Laser Squad Nemesis

None Dare Call it XCOM

...Because that's a trademark owned by Atari. But Laser Squad Nemesis is the true intellectual and gameplay heir of XCOM: UFO Defense (published in Europe as UFO: Enemy Unknown), the best-selling and best-loved computer game of 1995. No surprise there; Julian and Nick Gollop developed both games. But as is typical in this industry, they signed away all IP to get XCOM published.

If there were any justice in the world, they'd be spoken of in the same breath as Sid Meier and Will Wright--but in the late 90s, they found themselves with no publisher contract and no real hope of one, cast onto the slagheap by an industry that prizes brands above all and places no value on talent. And someone else owned the brand.

So they did the Right Thing, and said, screw it. We'll do our own damn thing, online, and the hell with the conventional market. The first version of LSN went live on their website in 2002--and they have continuously expanded and improved on it since. This is, of course, one of the great things about online games; you aren't forced to live with whatever you've got when some idiot publisher says you have to ship now. There can always be another update.

Today, LSN has four playable races, a single-player campaign that will take you at least 40 hours to complete, more than a hundred maps for online play, and a community of enthusiastic players. And despite the fact that virtually everyone who plays it encountered it online (there was a short-lived boxed version that got scant distribution)--despite, in other words, what the conventional industry views as deep obscurity--virtually everyone who has bothered to review it has given it an ecstatic rave.

It's that good.

This, and not some $40 million budget game developed by hundreds of drones in an EA sweatshop--this is the future of games.

What It's Like to Play

The emphasis in LSN is truly on strategy. Victory goes to the cleverest player--not the one with the fastest reflexes, or the greatest mastery of the UI.

It is an odd but pleasing combination of turn-based and real-time gaming. You control a squad of soldiers, and each turn, you plan your move by telling them where to go and what to do, "playing" the move out to see what happens--and perhaps deciding to modify your orders if, say, that grenade bounces off the building instead of going through the window as you'd intended. Once you're satisified with your plans, you commit.

In a multiplayer game, that means your orders are now sent to the LSN server, and when your opponent's moves also come in, the server resolves the turn and sends each of you a new file. You then 'play' the turn--15 seconds of combat--and see the outcome of what you did as well as your opponent. And then you start to plan for the next 15 seconds.

The single-player game works similarly, except that the AI determines what your opposition does, so you don't have to wait on an opponent.

LSN, in short, combines the hard-thought plannning and deep strategy of a board wargame with the appealing visuals and action of a video game. By no accident, the Gollops were board wargamers back before there was such a thing as a home computer.

Business Model

The free demo gives you a few single-player missions, access to 6 multiplayer maps, and a short period of free online play. It also limits you to the marines.

For a modest amount ($17 as of this writing), you get all the single player missions, access to all multiplayer maps, all four playable races, and a month of online play, as well as free updates and patches for two years.

$25 gets you the same, but 3 months of online play, and there are other deals for longer periods.

Yes, I know, you're used to RTS games where you play "for free" (after spending $50 at Gamestop). But Codo has ongoing costs to operate their servers (RTS games don't), and need an ongoing revenue stream to defray that cost. Think of this as an "MMO lite"--online play is a service, and at least LSN is a lot cheaper than WoW.

The Developer Says

Laser Squad Nemesis is a squad level strategy game. You pick the map, scenario, race and then compose your squad by spending 'Force Points'. You can play the single player campaign missions against a devious computer opponent, or play online against other players from around the world.

The game is a battle between two opposing forces. You can choose to play the Laser Marines, Machina or Spawn, and you can choose the composition of your force before each battle (non subscribers can only play Marines on a limited amount of maps). There is a variety of battlefields to play on, many of them created by players who have used the built-in map editor.

The game uses a unique and innovative, turn-based combat system, with the fine control of turn-based games and the exciting action of real-time strategy games. Rewind pause or review your games using the video style controls. Use the 'test orders' function to fine tune your orders. View the results of each turn, and plan your next turn at your own pace.

• Choose Laser Marines, Greys, Machina or Spawn - 4 different races with unique unit types and special abilities.
  
• Destructible terrain - change the landscape with grenades and rockets and other weapons.
  
• Challenging Missions - play single player campaigns for each of the four races.
  
• Free updates - the game is being improved continuously, with many additional features planned.
  
• Challenge anyone, anywhere - challenge your friends, and they can play for free.
  
• World league rankings - progress through the Rookie, Veteran and Elite divisions
  
• Tournaments and competitions - many of them organised by players
  
• Thriving online community - you will find plenty of help and friendly advice on our message boards
  
• Map Creator - create your own battlefields.
  

At last you can play a game of pure strategy that leaves tired old RTS formulas behind. With 15-30 units a side, Laser Squad Nemesis gives you plenty of control for you to develop ingenious tactics and clever strategies. You can try this intense, squad-level strategy game now for free.

Reviews:

"A potential universal gaming experience... Fun classic with all the thrills of X-com... 88%"
   - PC Format

"It is simply brilliant and strangely engrossing."
   - The Fortean Times

"Unrivalled, both in gameplay and value for money.... 87% 'PC Zone Essential'"
   - PC Zone

"Laser Squad Nemesis, with its addictive nature, fast paced player tactics, and an ever expanding community, is the turn-based strategy title any gamer should have installed on their PC. 46/50, 'Seal of Excellence'"
   - Gamers Pulse

"The gameplay itself is sublime, simple to get to grips with but layered in complexity and depth... 81%"
   - Ferrago

"What redeems LSN from being an exercise in tedium is that the touch of a master’s hand can be felt in almost every brushstroke. The simple yet deep strategic elements hold barrels of replay value because you seem to learn a new trick each time you compete, win or lose. It’s obvious even at a casual glance that LSN was crafted by people that have been down the road and definitely know the way to the land of strategic plenitude...3.5/5"
   - Adrenaline Vault

Awards:

"It has the same kind of addictive magic, suspense, and excitement that the X-Com games had.... 4.5/5 'Editor's Choice'"
   - Computer Gaming World

"A paragon of turn-based strategy. Polished, splendid fun. An evolving classic.... 86% 'Game of Distinction'"
   - PC Gamer UK

"Laser Squad Nemesis is an excellent, addictive game, bar none. It's easy to use, easy to download and use over a modem, and fun as hell. 5/5 'Award for Excellence'"
   - The Wargamer