This game is very good. It's a cross between an action version of Blood Bowl, NFL Blitz, and Madden. The game is pretty basic as far as play selection and roster management. But the whole point is to get you into the action on the field. The game excels here. The on-field action just feels "right." Obviously, there is no NFL license here. So players, and the game itself, are direct parodies. For example, Green Bay Packers Wide Receiver Davante Adams becomes Grim Bay Attackers Wide Receiver Dante Adscams. Referees can be bribed. The football can be replaced with a time-bomb. Players can be injected with chemicals to make them stronger for a play, etc... But the game plays out like real professional football, more or less. It's 7v7 football. You can kill opposing players during the game. Besides the most obvious effect of making that player no longer available, it can cause a game to conclude before time runs out. If a team can't field a QB, they lose even if ahead in the score. If a team can't field a RB, they can't call a running play. If your defense is missing too many players of a specific position, they will come out for that play shorthanded.

The game has the modes you would expect. You can set up a quick match. You can take a team through a single season. You can start in the playoffs. Or, you can start a dynasty that runs for 5 years. In dynasty mode, the players on your team start at very low levels in all skills. You upgrade them as the games go on. Success on the field equals more upgrade points. This can be immensely frustrating at the beginning when all of your players are weaker and slower than the opposition. But you have a budget to add free agents and make trades. So you can catch up to the AI fairly quickly. The dynasty times-out after 5 years.

Announcers are present, and can be quite funny. Of course, as time wears on, you'll eventually have heard everything they have to say. Their language is definitely not appropriate for kids.

One complaint: AI doesn't miss field goals. If it's in range, they'll put it through the uprights. This can become an issue because you get extra points for hitting longer kicks. If I'm defending a 4 point lead, and the AI gets to the 40 yard line, I'll often sit back to make sure they get closer so they can't tie or win the game on a kick.

The DLCs are reasonably priced. The cheaper ones generally add new teams and their stadiums. The pricier ones generally add new player types, (races,) to the game. As of the time of this review, the game is still actively supported by the devs and is relatively bug-free.

I'm very pleased with this game. If what I described sounds fun to you, I can't recommend it highly enough.

First off, a note about the distribution model:

A lot of negative reviews for this game are based on the model that Lock 'n Load Publishing is using to distribute the game. I find those complaints to be valid. When you purchase the core game, you are basically only receiving a demo. It includes 4 scenarios that do a good job of showing you what the game is like. But you'll need to be ready to invest in some of the DLC modules to get the full experience. In my opinion, it shouldn't have been distributed this way. I feel that the game engine should have been free, and the original 4 scenarios should have been released as a $1 introduction to the game for players who don't have experience with the tabletop LnLT system. (Or raise the price and include a more comprehensive tutorial to deliver a basic understanding of the rule-set.)

With that out of the way, the rest of this review is based on the game itself.

My perspective: I am an experienced strategy / tactics / war-game video gamer. I have only a low level of experience with tabletop war-games, and no experience with Lock 'n Load Tactical in that environment. I am entirely new to the system.

What is this game? It is a digital reproduction of a tabletop tactical war-game system. The digital version attempts to remain true to the tabletop version. It uses counters and rolls dice in the same way that these things are done in the physical environment. The system simulates tactical warfare down to the squad level with individual leaders, heroes, specialists, and vehicles.

I watched the video tutorials that are included with the base game to learn the interface, and then jumped right into my first scenario. I had some fun moving the units around and learning the basics. But to really get a handle on the system, you need to dig into the published rule-books that are used for the tabletop version. Happily, these are available for free in a digital format from the publisher. There is a link provided within the game that will open up a catalog of all of the rule-books in your web browser. If you are new to the system, I highly recommend reading the LnLT Infantry Narrative available on the rule-book site. This book walks you through a battle explaining the movement, combat dice rolls, and results. There is a second narrative for Vehicles and Ordinance that walks through using vehicles and heavy weapons. You'll also find the core rule-book, and individual rule-books that handle special rules for specific battle-sets.

The game-play strikes a great balance between believable combat results, with a sprinkling of Hollywood-style fun. Each battle results in memorable moments of bravery, skill, and luck. The rules allow for things like the following, (which actually happened in one of my first games.) My American infantry were under heavy German machine-gun fire from a stone building across the road. Most of my infantry were "shaken" and unable to engage the enemy. No leader was available to rally the troops and get them back in the fight. They were slowly being picked apart. Then, a hero emerges from my troops. He rallies the infantry around him and gets the German machine-gunner under fire. Then he leads an under-strength squad in a furious charge across the road and engages the Germans in hand-to-hand combat. Victorious, he takes the German gun and turns it against additional German infantry who are charging across an open field to support their comrades. Then he passes off the weapon to his squad-mates while he crosses the road again under fire to rally additional infantry back into the fight. In the future movie, I'd cast Brad Pitt in the role.

This is a dice game. You'll need to be prepared for all of the positive and negative that this entails. You will have some very high highs, and some very low lows. I've probably said "you've got to be kidding me," and "oh, hell yeah!" multiple times each game. But, in the end, this game is a lot of fun. I'm very happy with my purchase and can't wait to see what future scenario packs have to offer. The devs are active in the forums and are working with a tried and true game system. The entire system seems to be very customer-focused and run by people who truly love the genre.