"Laser Squad" games thread (eg. "Evil" )

[nittamituaki]

Hi, yesterday I came across a great game at youtube.
It was called "Evil", a turn-based strategy game, freeware.

I was really impressed because of its fantastic graphics.
Download link: (external link)
The author says it's the same genre of "Laser Squad" and "Lords of Chaos".
Then I watched those longplay videos, however,
I couldn't catch how to play at all!
At least no one had played those games in Japan,
so there are no articles in Japanese at this time.
Document file has loads of English sentences, I got tired.
Is there "step by step" guide or video for beginners?

This genre games' list is here.(HOL)

[idrougge]

I think you will find that this genre is quite similar to Japanese games such as Front Mission and Super Robot Taisen.

[Solo Kazuki]

There's also (Der) Langrisser clone called Death or Glory: Das Erbe von Morgan. Sadly it's german only.

Also "tactic" gameplay is in Hero Quest, Hero Quest II and Space Crusade.

You can also look on Paladin and Paladin II.

There's also turn-based shareware game Total Chaos, similar to Lords of Chaos, but on smaller map (one screen), easier interface and much more spells.

[Devlin]

Task Force is a good PD/shareware game of this sort http://hol.abime.net/5205

[john1979]

Originally Posted by idrougge

I think you will find that this genre is quite similar to Japanese games such as Front Mission and Super Robot Taisen.

Front Mission 3 on the PSX is fantastic. My favourite turn based game ever.

@OP. Check out Xenonauts. An update of the original Xcom. It goes very cheap on the indie game sites.

[Twiggy]

Could anyone reupload Evil? Not having much luck searching for it. Cheers

[Aladin]

http://aminet.net/package/game/think/Evil125

[Amiga1992]

You know I heard many people time and time again rave about LAser Squad but I never played it. I feel like I Should. I love games like XCom which I believe have been influenced strongly by Laser Squad.

I think I've always been put off by its crude graphics, but I should know much better than to dismiss a game for its looks.

[trixster]

The best thing about Laser Squad is the fabulous music.

[fstarred]

Originally Posted by nittamituaki

The author says it's the same genre of "Laser Squad" and "Lords of Chaos".

Gosh, how many hours/sessions I spent with my friends playing these games.. I'm still waiting for lord of chaos data disk

[Shatterhand]

Originally Posted by Akira

You know I heard many people time and time again rave about LAser Squad but I never played it. I feel like I Should. I love games like XCom which I believe have been influenced strongly by Laser Squad.

I think I've always been put off by its crude graphics, but I should know much better than to dismiss a game for its looks.

AFAIK XCom actually begun its development as a Laser Squad sequel.

Laser Squad is great. I played it on MSX first, it's just an awesome game on any system. But it lacks a "campaign" mode, you have missions (7 different missions if I remeber correctly), you pick one to play, then one difficulty level (again, out of 7 if I remember correctly), and you play that mission and either win it or lose it.

Still it takes a while to get the "hang" of each mission, there are enough random stuff happening on each one and the higher difficulty levels are really challenging, so there's a lot of replay value. I played it a lot on MSX when I was a kid, I really loved it. If you like the turn-based action of X-Com, you'll love Laser Squad.

It also had a crazy 2 player mode where each player would have to leave the room while the other one was making his moves, very interesting though not many friends cared enough to try it for too long with me

[Leander]

Originally Posted by Aladin

http://aminet.net/package/game/think/Evil125

Thanks for link Aladin
PS: There's a PM for you...

[fstarred]

Originally Posted by Shatterhand

It also had a crazy 2 player mode where each player would have to leave the room while the other one was making his moves, very interesting though not many friends cared enough to try it for too long with me

That was the standard habit before internet reached every home's people

[Shatterhand]

Originally Posted by fstarred

That was the standard habit before internet reached every home's people

I personally don't remember any other computer game where players took turns and one player would have to leave the room while the other was making his moves. I played a lot of games with friends way before the Internet (and still do. I actually play more with friends locally than over internet, which I usually use to play with strangers), but usually everyone was at the same room at the same time

[Amiga1992]

And why is it that they had to leave the room?

[Shatterhand]

Originally Posted by Akira

And why is it that they had to leave the room?

You know when playing UFO/X-Com, you can't see the alien moves?

It's the same idea. You shouldn't be able to see your opponent moves. You don't have to leave the room, you just can't look at the screen while the other player moves

[Amiga1992]

Originally Posted by Shatterhand

You know when playing UFO/X-Com, you can't see the alien moves?

But only if they are out of range!

[Shatterhand]

If I remember correctly, the game plays a sound when there's opportunity fire for the other player to take, so you can call him to fire.

And after you move, you end your turn, there's a screen asking the other player to "press fire to continue" or something like that, and then the game shows the other player your movement he should be able to see because it was "in range".

Laser Squad level structure is a lot less open than X-Com, most of the battles are in small rooms conected by thin corridors, so most of the time you really can't see the enemy units.

[Amiga1992]

I really gotta play this thing. Thanks dudes!