Game Boy Advance

Rebelstar: Tactical Command

Rebelstar: Tactical Command is an extremely engaging title and is perfectly tailored for the GBA platform. Its slower, more thoughtful play style coupled with the ability to save mid-battle makes it a perfect game for on-the-go playing. Thanks Namco and Codo for giving me back the X-Com game I’ve so missed since Hasbro Interactive shut down its e-mail game servers and for adding enough new elements to make the whole play experience fresh. A head-of-the-class, grade-A effort by Codo for X-Com fans everywhere and even a great tactical-combat exercise for any GBA player.

Apart from some minor camera issues, Rebelstar is a perfect fit for tactical fans, it proudly proves that even in this era of new handhelds, gameplay is still king.

Whether it be the engrossing gameplay, the character customizability, or the colorful cast, there's a lot to love about Rebelstar. It can be very unforgiving from time to time, but unlimited in-game saves do their best to tip the scales in the favor of the cautious gamer. In any event, any lover of strategy games, from Risk to Xcom, would do well to pick this one up, and quick.

The presentation, storyline, and gameplay are what make this title one to own for your GBA. If you love turn-based strategy games, or have fond memories of X-Com, you've probably already picked up this title. If you haven't, it's definitely a game to check out. Minor issues don't detract from the overall experience enough to annoy, and are nearly stifled completely underneath the positive points. With a budget price and big-budget gameplay, Rebelstar Tactical Command is a fantastic addition to any gamer's library.

The game has many typical elements and several that have been seen before in other titles. However, where Rebelstar Tactical Command really shines is in the wonderful way it supplies gamers with information in a lucid, logical and thought-provoking combat system. The word ‘tactical’ in the title is not merely an adjective with little meaning – it is meant here and players had best be ready to think their way through the maps, not run and gun.

Rebelstar Tactical Command is a solid strategy game experience for GBA owners. Anything the game's presentation lacks is more than made up for by the intricacies of its gameplay. Fans of the genre looking for a deeper level of strategy than in the standard GBA fare owe it to themselves to check out Rebelstar Tactical Command. Just be sure to watch for those annoying alien probes.

Rebelstar: Tactical Command is a hard core, straight up, turn-based strategy game that’s got a lot of depth. The story is surprisingly entertaining and your main character is dead set on killing the aliens (or what they call Arelians). Strategy fans will totally dig the deep thought process which is required to progress through this game. Rebelstar is a big game wrapped in a small package and the best strategy game to hit the GBA since Advance Wars or Fire Emblem. If you enjoy slower games that require a lot of forward thinking, then Rebelstar is definitely one for your collection.

Despite its shortcomings in presentation, Rebelstar: Tactical Command delivers where it counts--in the gameplay. While not as deep as the designer's previous work, the game offers a compelling and challenging story mode that should keep turn-based strategy fans glued to their GBAs for quite a while.

While Advance Wars and Fire Emblem are better than Rebelstar, it's nice to have another strategy choice on the GBA. Rebelstar Tactical Command doesn't live up to either of the aforementioned titles, or to the legacy of the original X-Com, but it's a good GBA game that will appeal to more sophisticated gamers, and it's certainly addictive enough to eat up a lot of time on a plane or road trip.

The final verdict on Rebelstar Tactical Command, however, is good. While many X-COM and Laser Squad Nemesis fans will be disappointed over the loss of many features they deemed important, the game does stand on its own two feet as an enjoyable tactical strategy game. The campaign will offer players upwards of thirty hours of enjoyable game play, which can then be bolstered by skirmish and multiplayer modes. As Rebelstar Tactical Command is billed as a budget title, priced under $30 at launch, one can forgive many of its smaller faults when presented with enjoyable and engaging tactical sessions. With quality titles rapidly drying up on the GBA in the face of increased DS and PSP sales, those looking for a new and fun game on their Gameboy will be well advised to check out Rebelstar Tactical Command.

With a tiny bit more polish Rebelstar Tactical Command could be not only one of the best games on the GBA but one of the best games released this year. Sadly however, its flaws keep it below the polished best of Nintendo, but for anyone with fond memories of X-Com, who can't get enough turn based strategy on the GBA, or if you just plain can't stand aliens, it's unmissable.