Fact Box

Rebelstar: Tactical Command Year 2005 Publishing Namco Hometek (US) / Atari (EU/Aus) Platforms Gameboy Advance Genre Turn-mode Tactic Team Strategy Play Mode 1 Player - 2 Players (Hot Seat Multiplayer only) Developer Codo Games Game Designer Julian Gollop Lead Coding Nick Gollop Additional Coding Julian Gollop, Steve Moorhouse Art Team Denis Istomin (Art Direction), Dmitry Chernenko (Core Sprite Animation), Maxim Miranov (Terrain Sprite Animation), Niki Hunter (Fraylar Sprite Animation) assisted by Alexi Garkushin, Gez Fry (Character & Background Animation) Sound FX & Music Paragon Five Release Price US $19.99 Age Rating ESRB: Everyone 10+ PEGI 7+

The History

Rebelstar: Tactical Command is an sci-fi strategy turn-based game released exclusively for Nintendo Gameboy Advance. It's was a chance granted by famous Namco that allowed Gollop brothers do again a smaller project like the ones they did for so long time in 8/16 bits platforms.

X-Com fans had great expectations about this release but final product turned to be slightly different as they wished since some basic Ufo/X-Com features as tech research and base of operations management were not present here. Also despite the name Rebelstar it's more accurate to point this game as something as the original Laser Squad evolving to X-Com series. Indeed R:TC returns to Laser Squad basic mechanics adding some RPG storyline continuity as present in later Lord of Chaos and X-Com series. Although not being a success the game gathered good reviews and was well-received by gamers community.

Concept & Game Mechanics

The main plot deals with Jorel, a human boy that managed somehow avoid the mental enslavement that the Arelian Empire condemned the human race in a near future. Joining the rebels he will lead the fight in 25 missions against the enemy alien race, their watchdogs the Zorns and the later Freylar race that will be handy in capture powerful new weapons. In the missions each rebel squad element will have an amount of Actions Points (AP's) that turn by turn will be spent freely in several tasks. With that AP's they can move, deal and fire several type of weapons, open, take, drop, heal, etc. Not wasting some percentage of AP's will give to squad members opportunity shots (Overwatch mode) when enemy show themselves during their movement phase. Any fan of Rebelstar or X-Com series will understand very quickly game mechanics and some will be amused with Jonlan "cameo" role, a loved and charismatic character present in Rebelstar/Laser Squad games.

Along the storyline development also squad elements gain experience used to raise rebels aptitudes and skills. R:TC units uses several Laser Squad stats like strength, accuracy and the peculiar morale stat that in panic situations can lead units to loose control and flee. Borrowed from X-Com series are elements like Alien Battleship map scenarios and Psionic powers.

Development

Thanks to an GameSpy online diary we had the chance to follow game development. CODO Games core members (Julian and Nick Gollop) had the help of several artists needed to give to the game a more japanese rpg look as usual in several GBA games. Fire Emblem, Advance Wars and Final Fantasy Tactics Advance served as inspiration to accomplish that more popular selling GBA style. The diary introduces the game mechanics and tells about some GBA limitations and small problems during game dev. Check also the right sidebar for some promotion interviews about the game.

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Fact Box

The History

Concept & Game Mechanics

Development

Related Links

Game Official Website

Rebelstar: Tactical Command entry at Namco Games Website

Rebelstar: Tactical Command entry at Wikipedia

Development Diary at Gamespy

4 Color Interview

Gamezone Interview