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A well known and respected independent developer, small soldiers, big explosions, strategy elements, and a quirky general to motivate you. Sounds like a recipe for success...and destruction!

Xoldiers is an oldy but a goodie from the developer of VVVVVV.

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Full Review

Distractionware (Terry Cavanaugh) is probably best known for its latest game VVVVVV. Cactus is is an experimental designer of renown. One of the many things I love about independent game development is that it is a process and a skill, a craft if you like, and one that is, should the developer choose to make it so, open to the public. Developers tend to keep records of the many games produced throughout the years and so going back and playing these games can be great fun and provide insight into the work of a developer.

Xoldiers is one of these earlier games and it's a fun take on a sort of shooter/strategy hybrid. It's like having a go at squad combat with a 2D game system and it's very fun. Cactus and Terry collaborated on it for the Poppenkast competition some time ago. The game is relatively short and straightforward: after a rousing prompt from your general, your squad of xoldiers is set into the field to attack an enemy base. Your squad of 12 xoldiers move as one, including ducking and shooting. Each stage is essentially the same as you plow through the enemy encampment, dodging rounds, destroying gun placements and tanks until you reach the presumable headquarters, the daunting purple palaces. Once these are destroyed the stage is won.

You need only destroy the purple command buildings to win a stage, but your score is dependent upon how much of the enemy infrastructure you take down as well as how many xoldiers survive. The only tools you are given to solve the job are a regular shot, grenades, and numbers. Once all of your xoldiers are dead the stage must be restarted.

The simple approach works and, as I said before, there is a certain tactical element vaguely reminiscent of modern 3D squad combat games. The movement of the squad, the raiding of enemy bases, ducking and shooting all feel very familiar but take on unique sensibilities in the neon-on-black stylized world. The over the top explosions provide a sense of intensity and confusion for brief moments, like you might find in a modern 3D first-person shooter.

Xoldiers is easily worth the download if you are a fan of Cavanaugh's work in general, or are just looking to try something new.