Templar Battleforce is a polished indie turn-based squad tactics game with base building and RPG elements, set in the Trese Brothers' original Star Traders universe. It's a great game by a great developer. The Trese Brothers, long-time veterans of tabletop tactics games, got their start developing games for smartphones. They have since produced numerous games exploring multiple genres in a short handful of years. Templar Battleforce represents a return to their stated mission: the creation of high-quality, multi-platform RPGs and Strategy games, supported by strong community involvement and a commitment to lifelong game updates. All of their games fulfill this vision in some manner, but Templar Battleforce checks every box. Furthermore, in creating Templar Battleforce, the Trese Brothers have used the lessons learned over their first few years as a fledgling studio to re-envision and re-invent the spirit of one of their earliest games- Templar Assault. It's a great feeling to play a game that is an indie dev's dream made real.


Before I discuss gameplay I'd like to address a common criticism of both the Star Traders universe and the Steel universe (Trese Brothers' fantasy setting). The Trese Brothers have time and again explicitly recognized the Warhammer and WH40K settings as major inspirations for their work. They also acknowledge many other sources of inspiration for their original settings. Are the Trese Brothers' settings derivative? Yes. Does that make their settings rip-offs? No. Point me if you can to a fantasy or spce opera setting in a game that is not derivative, because I've never seen it.

The Trese Brothers settings combine common tropes in original and compelling ways, building an internally consistent universe on the foundation of inspiration. Yes, some devs cut & paste together bits and pieces from popular settings. The result is a lazy pastiche of improbable bedfellows, without depth or heart. The Trese Brothers are clearly heavily invested in their settings, and as a result the world-building is unique, coherent, and immersive.


Gameplay is divided into two primary components: missions and combat, and HQ activities. The game features features a branching storyline that is tense and dramatic without being overbearing. You will encounter story dialogue during most missions, but it rarely lasts longer than a handful of sentences. The combat is top-down and grid-based. Each Templar has a set number of Action Points (AP) and Movement Points (MP) derived from their base attributes. The bottom of the screen displays an action hotbar, portrait, and HP and Heat bars for the selected Templar. Actions use AP and generate Heat. If MP is available acting will consume that as well, so it's often prudent to move everyone first and then go back have each one act. If the Heat meter fills the Templar will not be able to use hotbar abilities. If it overfills they will take damage. Luckily, taking no action dramatically cools the armor. Cover, line of sight, smart ability use, and overwatch are key elements of success. The math feels polished, precise, fair, and detailed. Many maps contain multiple main and secondary objectives; you will rarely play a "Kill All Enemies" mission.

Between missions you manage your squad at the HQ screen. It looks like a base-building interface but there's actually very little of that. Instead, this is where you choose how to level each character, hire new characters, and requisition new items and abilities. It's a class-based paradigm, with each class having access to unique skill trees and equipment. Each level attribute and skill points are distributed manually, allowing for enormous flexibility and diversity.

Perhaps my favorite piece of the HQ experience is the requisition tree. You earn RP by completing objectives, which you can then spend on an astounding array of global unlocks. Many of the unlocks are class-specific, and the skill-tree paradigm means getting the unlock you want first requires unlocking everything below it. This is where the game requires careful consideration of your own gameplay style- you can't just unlock everything, you have to choose. Of course this aspect also adds to the games replay value.


If you've enjoyed other Trese Brothers games, you will definitely enjoy this one. And as always the Trese Brothers offer the game attentive and continuous support. I don't know of any other studio as endlessly committed to improving every product they release. If you are new to Trese Brothers games, Templar Battleforce is a great place to start your journey.

I recommend this game for all fans of turn-based squad tactics or of space opera RPGs. I also recommend this game to almost anyone else, because it both imminently accessible and thoughtfully compelling.

Templar Battleforce: 8/10
Trese Brothers: 10/10- an all around class act.

No Drama, Just Reviews

[h1]Trese Brothers Rising[/h1] Templar Battleforce is a polished indie turn-based squad tactics game with base building and RPG elements, set in the Trese Brothers' original Star Traders universe. It's a great game by a great developer. The Trese Brothers, long-time veterans of tabletop tactics games, got their start developing games for smartphones. They have since produced numerous games exploring multiple genres in a short handful of years. Templar Battleforce represents a return to their stated mission: the creation of high-quality, multi-platform RPGs and Strategy games, supported by strong community involvement and a commitment to lifelong game updates. All of their games fulfill this vision in some manner, but Templar Battleforce checks every box. Furthermore, in creating Templar Battleforce, the Trese Brothers have used the lessons learned over their first few years as a fledgling studio to re-envision and re-invent the spirit of one of their earliest games- Templar Assault. It's a great feeling to play a game that is an indie dev's dream made real. [h1]A Different Grim, Dark Future[/h1] Before I discuss gameplay I'd like to address a common criticism of both the Star Traders universe and the Steel universe (Trese Brothers' fantasy setting). The Trese Brothers have time and again explicitly recognized the Warhammer and WH40K settings as major inspirations for their work. They also acknowledge many other sources of inspiration for their original settings. Are the Trese Brothers' settings derivative? Yes. Does that make their settings rip-offs? No. Point me if you can to a fantasy or spce opera setting in a game that is [i]not[/i] derivative, because I've never seen it. The Trese Brothers settings combine common tropes in original and compelling ways, building an internally consistent universe on the foundation of inspiration. Yes, some devs cut & paste together bits and pieces from popular settings. The result is a lazy pastiche of improbable bedfellows, without depth or heart. The Trese Brothers are clearly heavily invested in their settings, and as a result the world-building is unique, coherent, and immersive. [h1]Every Leviathan Armor is for You, Templar. Which One Will You Make Your Own?[/h1] Gameplay is divided into two primary components: missions and combat, and HQ activities. The game features features a branching storyline that is tense and dramatic without being overbearing. You will encounter story dialogue during most missions, but it rarely lasts longer than a handful of sentences. The combat is top-down and grid-based. Each Templar has a set number of Action Points (AP) and Movement Points (MP) derived from their base attributes. The bottom of the screen displays an action hotbar, portrait, and HP and Heat bars for the selected Templar. Actions use AP and generate Heat. If MP is available acting will consume that as well, so it's often prudent to move everyone first and then go back have each one act. If the Heat meter fills the Templar will not be able to use hotbar abilities. If it overfills they will take damage. Luckily, taking no action dramatically cools the armor. Cover, line of sight, smart ability use, and overwatch are key elements of success. The math feels polished, precise, fair, and detailed. Many maps contain multiple main and secondary objectives; you will rarely play a "Kill All Enemies" mission. Between missions you manage your squad at the HQ screen. It looks like a base-building interface but there's actually very little of that. Instead, this is where you choose how to level each character, hire new characters, and requisition new items and abilities. It's a class-based paradigm, with each class having access to unique skill trees and equipment. Each level attribute and skill points are distributed manually, allowing for enormous flexibility and diversity. Perhaps my favorite piece of the HQ experience is the requisition tree. You earn RP by completing objectives, which you can then spend on an astounding array of global unlocks. Many of the unlocks are class-specific, and the skill-tree paradigm means getting the unlock you want first requires unlocking everything below it. This is where the game requires careful consideration of your own gameplay style- you can't just unlock everything, you have to choose. Of course this aspect also adds to the games replay value. [h1]Thus, my Recommendation...[/h1] If you've enjoyed other Trese Brothers games, you will definitely enjoy this one. And as always the Trese Brothers offer the game attentive and continuous support. I don't know of any other studio as endlessly committed to improving every product they release. If you are new to Trese Brothers games, Templar Battleforce is a great place to start your journey. I recommend this game for all fans of turn-based squad tactics or of space opera RPGs. I also recommend this game to almost anyone else, because it both imminently accessible and thoughtfully compelling. [b]Templar Battleforce: 8/10 Trese Brothers: 10/10[/b]- an all around class act. [url=http://steamproxy.net/groups/justreviews] No Drama, Just Reviews [/url]