Zero Order Tactics Initial Demo Impressions
Zero Order Tactics was a lovely surprise to play. It's easy to dismiss it as just another typical SRPG from the screenshots, but I can say there really is something special here. After diving in for a few hours into the demo, I am very much hooked on this game and eagerly awaiting the full release.
This is a rougelike deckbuilder/SRPG mash-up that plays a little differently than the usual faire. I didn’t play as a general of an army commanding units, but rather as a god of the world indirectly influencing them by placing terrain and casting spells from my hand.
How does that work exactly? See each unit has terrain they like, dislike, and simply cannot move through. Units give preference to terrain that they like, and from there do their best to traverse a straight line from left to right. By placing different tiles, the unit's path is shaped, allowing it to cross paths with enemy units. Players can also charge mana allowing them to cast spells, which also can affect a unit's travel pattern. For example, there is one spell that reverses the direction a unit is traveling in.
I could see the predictions of what enemy units would do, and react accordingly. Enemy units have likes and dislikes the same way hero units do, and traverse the board from right to left.
That’s just the beginning! It's very surprising that this is mainly the work of one dev over four years, because there are so many finer details that influence combat and progression. I want to wait until I review the full release before I dive in further to any of that, just to account for possible changes. The full release is supposed to have some tweaks and balance changes, and I don't want to mislead anyone before the game launches.
What's present here is an incredibly addictive experience that left me saying “I want to try one more time” after each defeat. I sat down to play for a few minutes, and next thing I knew, three hours had flown by.
While a full review will be coming once the full game launches, I recommend to anyone who is a fan of SRPGs or roguelike deckbuilders to keep an eye out for this one. It really is a lovely treat.
