• Genre Shift: "Menace" is a turn-based strategy title, but fundamentally diverges from expected XCOM-like mechanics, positioning itself closer to a "Company of Heroes" meets "Starship Troopers" experience.
  • Scale of Engagement: Combat is presented on a grander scale, featuring small armies rather than precision strike teams, with missions often taking place over open ground and focusing on holding areas or eliminating key targets.
  • Gameplay Loop: Offers a tough, yet rewarding sci-fi power fantasy, balancing significant challenge with moments of player empowerment.
  • Squad Dynamics: Individual 'squads' are composed of a named character alongside eight soldiers, leading to an emphasis on focus fire and raw power over surgical strikes, which can dilute player attachment to individual units.
  • Early Access Outlook: The early build shows strong potential, deemed "worth time," but our analysts recommend approaching it without pre-conceived XCOM expectations for optimal enjoyment.

Menace: Re-evaluating the Turn-Based Battlefield

More Starship Troopers, Less XCOM Precision

Our initial intel, heavily influenced by its cinematic presentation and industry buzz, had us pegging "Menace" as a grim, hardcore spiritual successor to the tactical behemoth that is XCOM. As veteran gamers who appreciate the granular turn-based goodness of XCOM and aren't afraid of a brutal challenge, we were certainly primed for that.

However, what we've discovered in the early build of "Menace" is a beast entirely of its own making. This isn't just "not XCOM"—it’s not even "Phoenix Point." Instead, "Menace" leans into a distinct flavor we can only describe as "Company of Heroes" with a serious "Starship Troopers" addiction. And frankly? That's pretty damn cool.

The Grand Scale of Sci-Fi Warfare

Shifting from Surgical Strikes to Massed Assaults

"Menace" delivers a turn-based strategy experience that is both punishingly tough and, somewhat paradoxically, a genuine sci-fi power fantasy. It’s a game that gives with one hand and delivers a firm gut-punch with the other. While the XCOM comparisons are a compliment to its strategic depth, they also do "Menace" a disservice by setting incorrect expectations.

Where XCOM excels in tight, claustrophobic skirmishes—requiring precise angles, cover management, and flanking maneuvers with a small, elite squad—"Menace" broadens the scope considerably. Missions unfold across vast, open battlegrounds, demanding bombastic displays of force: holding critical areas against overwhelming waves, or systematically tracking and eliminating high-value targets. This is war on a grand scale, and your units are the very sharp end of the spear.

Unit Structure and Player Attachment

The Numbers Game and Its Impact

This shift in scale does come with a trade-off. Your "squad" in "Menace" is less a tight-knit strike team and more a small army. Each named character leads their own unit, comprising eight soldiers, quickly escalating the numbers at your disposal. This design philosophy translates into combat encounters that often boil down to focused fire and overwhelming raw power, rather than intricate surgical strikes or lone-wolf heroics.

While significant effort has clearly gone into giving these units personality through full voice acting and distinct identities, our analysts struggled to forge the deep attachments common in games like XCOM. The sheer numbers, while empowering, dilute the individual bond. Sacrificing a squad became an annoyance to manage, rather than a heartbreaking loss, suggesting a fundamental difference in how players will engage with their forces.

Early Access Outlook: Adjusting Expectations for Optimal Experience

For those diving into the early access of "Menace," our strongest recommendation is to recalibrate expectations. Going in assuming an XCOM clone will only highlight where "Menace" isn't that. Once we adjusted our mindset to appreciate its unique "Company of Heroes meets Starship Troopers" approach, the game truly clicked.

Despite encountering the edges of this early build after a few hours, the experience was undoubtedly worthwhile. "Menace" demonstrates significant promise and we at In Game News are eagerly anticipating its full release to see how this distinctive strategic vision evolves.