NEON Squad Tactics, developed by Tin Man Games, is out now on the Meta Quest platform. With a mix of 80s and cyberpunk vibes, it plunges players into the vibrant, neon-soaked world of UltraCity. A strategy game at heart, it offers a blend of immersive virtual reality gameplay and tactical decision-making, and we took it for a spin on a Quest 2 headset.
Narratively speaking, the game is set in a future where the streets are full of cybernetic life, placing you in the role of an Operator. You project your consciousness into a team of heroes, dubbed the NEON Squad, navigating a dynamic and colorful world from a virtual bar. This innovative setup, featuring a holographic table as your interface, adds a layer of immersion that helps you engage with the game world as the indirect control method suddenly feels like it makes sense this way.
The game’s narrative is enriched by the setting of UltraCity, where you undertake missions on behalf of powerful corporations under the guidance of a handler who appear to be hiding some things. This cyberpunk backdrop is well-realized, with a mix of humor and grit that keeps the story engaging. The characters you meet and the missions you undertake are varied and interesting, although the storyline does follow a few familiar beats.
Gameplay mechanics in NEON Squad Tactics revolve around turn-based tactical battles, where strategic thinking is important. The pre-mission planning phase is a crucial part of it, requiring you to use your resources and credits wisely to enhance your squad and equipment. Each squad member has unique skills and abilities for you to use, allowing for a high degree of customization and strategic depth – as well as a decent learning curve. This element of the game is quite well done, providing a satisfying challenge and replay value as you navigate the dangerous streets, and surroundings of UltraCity.
The motion controls are generally intuitive, but can occasionally feel cumbersome in the heat of battle, and the VR interface can sometimes feel a bit clunky. The game’s pacing can be a bit uneven at times, with some missions dragging on for quite a while, but ultimately these are all minor issues in the grand scheme of things and do little to diminish the overall enjoyment.
Visually, NEON Squad Tactics features striking neon-lit environments and detailed character models, with a world that is brought to life with a vibrant color palette and intricate design. The audio complements the visuals well, with a soundtrack that enhances the cyberpunk atmosphere and sound effects that add to the immersion.
In conclusion, NEON Squad Tactics is a standout entry in the VR strategy genre, offering a rich, immersive experience set in a compelling cyberpunk world. Its blend of tactical depth, engaging narrative, and striking visuals make it a game to watch if you enjoy its XCOM-style gameplay. While it has its minor flaws, the overall experience is highly rewarding, showcasing the potential of VR in delivering complex, engaging strategy games. It has a very mild price tag for what it has to offer as well, so we recommend checking this one out.
Score: 7.4/10
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