I found out about MENACE a long time ago, long before it was even close to release. The game is being made by the same studio that made Battle Brothers, an incredibly fun tactics game with a minimalist art style that I Was very late too - long after the hype around it had died down. By that point, that game came with a banner letting you know that the studio was now working on MENACE, which I was incredibly hyped for. An XCOM-like scifi tactical game from a studio with a history of such mechanically solid games? Count me in!
Well, after quite a bit of time, MENACE… Is not quite out yet. But they DID put out a VERY solid demo for the game.
It seems neat, but also years away from the 1.0 release so it’s hard to care. It made me think I should finally get around to Battletech at some point. They added a similar “mercenary company” mode to that, I think. (I don’t know if Menace is a mercenary company like Battle Brothers, but I assume so.)
It’s on my wishlist, and tonight I might try out the demo if I get time. I’ve been watching/listening to gameplay of it while I work, and it looks good!
I hope this time they understand that the thing that makes games like X-Com and Battle Brothers endure is the amount of customization available to your soldiers, a way to make them your own and get attached to them. Both visually and through gameplay choices. Phoenix Point was pretty disappointing in that regard.