GBG is aware of the allegations toward Chucklefish and the development of its previously released game Starbound, but those reports hold no bearing on our experience with the game, nor do they have any influence on this review.

I’ll admit that I’ve never been overly keen on SRPGs. My first experience with the genre that I recall was Final Fantasy Tactics, and while most people love the game, I played it at a time where there was really no chance of me finding enjoyment from it. I’ve played plenty of games in the genre since then, made before and after the classic, and I found some that I really enjoyed, while others have no appeal at all for me. Knowing how much others love the grid-based combat, I always give them a go thinking maybe I just haven’t played them in the right headspace. The latest to get a go from me is what many consider to be the spiritual successor to the beloved Advance Wars series.

This review may seem late, but Wargroove only recently launched on PS4, despite coming to Switch and PC what seems like years ago at this point. And as a game that’s being hailed as a spiritual successor, this comes from Chucklefish, not the renowned Fire Emblem developer. But similar to the recent Fell Seal: Arbiter’s Mark being a love letter to Final Fantasy Tactics, this progresses where the previous ended. And progress it does, with a gradual learning curve and so much content it’s hard to stay focused on the task at hand at times.

The opening battle sets the stage for the game’s events following, with some dialogue peppered in developing the story as well as explaining how to play. The tutorials in this are some of the best I’ve seen in terms of being integrated into the story. Games as expansive as this will often over explain or under explain the mechanics, and the actions you take will be forgotten by the time you are thrown to the wolves. This makes sure to provide information at a steady pace while not holding your hand, but also making sure you understand what it’s telling you. It’s a thin line to walk, but it does so gracefully. Whether you’re experienced in the genre or have never played it, there’s a mode for you to progress and enjoy.

The story will provide tens of hours for any player to enjoy, teaching you all the necessary skills in order to get the most out of the other modes it eventually offers, such as multiplayer maps with online and offline capabilities, as well as a puzzle mode. Should you be so inclined, you can even create your own maps/scenarios for others to conquer. Another nice thing to note is that while many games require you to remember how to play them in order to complete them (should you end up playing other things for extended periods of time, or just don’t have time for games), most of the information you learn in this can be viewed at any given time. There are no button combinations or reflexes you need to recall, but there are plenty of strategies you can read up on within the game. This is recommended regardless of if you’re playing through at once as well, as not everything is touched on through the development of the story, and the game’s codex may provide some hidden strategies for success.

Outside of the normal abilities and strengths/weaknesses each class has, commanders also have their own special abilities to take into account, which are called grooves. These can turn the tide of the battle depending on who is leading the charge, be it with offensive, defensive, or healing powers. These are such an essential portion of the game that they’re part of the title. While pretty much any commander can win any given battle, if you find yourself struggling with a particular skirmish, it may behoove you to try someone different to see just what they can offer in terms of solutions. And unlike other games that will require you to play the same scenario over and over to develop your skills, you can easily move on here as each battle is a fresh start.

The list of issues with the game is small, with some of the sound clips coming off as annoying and unnecessary. I’ve never been overly fond of voice acting that doesn’t reflect the actual dialogue being stated, and that hasn’t changed with this. Either leave the characters silent, or have them fully voiced. In addition to this, I did run into some sound related issues, with the audio skipping and being garbled here and there, but this was far from the norm in my time with it.

With a gorgeous art direction, deep gameplay, and seemingly endless content to enjoy, it’s hard not to recommend Wargroove to anyone that hasn’t already played it. And even if you have, it’s worth jumping into again. This is an SRPG for anyone that has time to burn.

9 out of 10

Pros

• Beautifully Executed
• Grooves/Tactics
• So Much Content

Cons

• Some Sound Design

Wargroove was developed and published by Chucklefish. It is available on NS, PC, PS4 and X1. The game was provided to us for review on PS4. If you’d like to see more of Wargroove, check out the official site.

 

Here at GBG we use a rating method that you are more than likely familiar with – a scale of 1 to 10. For clarification, we intend on using the entire scale: 1-4 is something you should probably avoid paying for; 5-7 is something that is worth playing, but probably not at full price; 8-10 is a great title that you can feel confident about buying. If you have any questions or comments about how we rate a game, please let us know.

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