This review will be on the shorter-side given the early access nature of the title; Expect a full review when the game comes out of early access.
Look, I get it.
Turn-based tactical RPGs don’t really have the same impact as, say, an FPS or something. The immersion is low. The difficulty tends to be higher. The amount of time needed to understand how to play and not fucking get wiped harder than an American who uses enough TP to clog the toilet is.. Elevated.
Still, sometimes you need a game that doesn’t obligate you to basically be a goddamned healthy teenager in order to be good at it.
MENACE has been that game for me lately; I talked about it last week, but my broken-ass body has been failing me hard, and I needed something I could play that would challenge my mind but not constantly remind me that I have been nerfed harder than the Redeemer in Star Citizen.
Before we get into the review, just to emphasize: This is an early access title, and this review is for the early access version as of publishing. Shit could change. Be prepared.
Anyway, what is MENACE?
MENACE: Sci-fi turn-based tactical chaos
When you start the game you’re thrust into a scaffolding of a story that is just enough to set up the gameplay.. And that’s good. It really doesn’t need to be more than that.
MENACE is a tactical, turn-based RPG that has rogue-lite elements. Each playthrough will be different. Sometimes – like the very first time I played and refunded it because I was never really good at tactical games, but even my old brain realized I fucked up hard – you’ll wipe on the first mission.
Well, let me clarify: You will wipe on your first mission if you have bad luck and don’t do some prep research.
This is – ALMOST – a souls-like experience in difficulty if you go into it blind.
There are difficulty settings, and if you’re new to to these kinds of games? Definitely go with the easiest setting.
Additionally, this game is all about choices.. Choosing squad leaders to start the game with, choosing how you kit them out, choosing who you take on missions, choosing what missions you take, and more.
Seriously, there are a shit-ton of choices, and even more as you progress into the game. I tend to spend a lot of time planning before I even get into missions. If planning strategy at multiple stages doesn’t tickle your ‘tism, look elsewhere.
And then you get into the missions themselves.
I have to say.. Progression and gameplay is done exceptionally well here. There was enough familiarity that I was able to understand what I was doing pretty easily, and with some research on general strategies? Yeah, I was winning (almost) every mission.
Sure, I had some close-calls; I let myself get flanked hard and rushed to take out an enemy, leaving one of my favorite squads vulnerable to the point of needing to go recover the squad leader before they bled out.
I did it, though, and found myself relishing in trying things out and discovering what works and what doesn’t.
So.. Who is MENACE for?
MENACE: Should you buy it?
MENACE is a thinker of a game, and unlike games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, it is 100% turn-based.. So no need to have quick reflexes here.
If you want to feel challenged and experience an amazing game that is early access, but doesn’t feel like it’s early access (until you get to the end-game and the game says “Hey, we don’t really have shit ready for you here, so balance is gonna get weird“).
It also is incredibly well written despite not really relying on progression of a storyline to sell the ongoing gameplay. Characters have little quips, there are amusing side-decisions you’ll need to make (with consequences), and overall it’s a joy to play.
Bonus? I tend to play in 30-45 minute sessions, which is just right for me.
If you like tactical games with a military sci-fi setting, grab MENACE now and keep it. Seriously, don’t refund like I did and then come crawling back to buy it again. The devs are doing awesome shit and deserve your money.