Broken Lines is an alt-history WW2 tactical RPG that's kind of like Commandos meets Frozen Synapse
Broken Lines is an alt-history WW2 tactical RPG that's kind of like Commandos meets Frozen Synapse
Game News - posted by Infinitron on Tue 25 February 2020, 18:26:16
Tags: Broken Lines; PortaPlayAn increasingly common phenomenon in recent years has been titles that are announced as squad tactics games but are rebranded as "tactical RPGs" during the course of their development. One such title is Broken Lines by Danish indie studio PortaPlay, which we first spotted last year and has apparently been in development since 2017. Set in Eastern Europe during an alternate history WW2, Broken Lines combines gameplay with a team of distinct soldiers as in Commandos with a simultaneous turn-based combat system explicitly inspired by Frozen Synapse. It's also story-driven with CYOA events, which I guess is the RPG part. I thought the game looked silly at first, but the series of combat system dev diaries released by PortaPlay over the past five months convinced me it might be worth a second look. It's finally out today, so we'll soon know if that's true. Here's the launch trailer and description:
Story
Your squad has crash-landed behind enemy lines, in the heart of an alternate history Eastern Europe. With no intel or leadership to support them, these soldiers must fight their way back home before the horrors of war break them. Teamwork and strategy are paramount…
Each soldier has their own personality and ideas on what needs to happen next. Some want to investigate what caused the crash that left them in hostile territory, while others want to lay low and wait for rescue. There are even whispers of desertion.
You are the “unseen hand” that guides this ragtag group of soldiers to safety and possible rescue. Whether it’s as simple a choice as to which way to go next, or something as serious as how to engage their mysterious foes, every decision you make is serious and significant.
Key Features
Broken Lines combines a tactical RPG with story-driven gameplay. As your soldiers battle the mental strain of war, you’ll need to command them in combat— will they avoid the enemy, or go head to head with their foes?
Combat is similar to that of a turn-based tactical RPG, but soldiers move only when action phase starts. However, when new enemies and hazards appear, the game pauses to allow you to plan your reaction to this new change. Will you continue to charge forward, or back off and seek cover?
Choices you make will shape the story to your liking leading to a different campaign endings. Choose wisely as your progression through the game will affect not only soldiers you command but also a whole region and everyone who happen to live here. But you should also keep in mind that your soldiers have their own opinion on what is good for the squad so you have to maintain a balance between what you want them to do and what is good for keeping the squad in high spirits.
Broken Lines is available now on Steam and GOG for $25.
Story
Your squad has crash-landed behind enemy lines, in the heart of an alternate history Eastern Europe. With no intel or leadership to support them, these soldiers must fight their way back home before the horrors of war break them. Teamwork and strategy are paramount…
Each soldier has their own personality and ideas on what needs to happen next. Some want to investigate what caused the crash that left them in hostile territory, while others want to lay low and wait for rescue. There are even whispers of desertion.
You are the “unseen hand” that guides this ragtag group of soldiers to safety and possible rescue. Whether it’s as simple a choice as to which way to go next, or something as serious as how to engage their mysterious foes, every decision you make is serious and significant.
Key Features
Broken Lines combines a tactical RPG with story-driven gameplay. As your soldiers battle the mental strain of war, you’ll need to command them in combat— will they avoid the enemy, or go head to head with their foes?
Combat is similar to that of a turn-based tactical RPG, but soldiers move only when action phase starts. However, when new enemies and hazards appear, the game pauses to allow you to plan your reaction to this new change. Will you continue to charge forward, or back off and seek cover?
Choices you make will shape the story to your liking leading to a different campaign endings. Choose wisely as your progression through the game will affect not only soldiers you command but also a whole region and everyone who happen to live here. But you should also keep in mind that your soldiers have their own opinion on what is good for the squad so you have to maintain a balance between what you want them to do and what is good for keeping the squad in high spirits.
Broken Lines is available now on Steam and GOG for $25.
