Tempest Citadel

The game is OK, and I do recommend it for what it is. This is a game where a lot happens automatically, including the combat. There is an OK story, but it seems like in some areas maybe it was translated poorly? Some of the writing is odd at the very least. The game mostly plays itself. Your soldiers auto fight combats. Your engineers auto build equipment and modules. Your scientists automatically research new stuff for you. What you do is set the priorities on what each of these people do for you. Then you speed up time to the next event.... which might be a mission on a planet or a new breakthrough or a new bit of story. So it is mostly a simulation game. On easier difficulty levels you don't seem to be able to make a bad choice. On harder difficulty levels you have to be much more focused. The game isn't great, but it isn't bad, and it has it's own style. 6/10

Combat is boring, characters get stuck in environments, and some of the sound effects sound like a guy making noises into a microphone. Pass.

NOTE: MY OPINION OF THIS GAME IS NEUTRAL/AVERAGE/MIDDLE THUMB, BUT SINCE STEAM DOESN'T HAVE THAT OPTION, I'M GIVING IT A THUMBS UP. Tempest Citadel is a strategy game with an interesting premise and setting, placing you in command of a floating citadel on a mysterious storm-covered planet. Over the course of the campaign, you manage soldiers, research new weapons and upgrades, and fight with several factions on the planet. While the progression systems, classes, and research tree initially suggest a deep tactical experience, most of the game’s mechanics are heavily automated, with battles resolving in under a minute and much of the equipment and research handled automatically. Because of this automation, much of the potential strategic depth ends up feeling superficial. Outcomes often depend more on RNG than on meaningful player decisions, making save-scumming a more effective strategy than careful planning. The biggest issue is the FATE mechanic, which quietly penalizes losses and even close victories, potentially locking players out of the best ending without clearly explaining how it works. In the end, Tempest Citadel isn’t a terrible game and can be a chill experience if you’…

An interesting idea implemented in a janky and haphazard way, with the feel and content quality of a mobile game, or of early 2000s Slav-jank. Short version: This is a mobile-style game that bears the same relationship to base-building and tactical strategy games that arcade rail-shooters bear to actual tactical shooter FPS games. The art style is technically good, but weirdly inappropriate. There is a ton of sloppy lack of attention to detail, in both text (and the game does give you reading assignments) and mechanics (from mere opaque or irrelevant mechanics, to actively player-hostile and depressing/unenjoyable mechanics). The combat is interesting but very, very alpha-ish and janky. The UI has some absurdly bad design choices (again, feels like mobile port with PC UI as an afterthought). Overall, it's amateurish and feels like editing oversight and QA did not happen. ---- UI is not the worst I've seen, but it's pretty bad. The rule is basic: if you don't have incredible insight into UI conventions such that you are blazing a trail, follow convention. Don't be weird, special, or creative. UI is quality of life, not your artistic opportunity. Do NOT mess with system k…

Strap in ya big, shiny, boy tiddAys cuz they's goin' for a jubble!

If you enjoyed X-Com and are okay with trading turn based tactics for a top down real time combat system, this might be something to check out. If you also wish that X-Com had a bit more story elements and background lore to the missions and quests you started, than this is something you should check out. I'm someone who loves world building and has no problem with reading large sections of text so I've thrived reading through mission details and other story elements the game puts together. And i have a lot of respect for this game as it also lets me decide when I want to read most of it. I can go and complete a few levels, then come back and read all the extra information or just completely ignore it all together. It took a bit of time to get used to the real time combat. I came into this game expecting a more hands on experience with the combat. But after some time playing, I found I really liked this approach to combat. I really enjoy getting immersed in the games I play and letting the squads take on combat on their own really felt like I was the commander giving out orders and tasks for my teams to complete. But there were also a few times it was a little frustrating watch…