Warhammer 40,000: Squad Command review

Actually, the presentation of your powerful protagonists - you can have six in your party - their weapons, and the destruction they unleash are a big part of what separates Squad Command from other such games. Fully destructible 3-D environments serve up a visual feast on the PSP's slick screen, and the high-powered arsenal - especially some of the battle-bringin' tank units - are a literal blast. Some well-produced cut-scenes also add a cinematic flair not always found in this brainy genre.

Before we get too caught up in the Chainsword-created chaos, remember this is still a tactical strategy game, so play mechanics are just as important as the pretty shrapnel-flying presentation. While Squad Command doesn't break any new ground in this area, it more than covers the basics of satisfying tactical squad control. Although we do admit that Warhammer's style-over-substance approach might leave the most seasoned strategists faulting the grid-less game maps and limited camera movement.

You'll start each mission selecting your unit and weapon types - the variety of choices expands nicely as you progress through the game's 15 missions - and with each turn you'll allocate a set amount of points to move your squad's position and initiate attacks. The aforementioned destructible environs also add an additional layer to the strategizing, as you can't always count on a cover-bearing structure to remain standing after absorbing several blasts from a plasma beam.