Game Review #1
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| Title screen |
Genre: Tactical RPG
Developer(s): Behold Studios
Platform(s): Android, iOS, Linux, Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, Xbox One
Release Date: April 30, 2015
Chroma Squad is a tactical RPG but it also can be classified as a simulator in a sense, outside the battle, you'll mostly be in the studio where you can purchase equipment from the shop. The game also allows you to craft your own equipment through the crafting menu, marketing allows you to purchase some bonuses and perks which lasts for a couple of battles.The whole studio can be upgraded via the studio menu which can grant your characters bonuses and perks which lasts permanently once the studio upgrade is done, you can also change some in-game battle dialogues and button name there. A sentai-based game wouldn't be complete without a mecha (giant robots). The mecha and the characters can be upgraded through their respective menus (mecha, actors).
In Chroma Squad, the role (job) is already set, the player can choose from a selection of actors with different bonuses and perks to assign on a specific role (Assist, Techie, Lead, Assault, Scout). Each role has a different weapon inclination and skill set which can be unlocked as the game progresses. As mentioned above, the player can choose to purchase equipment from the shop or craft, crafting yields different results since aside from the base attribute of the equipment to be crafted, there are also a number of random bonuses that can be gained depending on your crafting skill. The mecha's parts (Head, Left and Right Arm, Body, Legs) can also be changed and upgraded through crafting on the mecha menu.
On the image above, you can see the battle screen and i'll explain the contents of the said screen. The gauge above with the number " 5 / 2800 " is your fan meter, aside from the in-game currency, you can use the fan power to select an agency on the marketing menu, said agencies can provide you with certain effects like additional money gained per battle or additional damage, there are a lot to choose from as the story progresses, said agencies can only provide the effect for a duration of 1 battle or 3 battles depending on the contract your availed. On your upper left, you can see the director's instructions, they are the battle objectives which provides bonus fans once completed, they are completely optional though. In battles, the player's party acts first, you can totally decide on your turn order via the character icons on the left side. When you attack an enemy, chances are it'll get knocked back and there's a beauty in it in this game, you can select a character, move it and do nothing and do the same on the other actors until you get your desired position and start attacking an enemy so you can get it inside the range of all your characters. The buttons on the bottom part (Evolution & Teamwork) are essential to the game. You can click teamwork for each character, it'll end the action of the actor using it, team attacks and Acrobatics can be executed via teamwork. You can do acrobatics by placing an actor on teamwork mode and have your other actors jump off the first actor, this maneuver gives extra mobility if you want to reach an enemy or retreat an actor on a low life. If you attack an enemy and you have a teammate beside it using team work, you can execute a team attack which has increased damage depending on the number of actors adjacent to the enemy, you can also do the finishing move (because what sentai-based game doesn't implement a finishing move) with 5 actors adjacent to an enemy using teamwork. The other button will transform your actors, on the screenshot above, the actor's aren't transformed yet, clicking the evolution (i changed the button name) button will transform your team (your equipment will be visible), in doing so, your characters will gather on one position (this can be vital since it's a free re-positioning of your characters), prior damages to health will be healed and skills based on role will be available as well as weapon attack. There are 2 types of attack for each character, a basic attack and a weapon attack, weapon attacks can only be executed if the actor equips the prescribed weapon, it also has a cooldown but is stronger than basic attacks, a skill's cooldown depends on a character's stat, it can take from 1 turn to 7 or longer.
Like the regular battle, mecha battles also has objectives which are completely optional, the hit accuracy and damage modifier are displayed on the left side, attack, defend and skills button on the bottom part. Mecha battles are timing based, a bar with yellow, white and red colors will appear once you do a regular attack, as long as you hit the yellow or white part of the bar, you can keep on attacking the enemy which can result on heavier damages done but the said colors on the bar keeps on getting smaller as the chain of attacks get higher. Defending against an attack is also timing based, a perfect timing will lead to lesser damage and lastly, mecha skills varies depending on the parts equipped, from sword attacks, chest and hand beams and support skills. There are also skills marked as a final blow which doesn't miss and deals heavier damage. Using mecha skills also ends your turn and initiates the opponent's. Most of the opponents has 3 lives, you'll know that the opponent is on the last set of life when the bar on your upper right side turns red.
Story: 2/5
Aesthetics: 3/5
Audio: 4/5
Chroma Squad is a great game in my book, lots of customization options to offer from the characters to the mecha as well as the studio, the game is a strategy rpg mixed with simulation and timing based combat mechanic which makes the game dynamic. Story wise, the game has a couple of endings depending on a decision that'll be made by the player on the latter part of the game. A basic story which pokes fun on the movie and tv scene, the dialogues are funny and has a lot of pop-culture reference. The game's interface is pixel art and this is Behold Studios' niche, the character designs as well as some boss designs are great (some bosses are silly, good nonetheless), the backgrounds are simple but not boring. Lastly, from the opening song of the game to the background and battle themes are amazing. It really gives you the sentai vibe. All in all, Chroma Squad is a good pick-up if you're looking for a great SRPG to play, it doesn't take too much memory and it also provides a good gaming experience
Developer(s): Behold Studios
Platform(s): Android, iOS, Linux, Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, Xbox One
Release Date: April 30, 2015
About the story:
5 stunt actors decided to quit their jobs to start their own studio. Through backers from Kickstarter and a help from one stunt actor's uncle, they got to start their studio. Now, it's up to them to do their own show and make it well known.
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| Studio screen |
Chroma Squad is a tactical RPG but it also can be classified as a simulator in a sense, outside the battle, you'll mostly be in the studio where you can purchase equipment from the shop. The game also allows you to craft your own equipment through the crafting menu, marketing allows you to purchase some bonuses and perks which lasts for a couple of battles.The whole studio can be upgraded via the studio menu which can grant your characters bonuses and perks which lasts permanently once the studio upgrade is done, you can also change some in-game battle dialogues and button name there. A sentai-based game wouldn't be complete without a mecha (giant robots). The mecha and the characters can be upgraded through their respective menus (mecha, actors).
 |
| Character screen |
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| Mecha screen |
In Chroma Squad, the role (job) is already set, the player can choose from a selection of actors with different bonuses and perks to assign on a specific role (Assist, Techie, Lead, Assault, Scout). Each role has a different weapon inclination and skill set which can be unlocked as the game progresses. As mentioned above, the player can choose to purchase equipment from the shop or craft, crafting yields different results since aside from the base attribute of the equipment to be crafted, there are also a number of random bonuses that can be gained depending on your crafting skill. The mecha's parts (Head, Left and Right Arm, Body, Legs) can also be changed and upgraded through crafting on the mecha menu.
Gameplay:
 |
| Battle screen |
On the image above, you can see the battle screen and i'll explain the contents of the said screen. The gauge above with the number " 5 / 2800 " is your fan meter, aside from the in-game currency, you can use the fan power to select an agency on the marketing menu, said agencies can provide you with certain effects like additional money gained per battle or additional damage, there are a lot to choose from as the story progresses, said agencies can only provide the effect for a duration of 1 battle or 3 battles depending on the contract your availed. On your upper left, you can see the director's instructions, they are the battle objectives which provides bonus fans once completed, they are completely optional though. In battles, the player's party acts first, you can totally decide on your turn order via the character icons on the left side. When you attack an enemy, chances are it'll get knocked back and there's a beauty in it in this game, you can select a character, move it and do nothing and do the same on the other actors until you get your desired position and start attacking an enemy so you can get it inside the range of all your characters. The buttons on the bottom part (Evolution & Teamwork) are essential to the game. You can click teamwork for each character, it'll end the action of the actor using it, team attacks and Acrobatics can be executed via teamwork. You can do acrobatics by placing an actor on teamwork mode and have your other actors jump off the first actor, this maneuver gives extra mobility if you want to reach an enemy or retreat an actor on a low life. If you attack an enemy and you have a teammate beside it using team work, you can execute a team attack which has increased damage depending on the number of actors adjacent to the enemy, you can also do the finishing move (because what sentai-based game doesn't implement a finishing move) with 5 actors adjacent to an enemy using teamwork. The other button will transform your actors, on the screenshot above, the actor's aren't transformed yet, clicking the evolution (i changed the button name) button will transform your team (your equipment will be visible), in doing so, your characters will gather on one position (this can be vital since it's a free re-positioning of your characters), prior damages to health will be healed and skills based on role will be available as well as weapon attack. There are 2 types of attack for each character, a basic attack and a weapon attack, weapon attacks can only be executed if the actor equips the prescribed weapon, it also has a cooldown but is stronger than basic attacks, a skill's cooldown depends on a character's stat, it can take from 1 turn to 7 or longer.
 |
| Mecha battle |
Like the regular battle, mecha battles also has objectives which are completely optional, the hit accuracy and damage modifier are displayed on the left side, attack, defend and skills button on the bottom part. Mecha battles are timing based, a bar with yellow, white and red colors will appear once you do a regular attack, as long as you hit the yellow or white part of the bar, you can keep on attacking the enemy which can result on heavier damages done but the said colors on the bar keeps on getting smaller as the chain of attacks get higher. Defending against an attack is also timing based, a perfect timing will lead to lesser damage and lastly, mecha skills varies depending on the parts equipped, from sword attacks, chest and hand beams and support skills. There are also skills marked as a final blow which doesn't miss and deals heavier damage. Using mecha skills also ends your turn and initiates the opponent's. Most of the opponents has 3 lives, you'll know that the opponent is on the last set of life when the bar on your upper right side turns red.
Verdict:
Gameplay: 4/5Story: 2/5
Aesthetics: 3/5
Audio: 4/5
Chroma Squad is a great game in my book, lots of customization options to offer from the characters to the mecha as well as the studio, the game is a strategy rpg mixed with simulation and timing based combat mechanic which makes the game dynamic. Story wise, the game has a couple of endings depending on a decision that'll be made by the player on the latter part of the game. A basic story which pokes fun on the movie and tv scene, the dialogues are funny and has a lot of pop-culture reference. The game's interface is pixel art and this is Behold Studios' niche, the character designs as well as some boss designs are great (some bosses are silly, good nonetheless), the backgrounds are simple but not boring. Lastly, from the opening song of the game to the background and battle themes are amazing. It really gives you the sentai vibe. All in all, Chroma Squad is a good pick-up if you're looking for a great SRPG to play, it doesn't take too much memory and it also provides a good gaming experience
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