrative is intriguing, and I got attached to the characters very quickly.”
“The character designs are top-notch (love the outfit choices) and music is great at keeping up the energy.”
“The music is intense without overwhelming you while you're trying to plan, and the rest of the sound design fits just right, too.”
“The music is pretty bland and repetitive.”
“The lackluster soundtrack is completely forgettable.”
“The music, however, is so whatever that I almost forgot it existed—failing really hard at setting up the desired atmosphere.”
- replayability112 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
Overall, the game exhibits a strong sense of replayability, bolstered by optional challenges, unlockable content, and a level editor that encourages player creativity. While some reviews note limitations in replay value due to a lack of procedural generation and finite campaign length, many players appreciate the variety of approaches to missions and the depth of the narrative, which invite multiple playthroughs. The combination of tactical gameplay, engaging story, and community-generated content contributes to a satisfying experience that keeps players returning for more.
“Gripping gameplay coupled with a surprisingly deep story makes this well worth every hour, and difficulty settings and confidence goals give tons of replayability to this 10-hour narrative.”
“The optional objectives, challenge missions, and player-created levels also add a lot of replayability.”
“The advanced difficulty options offer plenty of customizable replayability too.”
“The only caveat is the rather short game time, and in my opinion, limited replayability due to the upgrade system having a limited number of perk refunds.”
“This is a linear game with limited replayability and more of a puzzle/tactics than a strategy game, and you should be aware of that.”
“I was a bit disappointed to learn it doesn't have procedural levels for replayability.”
- emotional106 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its exceptional emotional depth, blending humor with heartfelt storytelling that resonates with players. Reviewers highlight the well-crafted characters and their personal arcs, which tackle serious themes while maintaining a lighthearted tone. Overall, the writing is described as both funny and touching, creating a memorable experience that leaves players emotionally invested in the narrative and characters.
“I was not expecting to become emotionally invested in a game about wizards with guns, but here we are.”
“The heartfelt story of Dall and her goal to rise up against a fascist regime kept me engaged and rooting for her every step of the way.”
“The writing is top-notch, really funny, and it can be surprisingly emotional.”
- character development71 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is widely praised for its depth and emotional resonance, with players appreciating the well-crafted arcs of the main characters, who evolve from a team of misfits into a cohesive unit. The writing is noted for its humor and clever dialogue, which enhances the character interactions and overall narrative. Additionally, the character designs are highlighted as visually appealing and distinct, contributing to the game's charm and engagement.
“The writing is excellent: very funny while also managing to have good character development and some well-crafted plot twists.”
“The five main characters go through a surprising amount of meaningful and satisfying character development over the course of the story, and everything wraps up with a bow in the end--and you get some say in that ending, too.”
“While the game is overall light and humorous, these topics are treated with the weight they deserve, and working through real emotions is what drives the character development of your little group of friends.”
“There’s a lot of tongue-in-cheek quippy banter that just doesn’t seem to mesh well with the times the game tries to tell a serious story with serious character development.”
“I've not finished the story yet, and while it's nothing terribly special so far, the world building and character development makes up for what the story lacks.”
“While the game is overall light and humorous, these topics are treated with the weight they deserve, and working through real emotions is what drives the character development of your little group of friends.”
- optimization28 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is highly praised, with users reporting smooth performance across various systems, including lower-end hardware, and a solid frame rate. While the game excels in performance and has minimal bugs, some players noted that controller support could be improved and that it drains battery life faster than expected. The user interface and text size received minor critiques, but these do not detract significantly from the overall experience.
“The game runs really well and is optimized pretty nicely.”
“The turn-based combat system and ability to rewind up to your last completed turn allows you to look for optimization in your strategy and try crazy stuff just to see if it works without fear of failing the level.”
“It's a tight tactical game that scratches that optimization itch with low commitment and seamless re-dos within a turn, so you can try several different options and pick your favorite.”
“I did find the controller scheme to be somewhat confusing and unoptimized.”
“Only areas I'd really point out for improvement are controller support and minor optimization.”
“On the optimization side, playing it burns through the battery way faster than I'd expect for a game like this; not sure what's happening there.”
- grinding17 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience. While many appreciate the game's humor and engaging mechanics that keep grinding from feeling tedious, some note that it can become repetitive during longer play sessions, particularly in the endgame. The dialogue and story elements are generally well-received, adding depth and interest, though some players still find certain gameplay mechanics, like managing multiple moves, to be unnecessarily tedious.
“Tactical breach wizards overall, however, is a fun game to play, yet sometimes repetitive and it does get boring and tedious if being played for a long time.”
“My only gripe with the game at the moment is that if you've made a ton of moves in a given turn, but maybe want to redo your turn as a whole, your only option is just repeatedly clicking rewind, which can get tedious when some levels can have you do up to 10+ moves in a turn.”
“I found the difficulty to be manageable but tedious, likely because I played on the hardest difficulty but I still thought it was worth mentioning.”
- atmosphere14 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its engaging worldbuilding, fun dialogue, and immersive level design, creating a chill and enjoyable experience. Many players appreciate the attention to detail and the blend of humor and art that enhances the overall vibe. However, some critiques mention a lack of impactful music, which detracts from the intended atmosphere.
“The worldbuilding and atmosphere are great.”
“Just a blast to play, from the characters, the puzzles, and the atmosphere; you feel the immense amount of passion and talent that went into the game.”
“The little details, from the arcane-modern equipment the wizards carry to the snippets of funny dialogue, really all work together to create an atmosphere that is very enjoyable to partake in.”
“The music, however, is so lackluster that I almost forgot it existed—failing really hard at setting up the desired atmosphere.”
“I felt like this game had no atmosphere or immersion for that reason.”
“This makes for a real chill atmosphere where you can tinker with various approaches and never have to be frustrated when mechanics don't seem to work as they should.”
- stability13 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 8 % neutral mentions
- 54 % negative mentions
Overall, the game demonstrates impressive stability, with users reporting no crashes, freezes, or significant bugs during gameplay. While some minor visual glitches and sound issues were noted, they did not detract from the overall experience, which is described as smooth and enjoyable across various platforms, including the Steam Deck. The game is praised for its clean execution and reliability, making it a solid choice for players seeking a bug-free experience.
“Runs great on the Steam Deck as well.”
“No glitches and/or bugs so far, which is rare these days.”
“All in all, Tactical Breach Wizards is a wild, fun, and surprisingly bug-free ride throughout, and it's definitely 100% worth its price.”
“Currently, the store page for the demo is buggy - try the following (credit to discussions forum):”
“The fonts are a bit too small, and the button sounds appear to not load correctly, sounding like static glitches.”
“Although the game offers nice graphics and a really cool aesthetic, there are some ugly glitches here and there.”
- monetization5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 80 % negative mentions
The game's monetization model is praised for its transparency and fairness, with no microtransactions or player-hostile practices. Players appreciate the honest advertising, which accurately reflects the game's content without any misleading elements or pressure tactics.
“There are no microtransactions or any player-hostile behavior.”
“The monetization model is fair and respects the player's experience.”
“I appreciate that the game doesn't pressure players into spending money.”
“No microtransactions, FOMO, or any player-hostile behavior.”
“Refunded based on incorrect advertising.”
“The game's advertising is brutally honest.”
