Every now and then, a game comes along and fills a gap in the market that I didn't really know needed to be filled - Door Kickers is one such game. Inspired in no small part by the planning phases of late 1990s Tom Clancy games, Door Kickers is a thought provoking adrenaline rush of anti-terrorism action-puzzles.

There's two ways you can play Door Kickers. You can either take advantage of the ability to pause & issue commands in real time, edging your way through a level one command at a time, carefully assessing your options before pushing onwards... Then there's the right way - You plan everything from the get go. One continuous stream of commands that'll see your trooper(s) go from room to room, checking their corners and, hopefully, never leaving themselves open to an ambush. The sense of accomplishment from laying down a perfect plan that requires no tweaking after the mission starts is pretty special, and adds so much challenge to the game that you'll be entertained for hours and hours.

Levels vary wildly from simple elimination jobs, to bomb defusal, hostage rescue, and evidence gathering. No two levels are the same, and thanks to the numerous ways to approach each, there's potentially no limit to replayability. Replayability is also helped by a multi-tier challenge system & a pretty strong community modding scene. The in-game custom level generator makes designing & sharing levels with others really simple, and it's fun to see how challenging a level can actually be when designed by someone other than a sensible developer.

Character variety is a-plenty as the game has a generous amount of specialized classes & customization, along with veterancy rewards and dedicated fighting styles. Completing campaign levels in the best possible way will require a well rounded squad of multiple talents, but be warned - Death is permanent in campaign modes, and it's possible to lose a talented officer in just one poor move.

It's not all great, though. Music & voice acting is less than mediocre, while the graphics are pretty much just fit for purpose. There could also be very slight improvements to mission planning, but the developers have proven their intent to better the game, and it's by no means bad right now - It just could be a little better, that's all.

Overall, Door Kickers is a resounding recommendation. A collection of standalone tactical puzzles, campaigns & UGC, all wrapped in an attractive enough package with amazing character customization & challenges galore. If you're in any way intrigued, then jump in without hesitation.

Every now and then, a game comes along and fills a gap in the market that I didn't really know needed to be filled - Door Kickers is one such game. Inspired in no small part by the planning phases of late 1990s Tom Clancy games, Door Kickers is a thought provoking adrenaline rush of anti-terrorism action-puzzles. There's two ways you can play Door Kickers. You can either take advantage of the ability to pause & issue commands in real time, edging your way through a level one command at a time, carefully assessing your options before pushing onwards... Then there's the right way - You plan everything from the get go. One continuous stream of commands that'll see your trooper(s) go from room to room, checking their corners and, hopefully, never leaving themselves open to an ambush. The sense of accomplishment from laying down a perfect plan that requires no tweaking after the mission starts is pretty special, and adds so much challenge to the game that you'll be entertained for hours and hours. Levels vary wildly from simple elimination jobs, to bomb defusal, hostage rescue, and evidence gathering. No two levels are the same, and thanks to the numerous ways to approach each, there's potentially no limit to replayability. Replayability is also helped by a multi-tier challenge system & a pretty strong community modding scene. The in-game custom level generator makes designing & sharing levels with others really simple, and it's fun to see how challenging a level can actually be when designed by someone other than a sensible developer. Character variety is a-plenty as the game has a generous amount of specialized classes & customization, along with veterancy rewards and dedicated fighting styles. Completing campaign levels in the best possible way will require a well rounded squad of multiple talents, but be warned - Death is permanent in campaign modes, and it's possible to lose a talented officer in just one poor move. It's not all great, though. Music & voice acting is less than mediocre, while the graphics are pretty much just fit for purpose. There could also be very slight improvements to mission planning, but the developers have proven their intent to better the game, and it's by no means bad right now - It just could be a little better, that's all. Overall, Door Kickers is a resounding recommendation. A collection of standalone tactical puzzles, campaigns & UGC, all wrapped in an attractive enough package with amazing character customization & challenges galore. If you're in any way intrigued, then jump in without hesitation.