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
- Incredibly well-designed tactical puzzle game with a unique rewind mechanic that encourages experimentation.
- Hilarious and engaging writing with well-developed characters that make the story enjoyable.
- Offers a satisfying blend of strategy and humor, making it accessible for both newcomers and veterans of the genre.
- Some players may find the game too easy, especially on normal difficulty, with limited challenge in the main campaign.
- The optional objectives can sometimes feel like the only real challenge, potentially overshadowing the main gameplay.
- A few characters may feel underdeveloped or less engaging compared to the main cast, leading to a lack of depth in certain story arcs.
- story2,778 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 throughout the campaign. While the plot may not be groundbreaking, it is described as entertaining and filled with unexpected twists, making it a standout feature of the game alongside its tactical gameplay.
“Beyond that, the noir-ish story is interesting, the characters and dialogue are perfection, and the hours seemed to melt away playing it.”
“The story is shockingly great, the characters are compelling, and the gameplay is an amazing mix of tactical RPG and puzzle game.”
“The story is not only there to make the game longer but feels like it forces the player to read lots of uninspired dialogue for no reason.”
“The story is quite simple and generic in themes, where it shines is how the characters act and coexist.”
“The story moves at a breathless pace, but it takes the time to flesh out and air out every character's flaws and the facets of their highly developed personalities.”
- gameplay1,957 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Tactical Breach Wizards" has been widely praised for its engaging mechanics that blend tactical strategy with puzzle-solving elements, reminiscent of games like "Into the Breach" and "XCOM." Players appreciate the innovative rewind mechanic, which allows for experimentation without penalty, making the gameplay feel both accessible and rewarding. The combination of witty writing, unique character abilities, and a humorous narrative enhances the overall experience, creating a game that is both fun and intellectually stimulating.
“The gameplay and combat is really good and has lots of interesting mechanics and there's good challenges.”
“The smart gameplay and puzzle layout combined with relentless snark and sheer wit in the dialogue and banter between characters make this a 10/10 if you like the genre!”
“The gameplay is excellent - it's tight, simple to pick up, and scales up nicely as you progress through the game and expand your arsenal of abilities.”
“Too much story, too little gameplay.”
“But the whole gameplay loop of try-fail-rewind-retry until you complete each level is just not fun.”
“The characters are all unlikable, the supposedly funny dialogue is just annoying, the pointless connect-the-dots minigame just disturbs the gameplay flow.”
- humor1,512 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in "Tactical Breach Wizards" is widely praised for its clever writing and engaging dialogue, often eliciting genuine laughter from players. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to balance humor with serious themes, creating a narrative that is both entertaining and emotionally resonant. The witty banter and absurd scenarios, such as wizards using tactical gear, contribute to a unique and enjoyable experience that keeps players invested throughout the gameplay.
“The writing is stellar - it had me laughing from the first scene and in love with all of these characters, with enough development to stay fresh, and can be funny/lighthearted without impeding a good narrative.”
“It's shockingly compelling while still being really funny and extremely fun.”
“The writing is phenomenal, funny, and kept me on my toes.”
“And the dialogues are a slog of unfunny jokes you have to wade through.”
“The main character is a prissy girl boss and everything she says is supposed to be funny (I think), but it comes off as holier than thou and condescending, and every other line is an unnecessary quirky one-liner.”
“Only big issue I have is the dialogue writing; it's not Forspoken level but more the quirky D&D character sort of area, with 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.”
- graphics387 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their unique and charming art style, which blends low-poly aesthetics with vibrant colors and clever design. While some players noted that the visuals may not be cutting-edge, they effectively support the gameplay and narrative, enhancing the overall experience. The combination of engaging character designs, clear UI, and a whimsical atmosphere contributes to a visually appealing and cohesive presentation that resonates well with players.
“The art style is what stayed with me from years ago and honestly it's great.”
“The graphics and art style are amazing and distinct.”
“The visuals are stylish, the music and sound effects weighty, the characters are all very well written and as the tone of the story shifted and the gravity of their situation became apparent I found myself caring about these individuals and their world.”
“The 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 forgetful.”
“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).”
- music132 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its composition and ability to enhance the gameplay experience, while others find it repetitive and lacking in variety. Some players appreciate the soundtrack's fitting tone and energy, likening it to iconic game scores, while others feel it becomes monotonous over time. Overall, the music is generally considered good but could benefit from more diverse tracks to maintain engagement throughout longer play sessions.
“Even the music is something I was initially not expecting to be that great, but it really surprised me with how fun the composition is - to draw some comparisons, it felt like a mix between the best of the music of Halo, MGS, and Hitman, which is also a very interesting combination.”
“The music is great, too; I particularly enjoyed how there are tracks for both the planning/dialogue before a breach, and after.”
“The music is intense without overwhelming you while you're trying to plan, and the rest of the sound design fits just right, too, all the thuds and pows and zaps you'd expect as a team of spec ops sorcerers trying to (non-lethally) take down all the armies, cops, and mercenaries in their way.”
“For one, the music is a bit on the generic side.”
“The music is pretty bland and repetitive.”
“The lackluster soundtrack is completely forgettable.”
- replayability129 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
Overall, the game exhibits a strong sense of replayability, with many players highlighting the enjoyment of revisiting missions to achieve different objectives, explore various character abilities, and tackle optional challenges. Features such as a level editor, user-generated content, and multiple difficulty settings further enhance replay value, although some reviewers noted limitations due to the lack of procedural generation and finite campaign length. While not every player found it endlessly replayable, many appreciated the depth and variety offered through its mechanics and challenges.
“Engaging storyline, funny dialogue, immense replayability; I found myself retrying different combinations for hours on different levels.”
“If replayability is your thing, there are several difficulties, extra challenges, four levels of an endless-wave-style mode, and access to player-created levels.”
“The optional objectives, challenge missions, and player-created levels also add a lot of replayability.”
“There's not much replayability after completing the harder difficulty, but the worldbuilding and characters keep bringing me back, just like it has first hooked me into this game.”
“In the end it doesn't have much in terms of replayability, but that one playthrough is really satisfying.”
“The only (very mild) downside is that the game appears somewhat brief, and won't be particularly replayable, but for a top-shelf experience, the price is a steal.”
- emotional128 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its blend of humor and heartfelt storytelling, with players expressing surprise at the depth of character development and the poignant themes woven throughout the narrative. Many reviews note that the writing effectively balances comedic moments with serious emotional arcs, making players feel genuinely invested in the characters and their journeys. Overall, the game is praised for its ability to evoke laughter and tears, creating a memorable and engaging experience.
“Come for the charming and wildly inventive setting, stay for the touching trauma and wholesome explorations of leadership and geopolitics.”
“But it's also got so much heart - some of the expertly written character moments hit so hard I welled up, and the geopolitical layer is better than most airport novels, is paced perfectly, and stays engaging the entire time.”
“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.”
- character development84 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is widely praised for its depth and emotional resonance, with players noting that each character undergoes meaningful growth throughout the story. The writing is highlighted as excellent, combining humor with serious moments, which enhances the overall narrative experience. Additionally, the character designs are celebrated for their uniqueness and charm, contributing to the game's engaging dialogue and storytelling.
“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.”
“The writing is excellent: very funny while also managing to have good character development and some well-crafted plot twists.”
“Characters even undergo an appreciable amount of character development, something I genuinely was not expecting from my tactics game but is incredibly appreciated.”
“The game doesn't take itself seriously like XCOM, but each character gets their own mix of character development and philosophizing while you set out to save the world as a team.”
“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.”
- optimization31 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is highly praised, with users reporting smooth performance, minimal bugs, and solid frame rates across various hardware setups. While the game excels in tactical gameplay and allows for strategic experimentation, some players noted that controller support could be improved and that it drains battery faster than expected. Despite these minor issues, the game is recommended for its efficient performance and engaging mechanics.
“I found the challenge level perfect, not babying you but definitely satisfying to creep toward optimization.”
“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 / 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.”
- grinding24 mentions
- 4 % positive mentions
- 8 % neutral mentions
- 88 % negative mentions
Overall, players appreciate that the game minimizes grinding, focusing instead on engaging gameplay and creative challenges that keep the experience enjoyable. While some find certain aspects repetitive or tedious, especially at higher difficulties, the game is generally praised for its balance of dialogue and action, making it suitable for both casual and dedicated play without the need for excessive grinding.
“No grinding, no sweating, just fun.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“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.”
- atmosphere16 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 19 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its engaging worldbuilding, light-hearted yet deep tone, and immersive details that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the blend of fun dialogue, humor, and art, which contribute to a chill and enjoyable environment. However, some reviewers noted that the music fails to effectively support the atmosphere, leading to moments of disconnection.
“Light-hearted but deep, great style, great atmosphere, and a blast to play.”
“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 forgettable 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.”
“But the faction that really blew me away with their appearance and atmosphere was the chapel levels.”
- stability15 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 7 % neutral mentions
- 47 % negative mentions
Overall, the game demonstrates impressive stability, with users reporting minimal to no bugs, crashes, or freezes, particularly on the Steam Deck. While some minor visual glitches and sound issues were noted, the gameplay experience remains smooth and enjoyable, highlighting the developers' achievement in delivering a polished product.
“The fact it’s mostly bug free is a testament to what they’ve achieved here, and an absolute joy to play on Steam Deck.”
“Add in great tactical gameplay in a tight, clean, bug-free package... love it.”
“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 and just sound like static glitches to me.”
“The game offers some nice graphics and a really cool aesthetic, although some ugly glitches here and there, it is pleasant all the same.”
- monetization6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 83 % negative mentions
Tactical Breach Wizards is praised for its player-friendly monetization approach, featuring no microtransactions or predatory practices. The game's honest advertising effectively communicates its value, allowing it to succeed without relying on player-hostile tactics. Overall, it offers a great value proposition while continuously enhancing the player experience.
“There are no microtransactions or any player-hostile behavior.”
“The monetization model is fair and doesn't pressure players to spend money.”
“I appreciate that the game offers a complete experience without pushing for additional purchases.”
“Refunded based on incorrect advertising.”
“No microtransactions, FOMO, or weird monetization bullshit either.”
“The game's advertising is brutally honest.”
