Metacritic Games

Rebelstar: Tactical Command (GameBoy Advance)

A turn-based strategy and combat game with role-playing elements, Rebelstar Tactical Command transports players to a not-so-distant future in which Earth is ruled by an evil empire. In Rebelstar Tactical Command, the year is 2117, and Earth is under the control of the evil Arelian Empire. A band of rebels has risen to wage battle against the Arelians. Four distinct play modes include campaign, skirmish, hot-seat multiplayer and multiplayer link mode. In hot-seat multiplayer mode, a replay option lets players review the opponent's last turn. The game's RPG elements allow players to develop unique characters and relationships and control individual soldiers. The game also boasts stealth skills, a variety of weapons, and destructible environments where players can strategically use the lines of sight rules to their advantage - or to their opponent's disadvantage. [Namco]

Namco
Turn-Based Strategy, Role-Playing Game
Players: 2
E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older)
Developer: Codo Technologies Ltd.
Released September 6, 2005

Overall Metascore

This is a weighted, normalized average of all individual scores given by critics, on a scale of 0 (worst) to 100 (best).

78 / 100

Critic Reviews

100 GameShark
Its slower, more thoughtful play style coupled with the ability to save mid-battle makes it a perfect game for on-the-go playing.
90 Game Informer
More exciting than just about anything the DS or PSP has offered up so far. [Oct 2005, p.152]
85 Worth Playing
The presentation, storyline, and gameplay are what make this title one to own for your GBA. If you love turn-based strategy games, or have fond memories of X-Com, you've probably already picked up this title.
85 Deeko
It's official, Real-Time Strategy fans everywhere have been delivered their latest fix. Rebelstar: Tactical Command delivers all the fun of the Xcom series in a delightfully portable package.
83 Gaming Age
Rebelstar: Tactical Command's shortcomings are vastly outweighed by the ingenius design and fun gameplay.
82 Inside Gamer Online
While Rebelstar: Tactical Command may seem a few years late to PC gamers used to this level of depth in their SRPGs, handheld gamers can now enter into the arena of intelligent, well designed and rewarding turn-distance-based gaming.
80 Gamestyle
Deep in Gamestyle Towers we have a closet called “hidden gems” where some of the best and most overlooked video games reside. Rebelstar Tactical Command fits this criteria perfectly, if you are in need of a new handheld challenge, then this is a must have purchase.
80 Yahoo! Games
It's more dense and difficult than most other handheld strategy titles, and the 24 campaign missions provide a variety of surprises and pleasures.
80 NTSC-uk
Thoroughly recommended and the campaign for a similar game on a more powerful platform begins now.
80 Computer and Video Games
The Advance Wars series provides a more polished and super-slick strategy experience than Rebelstar. But for that pure X-COM vibe and the utter joy of a turn-based plan coming together, Rebelstar Tactical Command has twenty hours of love on offer to those who want to spend their AP wisely.
80 GameSpy
A solid strategy game experience for GBA owners. Anything the game's presentation lacks is more than made up for by the intricacies of its gameplay.
80 The New York Times
I have always found action point-style strategy games slow and cumbersome, but Rebelstar's interface does an excellent job of simplifying actions while still offering a lot of tactical choices.
80 Modojo
The most charming aspect of Rebelstar: Tactical Command is the way it makes such great use of limited resources.
80 NintendoWorldReport
It hasn't got sky-high production values; it's very slow-paced; and it’s not nearly as accessible as either Advance Wars or Fire Emblem. However, it's big and challenging, and it has some great music and - most importantly - a battle system so incredibly deep that it ensures that the game cartridge will stay in your GBA for a long time to come.
80 GameZone
Where Rebelstar Tactical Command really shines is in the wonderful way it supplies gamers with information in a lucid, logical and thought-provoking combat system.
80 GameCritics
Dense, methodical, and maybe even a little bit unfriendly, but there's nothing else quite like it on Game Boy today.
79 Game Chronicles
A hard core, straight up, turn-based strategy game that’s got a lot of depth. The story is surprisingly entertaining.
79 NGamer UK
Decent, but let down by bland presentation and annoying bugs. [Oct 2006, p.69]
78 GameSpot
Though it lacks the base-building and economic concerns of its ancestor, Rebelstar delivers in a big way with a lengthy, engaging campaign married to an elegant turn-based combat system.
78 N-Insanity
This is a great game to have if you enjoyed the Advance War or Fire Emblem games. While it isn’t as good as those two games, the engine takes parts from both of the above-mentioned games and makes a great play for around 24 missions.
77 IGN
While "Advance Wars" and "Fire Emblem" are better than Rebelstar, it's nice to have another strategy choice on the GBA.
74 VGPub
A pretty good strategy game for a system that seems to be lacking this niche in the RPG genre.
70 games(TM)
Ironically, the only reason for pedants to be unhappy is the game's placement on the GBA. Unlike "Advance Wars'" ability to make your GameBoy feel like a custom-built machine, Rebelstar feels like a port. [Dec 2005, p.99]
70 Eurogamer
With a tiny bit more polish Rebelstar Tactical Command could be not only one of the best games on the GBA but one of the best games released this year.
70 Computer Games Magazine
Quotation forthcoming. [Nov 2005]
70 Cheat Code Central
The music is just plain awful. It's tinny and repetitious. Take those headphones off, quick, lest you go berserk!
70 Nintendo Power
A much greater feeling of being on the battlefield, where risk, surprise, fear and paranoia are palpable. [Nov 2005, p.108]
70 Edge Magazine
Stripped by necessity to its basest form to allow for the limited inputs of the handheld, and this time greatly enhanced and personlaised by character artist Gez Fry's gorgeous anime-inspired designs, Rebelstar may be their most accessible title to date. [Dec 2005, p.112]
60 Nintendojo
While I'm not a big fan of the TBS genre, I looked forward to Rebelstar because of its apocalyptic storyline, cute anime characters, and the opportunity to blow up little gray aliens. Unfortunately, the game's pace (particularly the frequent loading times) kept me from ever feeling thoroughly entertained.

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