The Lamplighters League: A Unique Twist on the Tactics Genre
Set in the thrilling world of 1932, The Lamplighters League takes players on a pulse-pounding adventure where secret societies harness the power of magic to reshape the world. This strategic game combines a captivating campaign layer with real-time stealth and tactical combat, offering a fresh take on the tactics genre. While it may not introduce groundbreaking concepts, The Lamplighters League delivers an enjoyable experience that will leave players craving more.
A Captivating Pulp Adventure
Immerse yourself in a world reminiscent of beloved pulp adventures like The Mummy and Indiana Jones. The game introduces three enemy houses from the Banished Court, each with their own sinister motives. House Nicastro, a cult of squid-worshippers, seeks to revive their dead god. House Strum, a noble lineage, pillages ancient Egyptian magic to achieve immortality and control fiery mummies. Finally, House Marteau, led by an American industrialist with a period-perfect pencil mustache, enslaves ghosts to fuel his capitalist endeavors. These villain archetypes perfectly embody the spirit of the setting.
The Heroes Rise
Against this trio of powerful adversaries, a group of mercenaries and ne’er-do-wells is hired by the last remaining member of the ancient Lamplighters League. This league, once a force of good, was wiped out in conflicts during World War 1. Now, the morally ambiguous and washed-up heroes must step up to save the day. The game’s tone, characters, and villains capture the essence of the pulp adventure genre. Accompanied by Jon Everist’s exceptional soundtrack, The Lamplighters League offers a world where sometimes, punching a ghost is the only solution.
A Challenging Campaign
Your journey unfolds through a series of single missions, each contributing to your strategic goals. These missions include stealing supplies, assassinations, sabotage runs, and rescuing new members for the League. As you progress, you must also manage the enemy factions’ doomsday clock, which grants them access to new units and strengthens their existing forces. However, time and resources are limited, forcing you to make difficult choices. Survival is possible, but thriving is a constant struggle.
Most missions take place on carefully handcrafted maps with random or generated elements. The variety keeps gameplay fresh and engaging. Additionally, story missions offer thrilling heists against the Banished Court, presenting tougher challenges and requiring four-person teams. Each mission is well-structured and adds depth to the procedural campaign.
Stealth and Tactical Combat
During missions, players alternate between real-time stealth and turn-based combat. While the stealth mechanics may not be as intricate as those found in other games like Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew, The Lamplighters League offers its own unique blend. Players must navigate enemy territory using stealth takedowns, shock mines, and bruiser rushes to thin out enemy numbers. However, certain staple features, like luring enemies off their path, are missing. This can make planning ambushes more challenging.
As the game progresses, the sheer number of enemies can make stealth approaches nearly impossible, particularly in late-game missions. Players are then faced with resource-intensive battles or the need to reload and try again. Lack of quicksave and quickload options adds to the frustration. Nevertheless, the tactical combat, which forms the core of The Lamplighters League, is highly satisfying.
Unique Playable Characters
The game shines in its character design, both for playable heroes and enemies. Each of the ten recruitable Lamplighters offers a truly distinct playstyle. For example, Lateef, the sneak-thief, excels at short to mid-range combat without taking hits, while Purnima, the sniper, delivers devastating single strikes. Celestine, the fragile skirmisher, utilizes poison knives and mind control. Recruiting all characters may not be possible in higher difficulties, forcing players to make strategic choices.
Two Bruiser characters, Ingrid and Judith, exemplify the game’s contrasting approaches. Ingrid starts as a lackluster frontliner due to her lack of ranged weapons but evolves into a whirlwind of knockbacks, knockdowns, and chaos on the battlefield. Judith, on the other hand, focuses on protecting her teammates with her armored shield and barriers, drawing enemy attention to herself. The diverse abilities of the Lamplighters ensure that each playthrough feels fresh and rewarding.
Chaos and Surprises
The Lamplighters League introduces chaos into the typical cover-based tactical combat. Fiery cocktails create lingering flames that obscure vision, ghosts summon void terrain to disrupt attacks, and electric blasts turn puddles into shock hazards. While these effects can be predicted with experience, they consistently surprise and challenge players. However, the game lacks the level of destructibility found in modern tactics games like XCOM 2.
A Memorable Adventure
The Lamplighters League offers a unique twist on the tactics genre, immersing players in a thrilling pulp adventure with a captivating storyline and compelling characters. While the game has its flaws, such as the limited stealth mechanics and occasional frustration in late-game missions, the overall experience is highly enjoyable. With a well-designed strategic layer and engaging tactical combat, The Lamplighters League is a must-play for fans of the genre.