Laser Squad

The Good
I reckon Julian Gollop's games age like fine wine. If you don't believe me, just check out his later smash hit, X-Com: UFO Defense, which is regarded as one of the best strategy games of all time. Laser Squad is no different in that respect, and it still is interesting and fun today as it was 8 years ago.

Laser Squad does not need any gimmicks to set it apart from other strategy games of the same time: it is quite simply completely different, bringing a radically different approach to turn-based strategy from anything else available at the time. Bringing to the table an immersive enivornment combined with excellent gameplay, Laser Squad is one of the best turn-based strategy games ever created, and if you - like me - played it before X-Com, you will look at the latter in a completely new light of respect.

While Laser Squad has without a doubt good graphics, the cutscenes are simply spectacular. Amazingly drawn and animated, they offer great stories and introductions and add a great deal to the atmosphere of the game. Laser Squad's music really shines: although it utilizes FM, it is simply amazing and fits the game perfectly (unlikely the Amiga version, which had simply crappy music). The weapon selection screens are as good as they get.

In short, Laser Squad is perfect.

The Bad
Laser Squad will forever have to live in the shadow of its younger brother X-Com. While both games are amazingly innovative and fun, X-Com with without a shadow of a doubt the better of the two; but Laser Squad still holds its own, especially being a couple of years older.

The Bottom Line
A perfect and magnificent game. Too bad nobody knows it.