I was intrigued by Shardpunk's promise to combine XCOM turn-based combat with permadeath mechanics of roguelite and I am pleased that it had delivered a solid experience. It is fun, fast-paced and doesn't take itself too seriously. Also noteworthy that it was built by a single Polish developer over 5 years. Shardpunk's pixel art graphics are charming and well-executed. Sound effects are serviceable. The music, while somewhat repetitive, does a great job of setting the mood and immersing you in the game's world. It's clear that a lot of love and attention to detail went into the creation of this game, and it shines through in every aspect. I did find the gameplay a bit too easy on normal difficulty, as certain mechanics can be exploited to breeze through levels. For XCOM veterans I would recommend playing on a high difficulty. In summary, I thoroughly enjoyed it so far (currently in chapter 2) and it deserves 5 stars. Would recommend to anyone looking for a good turn-based strategy experience. Support indie devs.
