I spent a good chunk of last year grappling with a game that doesn’t exactly hold your hand or fit neatly into the familiar mold of turn-based tactics. USC: Counterforce is not your typical XCOM clone, though at first glance it might invite comparison with old-school UFO or Aliens. But this is a title that carves its own path, stubborn and intricate, sometimes frustrating, yet undeniably compelling. It’s less polished grand strategy and more a bruised, bruising experiment with a personality all its own.
If you’ve been wading through the usual recycled tactics games, it’s worth taking another look. USC doesn’t cue you in on every twist and turn, and it can be harshly unforgiving for missteps, which means it demands patience and thought. But amid its laborious pacing and unorthodox systems lies a distinct identity that’s rare in today’s crowded genre. It’s a game that doesn’t just lean back on nostalgia or homage, despite the clear inspirations. Instead, it strives to stand apart, even when it stumbles.
The complexity can be grinding, but that’s part of the charm. It asks you to engage on its terms, to appreciate the careful attention to tactical detail and the slow reveal of its world. USC: Counterforce isn’t for everyone, but if you want a turn-based game that dares to be different, one that rewards persistence with moments of genuine satisfaction, it’s worth the effort. I just wish I’d returned to it sooner—there’s something quietly brilliant here beneath the rough edges.
Source: rockpapershotgun.com
