Battlepup units don’t die when defeated, they simply run back home where they can remain the goodest of boys and girls
Wargroove
GET INTO THE GROOVE OF THOSE MILITARY MOVES ADAM BRYANT
PUBLISHER CHUCKLEFISH / DEVELOPER CHUCKLEFISH / RELEASE DATE OUT NOW / COST £16.24/$19.99
or even give them an extra move per
turn. These abilities can be used
once your Groove meter is full, which
increases automatically over time
or if your commander lands a killing
blow. There’s a variety to battles which
keeps things exciting by forcing you to
devise new tactics for each one.Game plan
By the time you’ve finished the first
act of Wargroove’s campaign you’ll
start to think in a different way and
instinctively assess everything on the
battlefield. You’ll know about critical
hits, unit range, your opponent’s
strengths and weaknesses, as
well as terrain advantages and
disadvantages. Multiple strategies will
formulate in your mind, allowing you
to think two, three or even four steps
ahead. All of this combines to give you
an enormous sense of satisfaction
when your plan executes perfectly.
Although the battles are
challenging and entertaining,
the story, sadly, is not. It has the
potential to tackle tougher subjects,
but chooses not to. It may have aThe secret to any
great strategy
is subterfuge,
and developer
Chucklefish is a
master of deception.
Not only has it created a game that
takes its core from another strategy
franchise and made it stand on its
own merit, but it’s created one that
after playing for a few hours you’ll be
demanding that people start naming
you after Sun Tzu.
This fantasy turn-based strategy
game shares more than a few
similarities with Intelligent Systems’
Advance Wars games, but Chucklefish
adds enough new elements to give it
its own identity.
Visually it’s stunning, from the
character’s 2D pixel art sprites to
the varied map environments, but
it’s during the battles that the game
makes its mark. The first handful of
which introduce you to the game’s
systems, letting you build up your
knowledge of how the game functions,
and it does so without holding your
hand. You’re given the tools, but you’re
left to discover your own strategies.
Each battle has you controlling
one of many different commanders
facing off against an opposing faction.
You must strategically position your
units around the map to defeat them.
Capturing structures is crucial, as they
are your sole source of income for
producing more units. Commanders
can join their troops on the battlefield,
giving you control over a single
powerful unit. Each commander has
their own ability called a ‘Groove’ that
can do things like heal nearby units
cartoon visual style and lighthearted
tone but none of the themes of loss,
war, responsibility or friendship are
explored in any detail, and the lack of
narrative depth makes completing the
game more difficult than it should be.
Thankfully there’s a wealth of other
activities, both in single-player and
in online or offline multiplayer that
makes up for its underwhelming story.
Each offers a refreshing change of
pace that takes advantage of your
acquired knowledge and tests your
skill. But it’s the custom content mode
that offers the most potential for
fun by letting you create and share
your own maps. You can even craft
campaigns, complete with events and
animated cutscenes.
A large chunk of Wargroove may be
unoriginal, and the story is lacking, but
it’s a fun, charming game that serves
up a huge amount content that you’ll
be happy to pour many hours into.
Unless, of course, you’re busy writing
a follow-up to The Art Of War. Qshort
cutWHAT IS IT?
A medieval fantasy
strategy game with
war dogs.
WHAT’S IT LIKE?
Like Advance Wars,
but with more dogs.
WHO’S IT FOR?
Strategy enthusiasts
who like map editing,
and dogs.“There’s a
variety to battles
which keeps
things exciting”
OXM VERDICT
Charming and
jam-packed with
content, but lacks
a compelling
narrative.8
RIGHT The
mission design
is varied. This
one only gives
you a set
amount of units
(and a doggo) to
keep alive.090 THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE
REVIEW