Platform:Â Microsoft Windows
Initial release date: June 3, 2024
Developer:Â Suspicious Developments
Publisher:Â Suspicious Developments
Engine:Â Unity
Genres: Role-playing game, Strategy video game, Indie game, Adventure game, Adventure, Strategy
Suspicious Developments really enjoys it when you hurl people through windows. of fact, Tactical Breach Wizards is regarded the third installment of their “Defenestration Trilogy,” which previously comprised two rather difficult action-puzzle games, Gunpoint and Heat Signature. They’ve now applied their strategic knowledge to the world of turn-based tactics in a game that is certainly more MiMiMi than Firaxis.
See, the world of Tactical Breach Wizards is very similar to our own, except for the magic. And wizards. There are also warlocks. In addition, some of them guide traffic. Magic is an unavoidable part of this reality. This isn’t a secret society fiction like The Dresden Files; people simply use magic alongside regular, everyday activities like you and me.
It focuses on two main characters, Zan and Jen. The former is an ex-Black Ops specialist who can foretell the future and use that knowledge to set up Overwatch-style traps, whilst the latter is a hard-bitten private investigator who can utilize shockwaves to toss individuals around rooms and, yep, out of windows. In fact, windows are so important to most of your strategies that a character later on can physically summon one if you need it.
Perhaps the most notable difference between Tactical Breach Wizard and its predecessors is its overall ease of play. For the most part, this isn’t groundbreaking material, and it doesn’t have to be. Whereas XCOM works by limiting your powers and making it very easy to pull the wrong squad along, anyone who has played games like Shadow Gambit or even Chimera Squad will know that it’s more fun to be rather overpowered, so the only way to truly fail is to miss an opportunity. Even so, TBW allows you to rewind for free as many times as you want, eliminating the hassle of saving.
Most missions include clearing out a series of rooms with a growing amount of adversaries, which function as puzzles rather than action sequences. You shout, “Breach!”” and break through the doors in a spray of magical sparkles and splinters, then begin taking out whatever is inside. Sometimes doors need to be sealed before reinforcements can enter, and boss bouts occur on occasion. Secondary missions, which offer extra XP for unlocking the benefits of your five recruitable characters, are frequently available.
If the universe of Tactical Breach Wizards is a strength, then the tale is one of its few flaws. It’s not a bad story, and the dialogue is humorous and heartfelt despite not being spoken aloud, but it lacks momentum. What begins as a botched hostage rescue quickly escalates into a global journey against the “Druid Mafia,” yet the incongruous marriage of a special forces soldier and a cranky gumshoe never feels quite right.
However, it benefits from simple, clear graphics, intuitive controls, and intelligent level design. You probably won’t feel challenged until you start working on the individual story missions, known as Anxiety Dreams, which are quite similar to the training missions in Shadow Gambit in that they focus solely on that character’s kit and demand you to use it to its best potential. You will eventually unlock Proving Grounds assignments, which provide the only true challenge.
Review Overview
Gameplay – 82%
Controls – 85%
Aesthetics – 80%
Content – 78%
Accessibility – 87%
Value – 83%
Overall Rating – 82%
VERY GOOD!
Summary: Tactical Breach Wizards blends strategy with spellcasting in a unique and engaging way. With intuitive controls, charming aesthetics, and accessible gameplay, it’s a solid choice for fans of the genre, though it could use more content variety. Overall, it offers good value and a satisfying tactical experience.