Tastee: Lethal Tactics

Chess has never been so graphically violent or fun than in this tactical strategy game. Tastee: Lethal Tactics is very similar to Frozen Synapse, with emphasis on planning movement, then executing orders to evade or take out the opposition. While this all sounds easy, it certainly isn't. The missions allow players to experience the depth of the game in a way that really prepares them for the Match play. While the maps may not be overly big, there are so many elements to consider, such as setting choke points, playing down perimeter mines, or setting up a sniper with a good field of vision -- and it requires time to work through missions. The idea of an Order Wheel to give instructions to each member of the team, while setting movement waypoints, is a nice element.

The game's graphics and musical score are very good. Special effects can be a bit overdone (it's not really necessary for team members to die in a shower of blood), but the game isn't afraid to underscore the use of the word "lethal" in its title. Where it seems a little slow is in match play. Players set strategy at similar times, and then, once both players have committed the orders, the situation plays out. But players on the losing end can simply disconnect, and the lag suffered in the game can be a real disappointment. Tastee: Lethal Tactics is about micromanaging strategic elements and about feints, bluffs, and then unloading extreme violence of the target (either cartel members in the mission phase or on other players). This is a deep game that has some minor drawbacks, but it's otherwise a solid and challenging adventure.