Totally Accurate Battle Simulator (TABS) is a physics-based strategy video game developed and published by Landfall Games. An alpha version of the game was initially released in 2016 to a small audience. The game was released for macOS and Windows in April 2021, for Xbox One in October 2021, for Nintendo Switch in November 2022, and for PlayStation 4 in September 2023. It has since received numerous free updates that have added new content, such as maps and units, in addition to fixing bugs and improving the performance. Versions for Android and iOS are currently in development.
| Totally Accurate Battle Simulator | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Landfall Games |
| Publisher(s) | Landfall Games XD Network (Mobile) |
| Producer(s) | Landfall Games |
| Engine | Unity |
| Platform(s) | macOS Microsoft Windows Xbox One Nintendo Switch PlayStation 4 |
| Release | macOS, Windows 1 April 2021 Xbox One 5 October 2021 Nintendo Switch 3 November 2022 PlayStation 4 5 September 2023 iOS, Android TBA |
| Genre(s) | Strategy |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
Gameplay
editTotally Accurate Battle Simulator is a physics-based battle simulator. The game encompasses two main modes: Campaign and Sandbox. In the former, players are given a limited amount of in-game money to build an army in order to defeat an enemy force. In the latter, there is no monetary limit and players build both armies. The two opposing armies can be placed on either opposite sides of the map, or one can surround the other. As soon as the player clicks "Start", the battle begins and the two armies rush forward to attack each other. Once either army has been defeated, the battle freezes and the player is informed of who the victor is. While armies typically win by defeating all enemy units, a May 2020 update added new winning conditions, such as surviving for a given amount of time, or killing a specific enemy unit. During ongoing battles, players can move the camera around the map to get a better view of the fight, and can slow down or freeze time themselves.[1][2][3] With the addition of a May 2019 update, players are also able to "possess" units—controlling them manually from a third- or first-person perspective.[citation needed]
The game has over 130 units across fourteen factions, which are mostly themed around different cultures and eras of human history.[4] Such factions include the Tribal Faction (Prehistory), Farmer (Neolithic Revolution), Medieval (Middle/Dark Ages), Ancient (Classical Era), Viking (Viking Age), Dynasty (Sengoku Period), Renaissance (Renaissance), Pirate (Golden Age of Piracy), and Wild West (American Frontier). There are also five fictional factions, being Spooky, Good, Evil, Secret and Legacy. There are four scrapped factions, being Aztec, Napoleonic, World War and Neon. Some of these units are hidden on various maps and must be found by the player before they are unlocked. Many units have special abilities that are unique to them or they share with a few others, such as flight, projectile deflection, and teleportation. The game also features representations of the storytelling tropes of good and evil, with the good and evil sides having angelic and demonic themes respectively. The maps in the game are centered around the same themes as the factions and differ in size and geography. The game features twenty maps in total, with twenty-two additional "Simulation" maps.
Players can create their own battle scenarios, choosing from any of the available units, maps, and winning conditions. A December 2020 update added the Unit Creator, where players can create their own units, giving them abilities, clothing, and weapons from the already existing TABS units, as well as the spin-offs Totally Accurate Battlegrounds and Totally Accurate Battle Zombielator. Both custom battles and units can be shared with other players via the in-game workshop. The full release of the game in April 2021 added both online and local multiplayer modes, and achievements.[5] A new update on November 3, 2021, added a map creator, allowing players to create their own battlefields.
Development
editThe game was made during a week-long game jam in a Swedish castle.[6][2] The game was developed using the Unity game engine.[7] Landfall Games released the download for people who signed up to their website in July 2016.[3][8] The game was released in open alpha in November 2016, while the closed alpha was released in December 2016. The full version of the game was released in early access on Steam on 1 April 2019 for Windows and macOS.[9]
On 9 June 2019 at the E3 convention, Xbox announced via their Indie Developers program that TABS would be coming to Xbox One in the Xbox Game Pass later that year.[10] It was released via Xbox Game Preview on December 20, 2019.[11] On 1 April 2020, free downloadable content (DLC) for the game, entitled the Bug DLC, was released; for a limited time, players could buy the DLC, with half the money raised being donated to Doctors Without Borders.[12]
The game exited early access for Windows and Mac on April 1, 2021.[5] The Xbox One version was released on 5 October 2021, followed by a Nintendo Switch port of the game on 3 November 2022, with a version for PlayStation 4 released on 5 September 2023.[13][14][15] A port for iOS and Android is currently being developed by Landfall Games in collaboration with XD.[16]
Reception
editThe game received generally positive reviews. It has been referred to as a "vibrant and goofy take on chaotic combat",[17] and its "silly graphics and kind of wonky body physics" were told to be part of the "charming appeal of an otherwise realistic simulator".[18] The game has also been described as "brilliant in its simplicity" and "outstanding".[3]
Spin-offs
editTwo spin-offs, Totally Accurate Battle Zombielator, which is a parody of the survival horror genre, and Totally Accurate Battlegrounds, a parody of the battle royale genre, were released on 1 April 2017 and 5 June 2018, respectively.
References
edit- ^ Chaim, Gartenberg (4 December 2016). "Totally Accurate Battle Simulator brings the wacky joy of fighting action figures to life". The Verge. Archived from the original on 11 June 2019. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
- ^ a b Swearingen, Jake (22 August 2016). "I Used This Amazing 3-D 'Battle Simulator' to Answer All of Life's Questions". New York Magazine. Archived from the original on 15 June 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
- ^ a b c Ashley, Kendell (21 July 2016). "TOTALLY ACCURATE BATTLE SIMULATOR Is Indeed Totally Accurate and Totally Hilarious". Nerdist. Archived from the original on 15 June 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
- ^ Campbell, Colin (11 May 2019). "For parents, TABS is an outstanding game". Polygon. Archived from the original on 26 December 2021. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
- ^ a b O'Connor, Alice (6 April 2022). "Totally Accurate Battle Simulator added multiplayer and left early access". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Archived from the original on 14 May 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
- ^ "TABS Press Kit". Landfall. Archived from the original on 4 April 2021. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
- ^ Yarwood, Jake (15 October 2018). "How Landfall Games finds the fun in physics engines". Game Developer. Archived from the original on 14 May 2022. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
- ^ Avery, Thompson (16 July 2016). ""Totally Accurate Battle Simulator" Simulates Accurate Battles, Totally". Popular Mechanics. Archived from the original on 26 December 2021. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
- ^ O'Connor, Alice (1 April 2019). "Totally Accurate Battle Simulator is now in early access, totally". RockPaperShotgun. Archived from the original on 18 September 2019. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
- ^ Jones, Ali (9 June 2019). "Afterparty, Totally Accurate Battle Simulator, and more are heading to Xbox Game Pass on day one". PCGamesN. Archived from the original on 26 December 2021. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
- ^ Tolbert, Samuel (20 December 2019). "Totally Accurate Battle Simulator comes to Xbox Game Preview and Xbox Game Pass". Windows Central. Archived from the original on 14 May 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
- ^ Bailey, Dustin (2 April 2020). "TABS's new $5 DLC adds nothing but bugs like units cant die or giant fireworks – and proceeds go to charity". PCGamesN. Archived from the original on 2 July 2022. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
- ^ Spurr, Megan (5 October 2021). "Coming Soon to Xbox Game Pass: Back 4 Blood, Destiny 2: Beyond Light for PC, and More". Xbox. Archived from the original on 24 June 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
- ^ "Totally Accurate Battle Simulator for Switch launches November 3 alongside 'Map Creator' update". Gematsu. 20 October 2022. Archived from the original on 28 May 2023. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
- ^ "Totally Accurate Battle Simulator coming to PS4 on September 5". Gematsu. 22 August 2023. Archived from the original on 13 October 2023. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
- ^ "Totally Accurate Battle Simulator coming to iOS, Android". Gematsu. 23 July 2022. Archived from the original on 23 July 2022. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
- ^ Valentin, Christian (22 July 2016). "Totally Accurate Battle Simulator will deliver the most (un)accurate warfare yet". Kill Screen. Archived from the original on 15 June 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
- ^ Whittaker, G. Clay (15 July 2016). "Take A Look At This Goofy-Looking Battle Simulator". Popular Science. Archived from the original on 4 July 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2018.