Steam do a lot of things that annoy me. One such thing is making me look through a queue of games that I probably won't like and don't want, just to get the stupid free trading cards every time they do a sale. However, in this case they did me a service.

This game was on the list, and as I like turn-based strategy I stuck it on my wishlist. I didn't buy it until about a year later when there was an offer on it but I wish I'd bought it earlier.

Templar Battleforce is a turn based squad game where you control a team of different classes in various missions against an alien menace. There are several things that I like about it:

Firstly, the different classes feel pretty distinct. There are a few that do similar things but even they have subtle perks that make them different. Maybe not as individualised as the classes on the XCOM games but still a nice selection.

Secondly, despite the fact that I am not finished there is a pretty good storyline, which is often missing in games at this pricepoint. There is a whole lore and universe that is fleshed out fairly well during the missions themselves and in a few expository scenes between the main combat.

Speaking of the missions, there are a lot of them. I recently got the achievement for completing 30 missions and I think there are still 10+ to go (excuse me devs if I'm selling this short). It definitely feels like value for money in terms of longevity. Considering that there are several different difficulty levels and an ironman mode there is also some replayability too.

There are other things I like, such as the music, which ramps up the drama well as you progress through a mission. There are times where you are surrounded or struggling to work out how to defend yourself against a wave of "Xeno" and the music definitely adds to the tension.

I am playing through at normal difficulty and that feels like the perfect challenge already. There are times I have had to reset and redo a mission when I make a mistake like leaving a tactical point undefended, or walking into a horde of tough enemies with just a scout to fend for himself. Even when I have to do this it rarely feels like the game is picking on me, and when i refine my tactics a little I can plough through, but it feels like an accomplishment rather than a chore. Once I complete it I will definitely see if I can handle a tougher difficulty.

To add a little balance to an otherwise positive review, some of the mechanics are a little hard to understand at first. It can take a little effort or some looking through discussion boards to work out what is going on. Even with this relatively minor complaint, the developers are still incredibly helpful. Despite the game being out for a long time already, the two queries I have had have been answered by the devs within minutes of me asking them, and looking at other discussions this is not a fluke.

Overall, if you're a fan of turn based games then it is worth paying the full amount. Even if you're not, get it on sale.