Laser Squad

Lester1 2018-05-10
After reading Matt Broughton's review of the budget re-release in The One in February 1994 (linked to on this page) as a 13 year old, I got very excited by this and rushed out to buy it, as something which would finally open the door for me to strategy games. Unfortunately, it was not A1200 compatible and, crushed, I had to return it to the shop, where they sold me ReloKick. It didn't work with that either. Very painful memories. But now, through the wonder of WHDLoad, I can finally load it up on my A1200, although I haven't a clue how to play it. So I am now buying the same version again, to get the manual and finally right that wrong from over 24 years ago.
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mailman 2015-12-12
(9/10)
A very good strategy game. Unofficial precursor of "UFO: Enemy Unknown" in which we can clearly see most of the ideas used in the latter. One big flaw this game has is scarce of missions. Amiga version has only five which is far too few.
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john1979 2014-03-22
(9/10)
Best version of Laser Squad on any system. Everything here is perfect!
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Colonel Kurtz 2012-11-04
(7/10)
I was late to the Laser Squad party, having first played the much more evolved X-COM which may have spoiled the fun. I have to note, however, that the foundations for that masterpiece of turn-based tactics were already well-defined in this game.

I might be irremediably biased, but Laser Squad does lack some feasible features that X-COM had: (1) randomly generated maps, or at least different maps for each difficulty level in each scenario; (2) improvements for surviving team members across missions; (3) mouse control for menus at least. Without these features it felt more like a stateless board game than a tactical one, though Laser Squad still did kick off its own genre.

Technically it's no-frills, as you would expect from a late 1980's non-action game. Space Crusade from 1992 had better graphics, to name one of the same genre. The tunes are quite nice though. I also experienced rather frequent lockups during the computer's turn.

IIRC the game was praised by the press but did not sell much. I guess the public wasn't ready for the paradigm shift proposed by the Gollop bros. Now that the revolution has taken place, everyone should still check out Laser Squad: if anything, for its historical merits.
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runequester 2010-06-27
One of the screen shots has what seems to be a Warhammer 40K style space marine blasting a Dalek..
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Flanimal 2010-05-30
(10/10)
This is one the the greatest games ever made.
I have been playing this for decades and I am *still* making discoveries. Amazing!
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IPAndrews 2009-02-09
How to assassinate Sterner Regnix in his mansion. Hard way. Deploy your squad in a strategic fashion. Gain entrance and sweep the mansion room by room. Easy way. Deploy your squad a safe distance away. Bring some friends with nachos to cheer the fireworks. Buy rocket launchers and as many rockets as you can carry. Flatten the place.
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ToiletSupreme 2005-11-27
One of the most enjoyable strategy games I ever played. I loved the way *everything* could be blasted to smithereens, and liked demolishing the entire house of Sterner Regnix. Was great fun against mates too, but you had to look away from the screen when the other player had their go.

I could never get very far on the marshes one though, the computer player would always lock up working out its moves after a few turns.
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Shunichiro 2005-02-18
(10/10)
I played this game madly with my friends. Excellent when played alone, unparalled fun with two players. Tactical action was never so good until Jagged Alliance on PC but that's another story. Clean graphics, memorable sound effects and simple yet versatile gameplay. Oh, and the title tune was brilliant! L-l-l-laser Squad...!
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Kriko 2005-02-13
(8/10)
Really good game, for a strategy game the presentation is excellent. I did like the later Lords of Chaos more, though.
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Inferno 2005-02-12
(10/10)
This is by far the best sci-fi themed strategy game ever developed, really. This is where everything started from, even UFO: Enemy Unknown. A classic!
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