Previews

Gamescom '14 Quick Pick - Chroma Squad is a witty tactics game about running a superhero show

Checking in from Cologne

Gamescom '14 Quick Pick - Chroma Squad is a witty tactics game about running  a superhero show
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| Chroma Squad

This week, members of the Pocket Gamer and AppSpy crew are at Gamescom in Cologne. Between eating our collective body weight in sausages, we'll be bringing you quick-fire impressions of our favourite games on show.

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Behold Studios is all about being meta.

It's first game, Knights of the Pen and Paper, was both a fantasy RPG and an adorable simulation of a pen and paper game - complete with a quippy dungeon master and discarded pizza boxes.

Chroma Squad has a similar dual personality.

On the one hand, you have to manage a studio that puts out sentai TV shows (Power Rangers-style programmes). This involves hiring talent, equipping your actors with props, and completing the everyday chores of running a film set.

But to make money, you need to actually record an episode of the show, and this turns the game into a turn-based tactical experience with your team of sentai warriors beating up monsters against a green screen.

Chroma Squad

It's a traditional, but fast-paced and easy to play strategy game, with a few cool ideas. Your heroes start out in their civilian clothes and can't use weapons until you earn enough fame (which is gained by beating up foes).

Only then can you transform into your Chroma characters, and unleash your weapons. Which you can buy, or craft with materials like duct tape and cardboard.

Also, one character can enter teamwork mode, and offer bonuses to other characters in their vicinity. So you might set blue ranger to teamwork mode, and he'll do a combo move alongside red ranger to deal double damage to an enemy.

Chroma Squad

So Chroma Squad is, it turns out, more than just a clever idea. It's also a sharp strategy game, has a deep simulation backbone, and it's funny too. In a meta, fourth-wall-breaking kind of way.

The game is due in summer 2014 on PC, Mac, and Linux. Other platforms, including iOS and likely Android, are coming in late 2014. That is, if the continuing negotiations with Power Rangers distributor Saban don't slow things down.

Whenever it's finally out, Behold says that it will be a premium game and, unlike Knights, it will have no in-app purchases.

Mark Brown
Mark Brown
Mark Brown is editor at large of Pocket Gamer