Thanks, but no thanks. Squad level tactics in real-time ? Ahahaha.
With smart pause and time compression. Makes a difference.
Personally, I like the system used in Brigade E5 (Just as I liked the combat system in Ufo Afterlight), even though the game(s) have a full truckload of design flavs. It is a bit like the best of the two worlds - doesn't require having four hands and two monitors like your typical rts, and at the same time looks more lifelike than your regular turns.
However, it's bugged (I noticed few gamebreaking things, more like annoyances), but patchnig helps. Also, it's designed in a weird way, that unless you play it in a fairly specific way, you're either in for a rough ride, or you'll totally break the game for yourself.
That's actually a feeling I get from many other Russian games.
Another bummer is the pooor AI - most skirmishes devolve into - two groups meet half-way across the map, all guys drop to the ground and whoever has more accuracy and longer range wins. It's a little bit better if there are a few trees to hide behind, but overall, I feel there might have been more cover.
Aaaand, the final coffin nail - random battles popping up as you travel (reminds me of Final Fantasy 7, blargh), what's worse, you cannot see tham coming, and the popup allowing you to aviod combat pops up only occiasionally. But the terminal flav is that all these fights happen on something like 5 different maps (while travelling from one city to another you'll be attacked AT LEAST once, so see where it's going?).
However, I must say I had a deal of fun with Brigade, once you patch it, save often, and play in a certain way - take your time, don't pick up and complete 5 qests at once, slowly train your merc on road bandits while earning money from loot and bank account interest. When you'll feel comfortable with your finances, buy yourself an Mp5 (makes combat a pleasure until long arms arrive) and find yourself a travelling companion or two.
