In an alternate timeline where mech-powered militaries fight wars that shape the world’s political landscape, Kriegsfront Tactics puts you in control of a mecha squad on a mission behind enemy lines. Developed and published by Toge Productions this tactical mecha RPG is clearly made for the fan of strategy RPGs. You will not only have to win tough battles that rely on great strategy and luck. Also as the commander, you will have to manage the structural integrity of your mechs alongside the sanity of the soldiers who control them.
So LV1 Gaming was lucky enough to be given early access to the Kriegsfront Tactics- Prologue which featured the first hour of the game. We were able to experience the high-intensity strategic turn-based combat, a portion of the gritty plot, and the navigation of the open world map.
Behind enemy lines with a small unit, limited resources, and outnumbered this is your reality in this game. While playing I was expecting to find a base of operations after the initial training mission. I was sorely mistaken, there were only a few locations on the map where my squad was able to use as a pit stop and mechanic shop. One location is an abandoned base where you can repair your damaged mechs and/or refill your ammunition. Now this being a strategy game with limited resources, you can only use these boons one time each.
Kriegsfront Tactics Combat
There was one battle where one of my unit’s arms was severely damaged, and instead of risking it falling off, I was able to replace the arm with one looted from a fallen enemy mech. Going into more detail on the combat mechanics, the battlefield has a grid layered over the map. Also, each unit has a specific amount of Action Points (AP) that they can use. There are a few different actions that can be taken by each unit such as the basic attack, body charge attack, overwatch, and the classic waiting. Each mech’s loadout determines what type of attacks and abilities are available to use. For example, there is a mech that has a hammer and rockets attached to it and it is great at bombing wide areas to “smoke out” hidden enemy units. My personal favorite is the Sniper-equipped mech, the long-range overwatch ability has taken out several enemies before they were even able to attack.
The battles are split into turns, and after all of your units have used all of their AP, wait, or go into overwatch, the enemy then takes their turn to do the same. The battlefield has a fog of war element to it where unless one of your squad has a line of sight on the enemy, you can not see them at all. The weapons work in a “realistic” manner, meaning if an enemy is in the middle of two of your squad and evades oncoming fire the bullets will hit your the mech placed behind them. So battlefield placement is extremely important not only for having better angles to attack but for minimizing the chances of friendly fire.
Should You Add This To Your Wishlist?
Based on my time with the prologue, it’s safe to say if you are a gamer who enjoys intense strategy games and mechs, Kriegsfront Tactics should be on your wishlist. The story feels like a 90s boots-on-the-ground war movie. The squad communicates with each other like a family forged from battle and blood. The classic PlayStation 3D design adds to the narrative that you are in an alternate 1970s world. The Prologue will be available for free on PC via Steam on July 18, 2024. If this game sounds interesting make sure to add it to your wishlist and check out the official Steam page to stay up to date. Also if you are interested we were able to interview the team at Toge Productions during PAX East 2024 to discuss Kriegsfront Tactics.
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