TurtleStrike Review

TurtleStrike proves that turtles are hardcore. They won’t win against a speedier opponent who doesn’t dawdle, but they will use superior military intelligence to win. The only match for a squadron of well-armed turtles? Another squadron of well-armed turtles.

This is an online quasi-turn-based multiplayer game; by which I mean that while action is turn-based, all actions happen simultaneously. So, while an attack from a squad might seem like a good idea, it also leaves it open because it isn’t moving, and who knows, maybe that squad is on the move this turn, and another one of the opponent’s squads is going to fire at the one that just missed. Moves are all about risk/reward, and trying to outsmart the opponent in order to be the last turtle battalion standing.

The multiplayer, which forms the brunt of the game, is well-structured for fast battles. They usually only take a couple of minutes, and the rapid timing for each turns promotes a fast pace. It does make advanced strategization a bit of a challenge because the clock is constantly ticking, but such a trade-off is necessary to make multiplayer matches that flow smoothly. I was able to find players even at obscure hours shortly after launch, which bodes well! The turtles have customization options from the cosmetic to the strategic: it’s possible to choose their formations and give them names, like Worms. Naming a turtle Worms is also possible.

The problem with TurtleStrike is that the interface feels kind of haphazardly put together, like an over-caffeinated designer went crazy assembling a game without making sense of where everything is. I feel like I’m staring into the eyes of a madman every time I try to navigate the interface; it just feels halfway done. How upgrades work is barely explained in the game itself, nor what AP and the currency used even is. Heck, even the main concept I had to understand the basics of through playing, rather than through the game actually saying “Hey, this is what’s going on.” I feel like this game missed the last polishing act when it came to the UI.

So, while TurtleStrike has a lot of interesting aspects to it, have patience. The interface can be difficult to navigate, but there’s fun to be had here for those willing to figure out what’s going on.