The Troop Review (PC)

A Panzer IV is moving behind some buildings, past a road, which makes it very hard for my own armored force to target and eliminate it. I already know the Nazis have at least three infantry squads in buildings, two of which I can actually target with my own soldiers. I suspect at least two others are undetected nearby, but I think it’s best to fire at the enemy I can see rather than advance and search for more.

One of my mortar teams manages to land a direct hit on a German APC, while the other misses. I slowly sneak up on two other infantry units, while also pushing my two Churchill’s up slowly, while moving their turrets to cover potential enemy tank locations. I end my turn and wait for something bad to happen.

The computer is smart enough to target my more vulnerable squads and manages to get a lucky hit that wipes one of them out. Their tanks are no longer visible, which might become a problem. A mortar supports their attacks. But their aggressive defense means many of their infantry, while in building cover, are vulnerable, especially if I manage to get into grenade range without taking losses.

The Troop is developed by Giant Flame and published by PLA Studios. I played it on Steam on the PC. The title delivers a classic take on tactical wargaming, with a focus on positioning and short but intense engagements.

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Gamers are taken to the familiar battlefields of Normandy during World War II. On June 6th of 1944 Allied forces started to take back Western Europe from the Axis, an event known as D-Day. The protagonists are forces fielded by the United Kingdom, Nazi Germany, and Canada. The scenarios are designed to reflect their biggest engagements, with setups taken from history books and tweaked to be balanced.

Players get a short briefing, mostly text, before battles and the title offers plenty of information about its units and their capabilities. But it helps to be familiar with World War II already, especially when it comes to the unique conditions of the D-Day landings, like the bocage or the ways each force used its armor in different ways.

The Troop uses classic turn and hex-based tactical wargame ideas but introduces some net twists. Each unit type has an allotment of action points. Some actions, like moving twice or firing the main armament, will end the turn. Otherwise, players are free to mix and match to suit the needs of the battlefield.

As in real-world World War II, infantry will make up the bulk of deployed forces, best at spotting, clearing enemy buildings, and engaging in close-quarters anti-armor action. They can use machine guns, mortars, and more to enhance their abilities. But they are squishy and well-placed shots can easily destroy a squad, which leads to morale loss.

Armor in The Troop can punch through lines, as long as it's well-supported and players make solid choices. One can choose to re-orient the turret before an engagement or open the hatch for extra visibility. Tanks become more accurate the more they fire at the same target. Hull orientation matters and the game clearly informs the player of hit chances and potential effects.

The game features very small engagements that only feature a few infantry squads and one tank but also massive battles with tens of units fighting at once. Regardless, it is important to move carefully and think tactically. The most important thing is to know where the enemy force is and what are its capabilities. Attackers tend to be at a disadvantage and need superior numbers and firepower to take positions.

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I enjoyed the four campaigns, two each for the Germans and the Allied forces, which take gamers through a chain of battles as they control a core force and select the units that are best suited for each engagement. It increases the tension and makes gamers care about their units.

A Skirmish mode allows players to battle on all the featured maps while choosing their own force, while the computer varies its own troop composition every time. This is where The Troop delivers the variety that grognards expect from a D-Day experience.

The title benefits a lot from focusing on relatively small battles, especially during the initial campaign scenarios. Alongside the tutorial, it makes the game accessible to newcomers, giving them the space to learn the core ideas. For veterans, the focus on positioning and morale offers enough depth and some very fun combat situations. I plan to spend a lot of time testing out strategies and preparing moves that can deal with strong enemy positions with limited losses.

The Troop continues the long tradition of World War II tactics games that do a lot with limited resources. Gray and drab olive dominate the visual landscape, mainly because most of these engagements were fought in horrible conditions. The game does a good job of showing players where units are and what kind of actions they can take. Don’t forget to make liberal use of the Line-of-Sight tool to get crucial info. But don’t expect a visual spectacle, despite the cinematic moments.

The title’s audio design is of similar quality. The voice acting for the various units is decent, as are the combat effects. The soundtrack is orchestral and aims to add to the immersion element. Smartly, neither of the sound design elements becomes annoying, allowing players to focus on making good tactical decisions.

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The Good

The Bad

Conclusion