Genre Examination: Turn-based Small Squad Tactics Games

This time, I want to briefly write about one of my favorite genres: turn-based small squad tactics (TBSST). As the name suggests, these types of games focus on strategically and/or tactically managing a small-ish squad of troops in battle, utilizing a turn-based battle system. Certainly the most well-known modern example of such a game is the excellent XCOM: Enemy Unknown. Some other notable examples include the older XCOM games, the Jagged Allience series, Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel, Silent Storm, and Frozen Synapse (although that one has a simultaneous turn system, which makes it somewhat different from the other titles). Unfortunately, the list of examples is quite short; for whatever reason, this seems to be a rather niche genre. It is such a niche genre, in fact, that it doesn't really even have a well-established name!

Frozen synapse has a very simplistic and distinctive look, but underneath the surface, there lies a deep layer of tactics.
Picture taken from <http://www.frozensynapse.com/>

What Are Typical Features of the Genre?

So, for the uninitiated, what are TBSST like? Often times, they share certain gameplay features, which include:

General

• There are typically two distinct modes of play: a strategic/world map mode, where you manage your units, select which missions to take, purchase new equipment, etc., and the battle mode, where you control a handful of units from a isometric point-of-view.
• The battles are fought on pre-determined maps/locations.
• The player faces unfair odds in terms of the number of enemies he or she has to fight - this forces careful planning to succeed.
• The game works with odds of success. For example, you may have a 57% chance of hitting a shot - do you take the risky shot, or look for a safer play to make?

Units

• Units specialize in different combat roles (machine gunners, snipers, close-quarters combat specialists, medics, etc.).
• An important aspect of your overall game plan involves customizing your units (their gear, stats, and possible special abilities).
• The death of your units is often permanent.
• Your units often improve with experience, which rewards keeping them alive.

The excitement of XCOM:EU's combat is complemented by base management.

A Genre for Armchair... Sergeants?

TBSST is an intriguing genre; to me, it feels like a halfway point between real-time strategy (Starcraft)  and larger scale strategy games, such as 4X (Civilization) and grand strategy (Europa Universalis). That is, TBSST focuses on a small number of units - a smaller number, in fact, than most RTS games - as opposed to the larger scale strategy games that are not interested in single units, or even single armies, but look at the bigger picture of politics, economy and geography. This puts the player close to the combat, where the excitement is. On the other hand, the game still plays in turn-based fashion, making the gameplay slower and generally more ponderous than RTS games (which tend to be very frantic), but not nearly to the extent of grand strategy games' spreadsheet-like gameplay.

The combat in XCOM:EU revolves largely around the use of cover and flanking your enemy.

The way I look at TBSST is that if RTS games are mostly action games with layers of strategy and tactics on top of them, and hard-core strategy games are for self-proclaimed armchair generals who are interested in high-level empire management, then I guess TBSST is for the armchair sergeants who want something in between. Basically, a game that is primarily concerned with low-level strategy and tactics, but also one that never gets too far away from the action. Add in a healthy serving of role-playing elements, such as improving your squad, and you've got a recipe for success.

Silent Storm is definitely a one of the better entries in the genre.
Picture taken from <http://www.giantbomb.com/s2-silent-storm/3030-10967/images/>

Tactical Squad-Based First-Person Shooters

Before wrapping this post up, I want to go on a little bit of a tangent here, and also write about first-person shooters that incorporate strong elements of squad tactics into their gameplay. Now, TBSST is a niche genre, but this goes way beyond even that. In fact, as far as I know, there have only ever been a handful of titles that really belong into this category. The best examples are the old Rainbow Six games, up to and including Raven Shield, and SWAT 4. Unfortunately, although this has never been a popular genre, nowadays it seems to be essentially dead. The only relatively recent game that could fall into this genre is Takedown: Red Sabre. Too bad that according to every account I've read, the game is an absolute disaster. So, hear I am, hoping for some (most likely indie) developer to breathe some life into the the tactical shooter genre. Unfortunately, I have a feeling I might have to wait for a while before any worthy candidates arise...

The butt-clenching moment before breaching a door in SWAT 4.
Picture taken from <http://www.kaskus.co.id/thread/52a747a4f9ca170e2d8b4696/swat-4/1>

In Closing

I honestly don't know why TBSST is such an underrepresented genre; to me, it seems like a nice mix of brainy tactics and up close and personal action. I guess maybe that type of gameplay just doesn't appeal very much to modern gamers, who look out for, shall we say, well-established action franchises and cinematic experiences that can be easily and quickly consumed. Strangely enough, the few recent entries I have seen in the TBSST genre have been mobile games, out of all things.

Still, I remain hopeful that there may be some light at the end of the tunnel, shining from the direction of indie developers. For example, a Kickstarter backed Door Kickers was released a little while ago in Steam, and although I haven't tried it, it seems like a promising title. It's basically a game about playing as a SWAT squad, breaching buildings and clearing them of threats, in the spirit of the legendary planning phase of the old Rainbow Six games. If I happen to buy the game and get around to playing it, I may write a post about it at some point later.