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Review of The Lamplighters League on Xbox Series X/S

by Gemma Looksby Gemma Looksby photo Oct 2023
Cover image of The Lamplighters League on Xbox Series X/S
Gamefings Score: 6.5
Released: 03 Oct 2023
Genre: Turn-based tactics
Developer: Harebrained Schemes
Publisher: Paradox Interactive

Introduction

Picture this: it's the 1930s, you're in some alternate universe where ancient cults are trying to capture the world while you're still struggling to understand taxation. This is precisely the delightful mess that *The Lamplighters League* serves up! You get to assemble a team of misfits to stop the enigmatic swindlers of the Banished Court. Think of it as the A-Team meets Indiana Jones with a sprinkle of XCOM for good measure. So grab your fedora and let's dive in! Spoiler alert: no one is wearing a fedora.

Gameplay

Gameplay kicks off in a way that would make a rogue gallery proud-players start with just three agents (the world's worst superhero team) but can earn up to 10 different characters. Each quirky agent boasts their own unique abilities and weapons, such as Ana Sofia, the charity event organizer who doubles as a healer. No one heals like her, trust me. Or how about the hypnotist, Celestine, who could probably convince a cat to take a bath? Coupled with an HQ where players oxidize their weaknesses into strengths and occasionally discover that some cards may hinder instead of help, this game turns strategic planning into a full-on circus of chaos. Each mission allows players to prowlishly explore maps, setting up traps, gathering loot, and generally behaving like a raccoon at a garbage festival in real-time. Once you're ready for a showdown, the game shifts into turn-based combat that makes chess look like a lazy Sunday picnic. Battlegrounds ooze a crafty sense of strategy, where positioning is everything. Get it wrong, and your heroes might find themselves taking the dirt nap. Fun fact: characters can get seriously stressed out if you send them on repeated missions like overzealous parents at a dance competition. Keeping agents refreshed at headquarters is a tactical requirement, or you might be watching your team members throw tantrums reminiscent of toddlers denied candy. The game will keep you on your toes as you engage with three dastardly factions disrupting global peace while making side quests feel like a fun but annoying detour on a road trip. Better pack some snacks.

Graphics

Visually, *The Lamplighters League* looks as though it jumped out of an Art Deco painting and crashed right into your gaming console. Polished, vibrant, and dripping with the charm of the 1930s, it feeds your eyes with a buffet of vintage aesthetics while keeping your heart racing. Character designs are colorful, and settings radiate an atmosphere that screams 'mystery and adventure!' Who doesn't want to dig into a world where every alleyway looks well constructed enough to harbor traps and cultist meetings? It's retro-inspired glory mixed with modern flair that makes you feel like the coolest kid on the block-until you're losing matches, of course.

Conclusion

In summary, *The Lamplighters League* offers a quirky tactical experience with enough charm to keep you entertained, even if it sometimes lands flat on its face like a toddler trying to ride a bicycle for the first time. It's got thrilling combat, clever character dynamics, and retro visuals that would make your grandma swoon-if only she had any clue what a video game was. But alas, it hasn't set the world on fire and has been dubbed a commercial disappointment. If you're in the mood for a stylish romp through the chaos of an alternate 1930s, with a motley crew of heroes, this might just do the trick. Just don't expect it to win any World Series of Gaming championships-it's more like that underdog movie where the bizarre team sorta makes it but isn't really all that great. Definitely rent it, save your pennies, and brace for a couple of laughs as you take on the cultists. Now, off to find my fedora!

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