Review: Into the Breach (Steam)

Control powerful mechs from the future to defeat an alien threat. Each attempt to save the world presents a new randomly generated challenge in this turn-based strategy game.

Pros:

• Cute pixel graphics.
• Steam achievements.
• Trading cards.
• Options- Combat speed, Tutorial tips, Large fonts, Fullscreen, Stretch scaling and max board scale.
• Colorblind support.
• Can rebind controls.
• Ongoing optional tutorial support.
• Turn-based strategy game.
• Roguelike- You have one life per run.
• Simple controls- Can use the mouse, Keyboard or combo of both.
• 177MB Download size.
• 8×8 grid playing field.
• Fun to play.
• Levels randomize every game.
• Three difficulties- Easy, Normal and hard.
• Full stats screen.
• Save and quit option.
• Pilots- Unlock random pilots who each have a unique trait/ability.
• Four islands to play on then a fifth boss map.
• Difficult.
• Squads- 8 to unlock and consist of 3 mechs. They are unlocked with coins and can be customized like color and names of the mechs.
• Each squad dramatically changes gameplay and tactics.
• Power grid- Persistent bar and you lose a chunk of it as you lose buildings and once it hits 0 its game over.
• Grid defense- Percentage chance to resist attacks. You can increase this number by upgrading your power grid once it’s maxed out.
• Each level within a map has a set of random goals and doing it will grant reputation.
• Reputation- Spend these on items/weapons/power grid upgrade or mech upgrade points once you have cleared out the whole island.
• Coins- Earned from achievements and used to unlock squads.
• You always see the enemies/elements next move.
• Weather effects like flooding, Earthquakes, Lightening storm and rain can happen.
• Mechs have pilots, Pilots level up and unlock skills or buffs. If a pilot dies then your mech can carry on with an AI droid.
• Perfect an island to unlock a bonus.
• Achievements- Universal and squad specific ones.
• Test mech- Little area to try out new load outs.
• Accessible to all player types.

Cons:

• Slight learning curve.
• Difficult.
• No online interaction like leaderboards.
• Doesn’t do an amazing job of explaining everything.
• Can only do one run at a time.
• Content lite on locations and enemy types.
• Can feel repetitive.
• Doesn’t have the same overall playtime as say FTL.