Question is, we never seen PROPERLY done RTwP games... pretty much until recently, when Brigade E5 was released.
Of course, it's SPM is not perfect - but so is TB. You may try and read the Brigade E5 thread - I've stated it a lot of times already, also it includes replies from devs.
Anyway, I don't love TB because it's TB. I like it, I really do - because it allow great control over situation, and involved tactics with lots and lots of options.
RT do not allow it (Or, your reflexes do not allow to control a few characters that are supposed to be trained and much faster to react then you). RTwP is better, but still, if you miss slamming space bar in the right moment - finita la comedia, your character would be eaten alive, while standing still and starting at the enemy.
SPM turns allow essentially RT mechanics (with all it’s realism and complexity) be combined with TB intricacies of tactics.
So, SPM = TB controllability + RT realism.
That's more then enough for me.
I understand that 'abstracted' nature of TB may is separate gameplay element that may be liked by some, but I never got it, myself.
I prefer to plain my actions to prevent realistic threats, not threats borne of artificialness of TB mechanics, like:
You peek from the corner, interrupt, some guy unloads two SMG bursts into you, reload.
You spend your APs running to some door, next turn - an enemy comes from that door, and, yep, unloads two bursts into you, while you are fucking frozen in time and cannot do anything!
Yea, it can be considered extra challenges - but I consider it fucking flaws, and no one will ever persuade me otherwise.
In Brigade enemies can also 'cover' doors to shoot at people that appear from them, for instance, REALLY fast - but that's logical and realistic.
Above examples with TB - aren't.
Yea, not everyone like realism. But some - do. Like me. And other people, who also love Brigade E5.
And, please note:
Whether you love realism or not: it's subjective.
But the realism itself is ABSOLUTE.
Oh, and btw, it’s not really realism in strict sense.
It’s fucking logic and internal consistency! If I liked things illogical, I’d be in the church right now, praying for ‘insert deity name here’, but sorry, no way.
Also, realism allow great deal of very interesting, gameplay-wise, things to happen - I've stated some in E5 thread.
So, before you say that TB is better then SPM, please explain why.
No, "But because TB RULEZ!!1" will not do.
And please read E5 thread first, or you'll repeat someone else, 99.9%.
Or don't bother, at all.
After all, I've said it before, I'll say it again:
TB is dumbed-down RT.
Dumbed-down for a reason - in 'undumbed RT' other things would have to be sacrificed (like ability to play someone with reaction better then yours, or multiple characters), and those things far outweight all flaws of TB.
But SPM allow the system to stay RT, while retaining all the ability to control your characters as TB.
Oh, crap, I've said it all before.
Go read E5 thread, fucking noob. And if you still don't get it - fuck off.
P.S./Edit
Truth be told, RTwP or SPM also, ahem, simplify RT. But, at least, they simplify it w/o brutally hacking it so it loses most connections with reality.
And, and my reply show how I’m tired of posts like:
TB RULEZ, U SUK!
Or, at best:
TB RULEZ, because it's like chess, chess RULEZ, so TB also RULEZ!
Or, like VD said, and that's the best answer so far, cause it's at least completely fair:
TB RULEZ cause I LIKE IT!
Well, I like it too, but I also like SPM, my word is against yours, so fuck you buddy.
SPM allow things to be much more logical then TB? It allow you to control your character's every action at any given time (unless they are somehow unable to perform actions at all), and react to enemy actions exactly when needed?
Then it's better then TB. At least in THAT aspect. If you don't like it because it don't resemble chess - well, too bad for you. Not everyone is chess freak, if even I, myself, went to 'chess club' in childhood and still like to play it from time to time... if lack worthy partners (that's not saying much, though - people I know at best 'know the rules').
And I'm not attacking TB, really. I'm defending SPM from people who never seen a game that have decent implementation of it, but bellow that 'RTWP SUK!'.
That's like saying that: "This classic of world poetry SUK! Why? Cause I've read poetry written by my prepubescent brother, and it was godawful! And by reading one page of verses, I've seen them all, thank you.".
