Missile Command: Delta

It may sound a bit all over the place, but in practice this is a nicely paced and thoughtfully done game that manages to draw a lot from an old school Atari classic.

Missile Command Delta is an unfortunate misfire from Atari. I want to love it; heck, I do love the actual turn-based strategy gameplay found within the various terminals. The problem is that it's surrounded by dull explorative sections and a narrative that just doesn't resonate.There's a really solid foundation here, and I'd love to see Atari explore Delta's mechanics more in the future, but a bit more thought is required in how such an intriguing concept is delivered to the player.

13AM Games and Mighty Yell took a bold swing at reinventing Missile Command — and they pulled it off. Both sides of the game — the turn-based strategy mechanics and the visual novel storytelling — are executed really well. Maybe too well, because at times they end up competing for my attention. Fans of visual novels with meaningful choices and a gripping mystery will be drawn in by the story, but may find the Missile Command scenarios a bit tedious. On the flip side, players excited about the strategic gameplay might be less enthusiastic about the slower narrative beats. But for those who appreciate both? Missile Command Delta offers a unique and compelling experience that’s worth seeing through to the end.

What ties Missile Command Delta together is the overall mystery and with that, the game becomes greater than the sum of its parts. The turn-based Missile Command adaptation wouldn't stand strong by itself, but combining that with the bunker exploration, endearing characters, and generally strong writing makes a fun adventure that will make you consider an arcade classic in a new light.

Missile Command Delta definitely isn't what I expected it would be but that's great because it really launched a missile straight to my heart. 🚀

How I feel about Missile Command Delta is messy, because there are neat ideas here, mostly to be found within in the actual missile-commanding part of the game. The rest becomes more than a little tedious and while I admire the approach of doing something a little different, I can’t help but feel the whole package feels burdened by the narrative additions, and sadly those parts are not a lot of fun to play through. Unless you’re a massive lapsed Missile Command/Atari fan, I’d maybe let another cadet take your place.