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> Results: Hammer & Sickle
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Hammer & Sickle is a squad-based strategy role-playing game developed using the Silent Storm engine. It features that game's deep turn-based combat system. It implements a skill upgrade role-playing system that allows players near total freedom in their approach to a mission. Unfortunately, most things outside of combat aren't so good, creating a mixed experience that is recommended only for turn-based combat fans.
The game seems like a dream come true for those who loved the Fallout role-playing games and strategy games such as Silent Storm. It features branching plotlines, skill specialization based on your character type, and even significant dialogue options that only open up under certain conditions. It has tons of potential replayability and completely destructible environments that can be strategically exploited by you or your opponent. However, the technical issues outweigh any other positive aspects. The game performs poorly on even high-end hardware, has terribly written and voiced dialogue, and just feels half-baked at every turn. Turns take entirely too long. This is somewhat understandable as they have to re-calculate based on what terrain damage has been done as seen by each character on every turn, but it seems unnecessary to see every step that each opponent makes in non-combat movement. As is too often true with budget role-playing games, the quest log and journal lack critical information to complete missions. Other interface elements are problematic as well. The inventory system works well, and shop systems take some time to learn but the upgrade panels don't clearly indicate the upgrades you have taken or what effect (in real terms) choosing another option will have. They are all things you adapt to while playing, but remain annoying.  The combat system is the only bright point. If you run and gun, you die often, which makes sense given how much of the game is played in enemy territory. So you need to carefully plan your moves and use your character's skills wisely. Combat problems are fewﾗand that's largely what keeps you playing through. I did it twice: once where I ﾑwon' and stopped World War III, and the other where I tried killing everything and everyone, pretty much ending the world in the course of events. Your ability to navigate missions without tipping the balance of power often results in getting more allies on your team, and leads to more missions to explore. When battle is inevitable, your tactics are deservedly rewarded. That's why Hammer & Sickle is a mixed bag. On one hand it's got a great combat system with significant intrinsic replayability. But on the other hand it is so full of problems and player-unfriendly choices ranging from annoying to infuriating that the game cannot be widely recommended. For fans of turn-based combat it's a satisfying experience and for role-playing fans looking for choices that matter, it offers some intriguing replayability options. For everyone else it's a frustrating experience that can easily be avoided.  
The story behind Hammer & Sickle is full of post World War II intrigue, double-crosses and covert action. The action, even though it is turn-based, gets quite intense. It's disconcerting to lose allies or squad members during battles. These battles tend to be bloody as well, and are loaded with death screams (along with inane dialogue), making you check twice that the game was actually Rated ﾑT'. While the violence and blood are not worthy of an M, they also are not appropriate for younger kids.
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