Rebelstar: Tactical Command
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Rebelstar: Tactical Command is a Game Boy Advance videogame developed by Codo Technologies in 2005. It features turn-based tactical combat of similar flavor to the X-COM and Jagged Alliance games while having the same look and feel as some mission based RPGs.
The game had high expectations from some fans because that it came from the same mind, Julian Gollop, who designed the X-COM games. While the game actually differed from the X-COM formula in many ways, it was still received very well, obtaining good reviews from most magazines and websites. Its gameplay is somewhat simpler than X-COM but it still keeps a lot of the essential elements that made that game enjoyable while also innovating in other areas.
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[edit] Storyline
In the year 2117, a race of aliens known as the Arelians have enslaved the human population of Earth using their henchmen, the savage Zorn. They insert implants into infant's brains at birth, to be able to track them. As soon as someone turns 30, the aliens take the person away and nothing is known about their subsequent fate. The main character, Jorel, after losing both his parents to the alien invaders, decides to flee south to Mexico to join the rebel forces and repel the alien invaders. Thanks to his strong psionic resistance, his brain rejected the implant and thus he brings new hope to the desperate human race looking for a leader.
[edit] Battle Gameplay
Unlike the X-COM games, there is no base building, resource management or research. The structure is actually closer to linear mission based tactical RPGs such as the Kartia or Front Mission videogames although its battle mechanics are somewhat different.
Battles are separated by short dialogue sequences in which the storyline unfolds. The storyline does not branch.
Aside from the storyline, the meat of the game is the actual battle gameplay. During combat, the player controls a squad of characters and must accomplish various goals. Characters have a certain amount of action points, which are renewed at the beginning of every turn. Each action, from turning to walking to shooting consumes action points. Thus, they are only allowed to perform a certain amount of actions per turn.
The player may also pick up and use weapons from dead aliens. As ammunition is limited, it is sometimes crucial to loot an enemy's corpse in order to keep fighting.
There are many weapons available such as knives, pistols, assault rifles, machine guns, sniper rifles and grenades. As characters specialize in different areas, it is important to adopt a strategy that will fully utilize the strength of each of the weapons used. It is also possible for a character to act as a medic, using a medikit to heal comrades.
[edit] Leveling up
Every time characters attack an enemy, they gain experience points. Once they have enough, they gain a level which raises their attributes such as strength, constitution and intelligence at random. Also, they gain one skill point which the player can assign to a skill of his choosing such as heavy weapons, hand-to-hand combat, medic or stealth. Thus, as the game progresses, each character becomes stronger and furthermore, they may specialize in a type of weapon or skill above all others.
