Steam Squad

 PC
Metascore
tbd

No score yet - based on 1 Critic Review

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 1
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 1
  3. Negative: 1 out of 1
  1. Riot Pixels
    Sep 11, 2016
    40
    Well-written text briefings between missions is the only saving grace of this otherwise boring, stuffy game.

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User Score
7.2

Mixed or average reviews- based on 9 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 9
  3. Negative: 3 out of 9
  1. Morgenstern72
    Aug 7, 2016
    3
    Reviewing 1.0, first 4 missions
    I love turn based strategy. Jagged Alliance, Silent Storm, XCOM...these are the ones I like. Generally there    Reviewing 1.0, first 4 missions
    I love turn based strategy. Jagged Alliance, Silent Storm, XCOM...these are the ones I like. Generally there is no better for me then Silent Storm. I had much hopes for Steam Squad since the goal were to use the best of the old turn based classics and put it in a modern outfit.
    Let's start with the most insignifcant: the presentation is ok but looks like a game that was designed for tablets. It can do high resolution, but no font/GUID/HUD enlargment.
    Then the management stuff: this is really most basic. You can not build and keep a squad, you not not filter, you see only a list for each mission and have to choose your soldiers from a list without any help. This does not generate the feeling that the soldiers are "your" squad, they are just generic and also look almost identical.
    The story: nice ideal, but extremely boring presented.
    The strategy: this is were the game disappoints me most. It lacks almost any strategy elements. No crouching or lying flat, no focus on any enemy (eg for a reaction shot), no suppression fire, no teaming on a target (like with Warmachines Tactis), almost nothing. You can walk (not run or stealth), you can switch weapons and you can shoot, melee or throw a gremade. And you can choose how many APs you use for a shot. Oh, and you can use some machines. like mortars or MGs in bunkers. That's it. Cover and reaction shots are used automatically which feels like watching an auto mode of a fight.
    The game feels extremely distant, so much is done automatically, the enemy storms in often without taking no cover, there is no relation to your squad....plainly this game is very very boring.
    3 points for almost being bug free, capability of using 2K and an overall "nice" look. Sadly there is not more to experience in this game. And since the units can say nothing else at "Hm" and say that constantly, I just could not go on with more missions. Maybe it gets much better after mission 4?    … Full Review »
  2. iseeall
    Jan 19, 2017
    4
    Steam Squad is a squad-based TBS close to Jagged Alliance 2, Silent Storm, XCom and other similar games. Although it's is generally playable,Steam Squad is a squad-based TBS close to Jagged Alliance 2, Silent Storm, XCom and other similar games. Although it's is generally playable, it fails in pretty much all areas except maybe 2D art and story.

    The good:
    - the world map of the game's fictional world is fun to look at. And in the very fist mission you will be somewhere in Siberia, in the fight of Moscovia vs Tuxania (is it China?)
    - someof the graphics of the GUI look pretty nice, in the steam punk style, e.g. switches
    - at least it keeps the JA2's action points system and doesn't replace it with 2-actions systems like the newer XComs and some other recent games

    The so-so:
    - all of the 3D art and textures, though technically ok, look very dull and lifeless. It's all a mix of green and gray
    - soldiers seem to move too far in a single turn. Most can cover the whole sight range in just 1 turn. Though some may find that ok, dunno, Wasteland 2 had this

    The bad:
    - the GUI and the controls overall feel clumsy and unfinished. E.g. to move you need to double-left-click. If you don't double-click fast enough, nothing happens. Attacks are sometimes done with left double click, sometimes with right double-click. You can give orders to shoot although the target is blocked by an obstacle. Visual aids for giving orders are scarce and unclear. If you can't throw a grenade it's not clear why
    - animations are slow and laggy. Sometimes camera shows close-ups of shots or moves unnecessarily but the effect of shots (was anything hit?) is never shown during enemy attacks.
    - for the soldiers there are just 3 or 4 different portraits which are distributed among 15 or so soldiers you can pick for battle, making them all feel anonymous and generic
    - the difference between soldier types (machine gunner, soldier etc) isn't clear
    - AI takes too long to make its turn, and in that time you have to watch an animation of rotating gears
    - soldiers hardly speak when selected or given orders
    - the GUI is generally very poorly designed. E.g. "end turn" is strangely in the top right corner, and under it is the version number of the game build (is that info so important?). Some parts of the GUI have been barely touched by an artist, e.g. the squad assignment screen
    - there are almost no options in the game
    - you can't duck, lie down, run

    Overall, the game looks like it's some pre-alpha version or even a tech demo. Rough, unpolished, with stubs here and there. More importantly, it seems to lack any kind of inspiration, as the combat itself is bland and lacks any innovative features. I'm not even sure why this game was made, except as a vague attempt to put Silent Storm in steampunk setting.    … Full Review »
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