[TIC-80 Games] Turns of War

TIC-80 Games is a post series where I review TIC-80 games I play. You can read more about the fantasy computer in this post. and see my latest reviews on the tag #tic80games!

Turns of War is a turn based strategy (tactics) for TIC-80 fantasy console. It's coded by MSX80 with Elia Coan's graphics and Fubuki's music.

The gameplay is simple tactics game like Fire Emblem (which is clearly the inspiration behind this one.) Two sides take turns to defeat each other. In your turn you can move your units (characters you control) at any order. After you finish finishing all your units actions, the enemy turn will begin.

The characters are controlled via mouse (or touch screen,) when you click on the character you'll get a list of the actions they can take at the right side of the scree. Highlighting a unit shows their remaining HP (useful to know your enemies.) The actions you may take vary depending on the unit. Soldiers can move and attack at the same turn. Mages can attack or heal other units. Archers are weak in defence but can attack from distance. There are even a type of mage that turns trees into "nature soldiers" as I call them.

Unlike the big tactics games however, units in Turns of War don't level up. I found that justified to make the game simple as well insure that the challenge of the game remains consistent. Turns of War boasts 26 levels and 28 unit types so there will always be something new as you play. Each level provides its own "puzzle" to solve and the game has loosely connected story.

This one was hard to beat.

The game makes you learn by doing, the first level compromised of controling a farmer and having him reach the other side of the field before the enemy catch up. It's faster than you which adds to the urgency. The following levels teach one mechanic of the game at the time. I loved the pacing of it.

Not only Turns of War is fun, it's also very polished! While the graphic isn't the best, the gameplay and music are unusually good for a TIC-80 game. Levels are short but there are many of them, so it's one of the games I really recommend for this fantasy console.

Links

• Check MSX80 & Elia Coan on Twitter.
• Play/Download Turns of War on TIC-80 main website.

Or check my Review of MSX80's other game: Doors of Doom!

First image uses the game's cover image from TIC-80 website. The other images are screenshots taken by me.