Bullets are flying past you and the air is thick with smoke and the smell of gunpowder. Another bullet grazes the box of crates you’ve hastily chosen to hide behind and small splinters of wood stick to your sweaty cheek. To stay still is to die, but to move out to get into a better position might mean death as well. Where should you go? What can you do to see the light of another dawn? These are the choices you will have to make in the tactical RPG, Broken Lines. Developed by PortaPlay and published by Super.com, Broken Lines will have you nose-diving into the horrors and hardships of war.
This is no cakewalk in the park as the story begins with a bang and a crash. After narrowly avoiding death, you discover that your struggles have only just begun as you must find your surviving soldiers in a foreign land. You must never let your guard down as enemies can be hidden in the tall grass or the empty-looking houses. Similar to a game of chess, carefully plan each of your moves to anticipate how your opponent will counter. Unlike the average tactics game, there is no flat board-like arena to move your characters. Instead, there is an entire terrain to roam, explore and use to your advantage. Decide between choosing the strategic high grounds of hills and cliffs, or the safety of ducking behind sandbags and boulders. Just don’t forget that you are in enemy territory and they know their home turf better than you. Your enemies also do not stay in place as you move and will actively try to gun down your soldiers. One false move can spell disaster for your party.
Not all NPCs are going to be enemies as an unfortunate side-effect of war are the innocent civilians involved. Throughout your journey, your characters must decide, defend, and or take from the noncombatant citizens to survive. The choices and the hardships the soldiers must endure eventually takes a toll on their psyche as the breaks between chapters will begin to reveal the thoughts plaguing their minds. Every decision is not made lightly, and the consequences of their actions will affect the squad’s bond and camaraderie with one another. This can be seen through the soldier’s dialogues as the further you progress with the storyline; the more is revealed with each of the characters.
Broken Lines is challenging, thrilling, and will have you reaching for your eye drops after prolonged, focused stares. Much planning is involved and is certainly not a game for those who are looking for something more carefree or light-hearted. It is highly recommended for new players unfamiliar to tactical games to start with the tutorial and work up to higher difficulty settings. Once the gameplay has been well understood, your bold moves and astute strategies will be your only other allies. Will you be able to keep you soldiers sane and alive to the very end? Or will your rash and harsh choices lead to your downfall?
PROS: Very mentally stimulating, captivating storyline, great graphics/artwork.
CONS: High learning curve, can be stress-inducing.
SCORE: 7/10
Check Out the Broken Lines Steam Trailer:
Broken Lines is available for $24.99 for PC via Steam.
For more information, please visit: https://brokenlinesgame.com/
Steam Review
Video games have always been a huge influence in my life and have definitely shaped me to who I am today . Some of my best memories growing up were the many adventures and stories I was able to experience and become immersed in. If my hands aren't either covered in clay, typing, editing, creating, or helping shoving food in my mouth, they would either be gripped to a controller, tapping away at the screen of my phone, or clicking away on my PC. I am always up for trying something new because why live just one life when you can live many.
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