I found out about Tales & Tactics a while ago while browsing Steam for a new auto-battler to try. It looked interesting but didn’t grab me right away. However, the recent Spooky Season update made me decide to give it a shot and see what the game was all about.
What is Tales & Tactics Anyway?
Tales & Tactics is a Roguelike auto-battler with some dungeon-crawling thrown in. I never thought I’d describe a game like this, but here we are. At first, I thought it seemed like a crazy mix of concepts, but I was pleasantly surprised at how well everything worked together.
Instead of any single element taking over, all the different parts of the game seemed to come together to create a fantastic experience. And I needed that cohesiveness because, at the beginning, I felt as confused as when I’m learning a new board game.
The Gameplay of Tales & Tactics
The tutorial is really helpful in explaining how to play, but expect a bit of a learning curve before you truly get the hang of it. Here are the basics:
The battle map is a 5 x 8 hex grid, split between you and your opponent. Each round, you can roll for a new set of cards, which represent the units you’ll use in battle. The draw is random, so it can get frustrating.
Each unit has an Archetype (its role), SP cost (how much it costs), Traits (usually two), and a special skill. And believe it or not, that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
A Ton of Units to Choose From
When I start a new game, I like to mess around in the main menu first. Tales & Tactics has a Compendium, and when I first opened it, it was filled with question marks. After a few runs, those question marks turned into portraits of different units.
I was shocked at how many units there are and how unique each one is. No wonder it was hard to get a feel for the meta. Plus, since none of the units are guaranteed, things can get pretty complicated.
Learning the Units and Items Takes Time
Tales & Tactics is a challenging game and not for those easily discouraged. Two of the toughest mechanics to learn are unit synergy and item combinations.
Units have traits that synergize with each other, activating more powers as you collect more units of a certain trait. These powers typically come in two levels. But with so many units, it’s unlikely you’ll optimize everything in every run.
On top of that, there are tons of different items that interact with units, adding even more complexity. No two runs are the same—you might get lucky in one, and feel cursed in the next.
What’s New in Spooky Season?
The star of the Spooky Season update is Thud Pahud, a Dwarven Pirate with the ambitious goal of killing a God someday. Most of us would be happy with a promotion, but Thud has bigger plans. He’s quite unique compared to the other heroes in the game.
In summary, Tales & Tactics can be a bit overwhelming at first, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll appreciate the intricate design and endless possibilities.