An
offshoot of a deal involving programming team Teque
and The Software Business Ltd, Blade Software is a new
company although Laser Squad isn't new, having
surfaced previously through Target Games.
The
game begins well with the squad being equipped with
armour and weaponry using 200 credits. Armour comes
in four types, ranging from light and cheap through
to expensive dreadnought thickness. For weapons the
squad can buy automatic and sniper rifles, light and
heavy duty lasers, explosives, AP50 grenades and daggers,
all providing different levels of damage for varying
cost.
The
type of mission to be undertaken dictates the tactics
and weapons the squad will use. The three missions call
for differing courses of action: secret attack (The
Assassins), outright attack (Moonbase Assault) and a
covert rescue operation (Rescue from the Mines). Two
bonus missions are included for disk owners, involving
defence of a rebel station (The Cyber Hordes) and a
subsequent retreat from the station while under alien
attack (Paradise Valley), 2CN'ers can obtain the Expansion
Tape One from Target Games.
Once
armed, the squad deploys in set areas around the edge
of the warzone. A cursor is used to scroll the large
window rapidly around and scan the battlefield below,
and a scanner brings up a complete map of the zone --
very useful for co-ordinating split forces on a high
tactical level.
Laser
Squad is based around Action Points (APs), each
squad marine having a set number with which to perform
all Actions. Everything from turning around to loading
weapons costs points; when the points run out so does
the marine's turn. The enemy forces then begin their
hidden movement, firing at any marines they meet.
Movement
is achieved by rotating and moving forward while combat
involves three types of weapon fire (Snap, Auto and
Aim), resulting in spectacular shoot-outs. The marines
can accomplish a satisfyingly large number of other
tasks, including extensive handling of weapons and objects,
manipulation of doors and bomb priming. Morale, stamina,
constitution, encumbrance levels and weapons/unarmed
skills all play a strong part in the actions of each
marine.
The
game is over when either side reaches 100 Victory points
(achieved by eliminating enemy guards, selected targets
and by completing the mission).
Laser
Squad may look easy enough with a lot fewer commands
and parameters than SSI games, but the odds are definitely
against the marines right from the start. With four
skill levels and three different scenarios, the game
challenge increases to above average at a very smooth
rate indeed.
One
of Laser Squad's strengths is its expansion on
the ideas of hidden movement. As marines can only see
enemies within a 90° field of view, it's all too easy
for an enemy robot to sneak up behind someone and take
them out unless another marine guards their flank. With
hidden movement the player doesn't know for sure what
lies round the next corner, and moving into a long corridor
can be a kill zone if a sniper is waiting with opportunity
fire selected.
The
tension that builds up is very strong indeed, forming
a major part of the game's atmosphere with the impressive
combat graphics adding to the game's surprisingly fast
pace. The graphics are a neat bonus, having detail and
clarity despite the lack of shading. Helped considerably
by this arcade-style look, the game is extremely user-friendly,
allowing a novice to get into the game with very little
delay.
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