Turn-Based Strategy War Game: Brasshats
Here's another little gem I have been playing recently: Brasshats.Set in an alternate World War its Allies vs. the Central Armies. You command the Allied forces over 28 missions to rid Europe of the Central menace.Let's start with why this game shouldn't work:There is a small variety of units for each side and they function identically for both sides. Troops gain experience for each kill. Each kill gives them another rank which makes them tougher to kill and meaner. However, they do not carry over from one mission to the next.
There are no upgrades or special items they can find and use.
There is no storyline as such.
There isn't a research tree.
There is just one campaign and a bunch of skirmish maps so it shouldn't take too long to finish it (although the latest version does allow you to design skirmish maps which you can share).
The graphics are simple and almost cartoony, and the battle animations are basic animated gifs.
The sounds and music are basic.
However there is a certain charm to this game that's hard to explain...
I think it all boils down to fun!
They have taken a genre and stripped it down to the basic elements, thrown in a bunch of carefully designed and carefully balanced missions. Structured it into a campaign and allowed you to get on with things.
Its simplicity is part of the charm. Part of its appeal is that it reminds me of my youth.
Evenings spent in front of old Atari ST and Commodore Amiga games (yes I had both).
Or take it even further back: my Spectrum 48K days. Where games were simple but still great fun to play.
Other things in its favour: They have added a key element: Power Cards.These are awarded in the Campaign game. After each successfully completed mission you are rated for speed of completion and the number of units lost. The quicker you do it whilst sustaining minimal or no losses the more stars you are awarded. Get 5 stars in a mission and you get a new Power Card.
Power Cards can be played once a turn and although none of them are overpowering by themselves, when they are used at the right time they can turn the tide in a battle!
Here are a few:
Mud! (makes enemy ground vehicles miss a turn)
Medic! (heals your troops)
Blitzkrieg! (move twice)
Recruit! (gives you a free infantry unit in any town or factory owned by you)
You can potentially get quite a big deck of powercards although you will not be able to take all of them into a mission so you need to be selective.
I have spent many hours replaying different maps and designing and playing my own maps. Then downloading and playing player-submitted maps.
I have even tried cobbling my maps together to make my own campaign with its own graphics and theme although it isnt quite ready yet.
All in all, a simple, enjoyable, fun little game that fans of Turn-Based Strategy should try!
Will's Rating: 3.6/5Download Brasshats and try for FREE from Brasshats.comDownload my mapsDownload other player mapsCheers!
When checking out new games I hate having to scour the description page and sometimes the player reviews to see what type of game it is. Its often unclear whether it is a Real Time Strategy or Turn Based Strategy.
