This month (last now) was Wargroove the turn-based strategy RPG developed and published by Chucklefish. Check out the liner notes here.

An interesting month because we both had issues with the game’s pacing or, for lack of better terminology, its tuning, which felt a bit too hostile to first-time players or styles of play that don’t fit the scenarios it presents. The game felt like a puzzle box situation in that each scenario had “one” or “a couple” solutions, but didn’t allow Fire Emblem style grinding or roleplaying. And also that the units are disposable and aren’t characters, besides the commanders, that they don’t demonstrate more clear growth (again ala Fire Emblem) was not quite to our taste.

But taste is the right word. For those that love Advance Wars or similar style games, this one should scratch the itch.

We’re interested to see how Wargroove 2 can iterate on what is already a very full-featured experience.

This month is Xeno Crisis, a top-down arcade shooter ala Smash TV for the old-school fans. This game is also rare because it’s available on modern consoles, and also the Neo Geo, Mega Drive, Dreamcast, Gamecube, and N64 (among others!?).

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