Breach 3 from Omnitrend is the culmination of the Breach squad-based tactical series. While Breach 2 was an enjoyable and challenging squad-based game for its time, Breach 3 took the franchise to a whole new level of realism, detail, and tactical compexity. For an added touch of gaming goodness, scenarios played out in Breach 3 can be played in conjunction with Rules of Engagement 2, Omintrend's excellent game of starship combat. By means of what they termed the IGS (Interlocking Gaming System) battles in RoE2 that started in vacuum of space between starships could be concluded with boarding actions played out in Breach 3.
A very nifty and engrossing feature, to be sure.
The player chooses his squad, arms and equips them, and then takes them into battle. There are various types of weapons, armor, and other equipment available, so it is important to load out the troops in a way that capitalizes on their strength and that will suit mission requirements. Gameplay in Breach 3 takes place from a top-down, isometric perspective and provides quick reference stats on each member of the squad (up to ten troopers). Gameplay takes place in real time, but the player can pause the action to check stats and change orders to the troops. The interface and command system is highly intuitive and it is very easy to get immersed in the
game. Enemy AI seems solid-perhaps not of X-Com quality, but it does make for some intense battles.
The battles in Breach 3 do not take place in isolation from each other. Instead, there are several full campaigns available for the player, each of which includes many missions. It is quite a treat to see surviving squad members grow in experience and expertise, and inversely, it is rather disappointing to see a vaulable member of the squad fall in battle after keeping him alive for many battles.
Once the player has exhausted the gameplay potential of the campaigns in Breach 3, there is still a wealth of gaming to be minedfrom the built-in scenario generator. Much like the general gameplay, the scenario generator is intuitive and very easy to use. It is possible to bang out enjoyable scenarios in very short order. Besides that, players of RoE2 can fight out boarding engagements in Breach 3, as mentioned earlier.
In terms of game appearance, Breach 3 is far advanced over its still solid predecessor, Breach 2. Whereas Breach 2 was very engaging in its own right, it wasn't all the pretty to look at. Breach 3 goes a long way at providing better graphics, animations, and generally smooth visual gameplay. The graphics are good enough that, when watching one's armored troopers run around the screen, it's possible to see a more than passing resemblance between them and a certain Master Chief of recent gaming legend!
All in all, I can't find enough good things to say about Breach 3. if you enjoy sci-fi tactical squad-based combat, you owe it to yourself to try Breach 3. Even thought it is an older title, it still stands up well and will provide hours of gaming enjoyment.
