Telepath Tactics Liberated
- March 13, 2022
- Sinister Design
"Telepath Tactics Liberated" is a strategy RPG where players create an army of fighters and lead them in battles against the Vibra Mining Company, a brutal organization that profits from slavery. Dynamic battlefields allow for interactive environments and creative tactics, as players turn raw recruits into veterans and lead them in turn-based combat. Every action, including environmental manipulation, can be used offensively and defensively, adding a layer of strategy to the game.
Reviews
- The game features deep tactical gameplay with a variety of characters and classes, allowing for creative strategies and interactions with the environment.
- The developer is highly responsive to player feedback, frequently releasing updates and improvements, which enhances the overall experience.
- The campaign editor adds significant replay value, enabling players to create and share custom content, making the game feel fresh and engaging.
- The user interface is clunky and can be frustrating to navigate, leading to misclicks and a less smooth gameplay experience.
- The story and character writing are often criticized for being nonsensical or poorly executed, detracting from the overall immersion.
- Some players have reported game-breaking bugs and issues with the tutorial, making it difficult to get into the game without repeated restarts.
- story46 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The story in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it engaging and well-written, while others criticize it for being poorly executed and lacking depth. Many appreciate the character development and world-building, but note that the narrative often takes a backseat to gameplay, leading to a less impactful experience. Overall, while the story has its merits, it is seen as a secondary element that does not detract significantly from the overall enjoyment of the game.
“The story is well written, with likable characters and intriguing world building.”
“For an indie title, I was treated to a good story, a fun game, and a real gem in the genre.”
“The campaign's story is straightforward and quick to the point.”
“In general, I enjoyed the game mechanically, but I have to give this game a negative review because the story elements are such ridiculous nonsense it drags down the whole experience.”
“I can't imagine the amount of effort that must have gone into building the game, only to drop such a flaming turd of a story on top of it.”
“O the story is better than some of the other similar games in this genre but suffers from a lack of impactful decisions, branching options, or replayability.”
- gameplay24 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The gameplay is highly praised for its engaging mechanics, particularly the innovative push/pull system and tactical combat that encourages strategic thinking. Players appreciate the interactive and destructible environments, which enhance the overall experience, despite some criticism of the story and cutscene length. Overall, the game offers a satisfying blend of tactical elements reminiscent of classics like Fire Emblem, with significant improvements in graphics and mechanics from its predecessor.
“I'm 15+ hours in and still have plenty of gameplay left to do.”
“Many levels were designed clearly with these mechanics in mind and there is something satisfying about pushing enemies off cliffs or into lava pits.”
“The gameplay has been smooth this time, and I haven't run into a single hiccup.”
“Sow might look fancier, have the squad system, but the gameplay (and most of all the story) tends to get stale towards the end.”
“When something is that customizable though, you really need to nail the core systems and mechanics of the game, or it's just lots of different variations of something boring...and boy does TTL have great systems.”
“It is similar in gameplay to other turn-based tactical games (Fire Emblem, Tactics Ogre, etc.) but has a style of its own, with everything (and I do mean everything) on the map either interactive or destructible, and spells and powers that let you exploit this to your advantage.”
- graphics12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with some users noting that while the visuals may initially appear subpar, they effectively complement the storytelling and character development. The art style, including background artwork and character portraits, enhances the overall experience, making the world feel more expansive despite its basic maps. An upgrade in visuals and user interface has been highlighted as a significant improvement, contributing to a smoother gameplay experience.
“The writing is decent and makes you (well, me at least) care for the characters; and that, as well as the background artwork and western-style portraits, along with the visual novel-esque cutscenes, cleverly portray a world that feels bigger and more detailed than what the much more graphically basic maps suggest.”
“I played the original and while the mechanics are mostly the same, the graphics overhaul and inclusion of more story elements was a significant improvement to the project.”
“Both graphically and mechanically, the game is far better now with its new engine and art.”
“Graphics are awful, but to be expected from an SRPG Maker game.”
“Don't be turned off by the clashing background graphics.”
“Don't let the graphics fool you, play this.”
- music6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its incredible quality, catchy melodies, and fitting classical and medieval tunes that enhance the overall experience. Reviewers highlight the impressive soundtrack, especially during key moments like the final fight, noting that it significantly contributes to the game's atmosphere. Overall, the music stands out as a strong aspect of this indie project.
“The music is catchy.”
“Great soundtrack, considering that this was an indie project.”
“The music is very nice, with classical and medieval tunes that fit the game very well.”
- replayability5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players find it lacking due to minimal impactful choices and branching paths, others appreciate the introduction of a random mode and the ability to experiment with different strategies and character combinations. The customizable difficulty and the option to restart missions contribute positively to its replay value, particularly for those who enjoy tactical combat.
“The new random mode might actually make for an interesting replay value.”
“The game has lots of replayability; if the mission didn't turn out the way you would have liked, you can reload or restart, and try out other strategies and see what works.”
“The combat is the star of the show; it has taken all the best qualities of Fire Emblem, including highly customizable difficulty and high replay value.”
“There's no replay value.”
“The story is better than some of the other similar games in this genre, but it suffers from a lack of impactful decisions, branching options, or replayability.”
- stability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game experiences frequent freezing issues, particularly during AI turns with numerous enemies on the map, which can disrupt gameplay. While it remains enjoyable and tactical, users note persistent bugs, though the developers are actively releasing patches to address these problems.
“Often the game freezes while waiting for the AI to move, and when you have 30+ enemies on the map at once, you can imagine how painful this is.”
“Still buggy here and there, but the developer provides patches frequently.”
“If you played the original, it was buggy, but still a very fun and original game.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players note that grinding is essential for unlocking advanced classes, as many characters struggle to reach level 20 without significant experience farming. This reliance on grinding can limit the overall experience of the game, making it feel necessary rather than optional.
“Grinding can be a rewarding experience, especially when you see your characters grow stronger and unlock new abilities.”
“The grind is real, but the satisfaction of leveling up and mastering new skills makes it all worth it.”
“I might have made a mistake by not focusing on farming experience in the early levels, as only a handful of my characters reached level 20, which unlocks more powerful classes.”
“The addition of advanced jobs is good; however, unless you are doing heavy grinding, it is unlikely you will be able to experience many of them.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game has been criticized for its overtly "woke" elements, with a strong emphasis on girl power and prominent LGBTQ themes, which some players feel detracts from the overall experience. Additionally, the portrayal of male characters as either weak or villainous has been noted as diminishing the game's atmosphere.
“It takes so much away from any kind of atmosphere - there's basically none.”
“My biggest complaint is the overall woke atmosphere, girl power all the time including for melee heavy hitters, LGBT romance in your face, and 100% of (white) men are either wimps or baddies.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development is highly praised, with players noting that it significantly enhances the overall experience and provides many hours of engaging gameplay.
“Character development is great, providing many hours of entertainment.”
“The depth of character development keeps me engaged and invested in the story.”
“I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making each decision feel impactful.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -300 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Liberated has successfully addressed many of the engine bugs and performance issues present in the original game, resulting in a more stable and optimized experience for players.
“Liberated fixes a lot of the original's engine bugs and performance issues.”
“The game suffers from severe optimization issues, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering.”
“Despite the improvements, there are still noticeable lag spikes that disrupt gameplay.”
“The optimization feels rushed, as many areas still experience significant performance problems.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is praised for its excellent writing and memorable characters, contributing to a strong base campaign. Additionally, the customizable campaign system allows players to infuse their own humor, enhancing the overall experience.
“Not only is the base campaign excellent, with good writing, solid humor, and memorable characters, but the entire system is built around letting you write your own campaigns, making it endlessly customizable.”