Having been straight into some serious playtime with Genesis War, a turn-based tactical RPG bringing back the classic SRPG gameplay roots of the 1990s, I believe this game is offering hardcore strategists something deep to get their teeth stuck in. In the world of Antaria ravaged by war, players will join Princess Iyolin as she leads a rebellion against Geysir Empire.

At its core, the gameplay will be hex-based tactical combat with much of the strategy coming from positioning and terrain advantages as well as team composition. Your heroes have different elemental affinities and abilities, which means that rather than alternating smashing your way through enemies to victory is generally a matter of picking the right hero for each situation. With a fairly complex class tree system where characters can promote into certain jobs, like Rune Knight or Trap Master is an important aspect of handling the right types of enemies.

Dialogue is also fully voiced, and with the classic cast from Iyolin to G.S. to Lacid returning for an in-depth epic narrative, you know you're feeling it muted or unmuted. The art style features a gorgeous modernization while still retaining the classic SRPG spirit, turning into an oddly nostalgic yet refreshing visual. The plot is so much deeper than people give it credit for, with moments of warfare sacrifice and redemption you never expect. The CTB (Count Time Battle) system adds another layer of micro-management in that causing an action to wait allows players to combo attacks meaning you can be strategic on when and where these attacks occur.

Newcomers to the genre can find it quite off putting with some of the scope and difficulty spikes. As in the Chapter 3 "Shadow Fortress" siege where devil-mage AoE attacks require teams with specific placement. After resource management (gold, rare materials) is tight so this forces players to play side quests and exploration. The complex class system could also be overwhelming without guidance.

Genesis War is a tactical RPG with quite the learning curve but it will drill into your heart like much of familiar strategic game design and tactics. It masterfully melds strategy, stunning visuals and a compelling story. It requires tremendous amounts of patience and careful planning, but there is no denying the glory in a well practiced battle plan. It's a gem, if you're willing to put in the time.

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