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“Into the breach” is a tactical Mech vs Kaiju game developed by Subset Games (the creators of “Faster Than Light“), and was released on the 27th of February on GOG and Steam. Well, much like FTL, the game might be small, but it has a very addictive turn-based combat and great replay value.

In the game, you play as a group of Mech-piloting time travellers that have gone back in time to stop an invasion of gigantic creatures called Vek before they wipe out what’s left of Humanity. When you start the game, you choose a squad of three Mechs, and at first you only have three starter Mechs but you will be able unlock a lot more by paying achievement points.

into the breach the pilot and mech selection screen

This is what the pilot and mech selection screen looks like in “Into the breach”, and it’s worth pointing out that they all play differently, and the more timelines that you save the more squads you will be able to unlock.

The game takes place in four islands where you have to complete different missions, and you have to complete one island fully before you move to the next one. However, you don’t need to complete all four. So once you have finished off two islands, then the final stage (the Vek Nest) will unlock and completing it will beat the game, in one timeline at least.

This weapon could easily surpass Metal Gear with no sweat.

Nevertheless, no moatter if you win or lose the game. You will still be able to travel to a different timeline (well, at least as long as one of your pilots still live) where humanity is still facing extinction at the hand of the Vek. However, this time you will probably have enough achievement points to unlock new Mechs and you will be able to take your best pilot from your previous run with you. Much like in FTL, this game is not about beating it once, it’s about beating it many times and unlocking brand-new Mechs and pilots every time, there are many different Mechs and unique pilots that you can unlock as you save the world in different timelines.

You know, now that I think about it. “Into the breach” is like a darker and more brutal version of “Advance Wars”.

The combat in the game is not necessarily about destroying the enemy, but about protecting civilians instead. So if you can’t kill a Vek before it destroys an entire city block you can try pushing it back, blinding it with a smoke cloud or if all else fails, protect the civilians by tanking the attacks with your own Mechs. So each time buildings are destroyed, the power grid will diminish, and if it falls to zero its game over! And if that’s the case, then you’ll have to start again in a different timeline.

You got a whole lot of stuff to keep an eye on besides the hostile gigantic creatures that are breeding beneath the earth. For example, you also have to keep your eyes open for volcanic activities and tidal waves.

In other words, since protecting civilians is what really matters in” Into the breach”, the combat feels very objective oriented, and all Vek attacks have 1 turn of warning before they go off so you’ll have time to react to their movements and position your Mechs to counter them.The focus on manipulating the position of your enemies makes the combat feel like a puzzle sometimes, but other times it will be more effective to wipe out the Vek with a Metal Gear looking Mech, so there will be plenty of bug killing to go around, depending on the situation.

Believe it or not, but you can actually send help back through time to save another timeline. So even if you end up getting defeated, it doesn’t necessarily mean that your defeated for all time.

So, all in all, “Into the breach” is a definitive recommendation for anyone who likes turn-based games, tactical games, strategy games or giant robots. I actually think that anyone who enjoyed FTL is going to have a blast with “Into the breach” as well. On a personal level though, I prefer the theme of “Into the Breach” more than the one from FTL. Even so, it’s up to each player to decide what he or she likes the most (FTL or “Into the breach”).

Nevertheless, I still think it’s safe to say that both FTL and “Into the breach” are two very well-made and fun games. So everyone should give them a try 😉

Pros:
+ Quick and fun turn-based action
+ Great replay value for such a small game
+ Mech vs Kaijus!
+ The soundtrack is freaking awesome!

Cons:
– Unlocking all the Mechs might require more grinding than is comfortable for casual players

Gameplay: 4.5/5
Graphics: 3/5
Sound/music: 4/5
Controls: 4/5
Replay value: 5

tgg grade 4.5 out of 5

Verdict: 4.5
“Into the Breach” is easily one of the most fun games that I have played in a while. You see, the game’s turn-based combat is very interesting, and it’s rather easy to get into as well. Furthermore, it will be up to each player how far they can go unlocking all the secrets of the game. Simply put, the game was built from the ground up to give great replay value. In other words, “Into the Breach” is a must play for fans of turn-based strategy games.

Title: Into the breach
Developer: Subset Games
Format: PC
Genre: Turn-based strategy
Resolution: Highest possible for PC
Release date: 2018-02-27
Difficulty: Normal
Spent time: +10 hours
Average grade internationally: 89.29% via gamerankings.com
PEGI/ESRB age rating: PEGI +12
Price: 14,99 Euros via Steam