Line of Defense: Tactics Demo

It’s always a good thing when game developers decide to concentrate their efforts on a slightly more unusual component, because it’s easy to just bet it all on the graphics engine instead of trying something new. In fact, that is how some of the most successful games out there got the recognition they enjoy today, which was exactly because the developers took the extra step to pay attention to the things others ignored.

Line of Defense: Tactics is an action game with an emphasis on tactics, as the name clearly implies. In simple terms, your goal is to complete a variety of missions in a futuristic world, using a squad of soldiers capable of working together to eliminate the enemies patrolling the levels. Unfortunately, there are many problems with the actual gameplay and the interface, which make the experience a lot less fun that one would hope.

To begin with, it is worth noting that the game features a few RPG elements as well, which are obvious from the first few minutes. Before you can start a mission, you have to choose a character and customize it according to your preferences, using a variety of skills and perks to do so. Naturally, these skills cost experience points, which are unlocked by completing more missions.

The thing about including the word ‘tactics’ in both the name and the genre of a game means that people are going to expect the freedom to tackle the missions as they wish. However, the game’s only tactical option is the ability to take cover, which is only possible in specially designed spots on the map anyway. Other than that, throwing flashbangs and taking out enemies while they are incapacitated is more boring than tactical.

Finally, the most annoying aspect of the game is the interface itself, because it makes it impossible to concentrate on the action when you have to deal with endless radial menus and buttons. The keybindings are either absent or badly implemented, which adds even more frustration to the mix. Thankfully, the graphics are not very bad, but the level design is linear and repetitive.

When it’s all said and done, Line of Defense: Tactics could have been a lot better than it turned out to be. However, the bad design choices and awful interface make the game almost impossible to enjoy, even if you somehow find the story interesting.