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It’s 1789, and Paris is in flames. Rather than step into the boots of Napoleon himself, however, you play as the young officer who takes his place. It’s the age of Robespierre, Lafayette, and the guillotine, but what happens next depends on you. Will you be a revolutionary or a royalist? Who does your army owe allegiance to? How will your army of two-story-tall mechs bludgeon, shoot, and otherwise decimate the opposition? Bonaparte: A Mechanized Revolution offers the political machinations of Crusader Kings, the tactical clashes of Advance Wars, and a historian’s eye for detail. Do you hear the people sing?
Bonaparte’s Revolution (Plus Robots)
On the tactical map, you direct your cannons, soldiers, and mechs against enemy forces in turn-based combat. To claim victory on the hexagonal grid requires an understanding of what makes your forces strong. Speed, range, and attack strength are just a few factors to juggle if you want to survive these tactical battles as more than a footnote in King Louis XVI’s diary. The tension between unit positions, viable attack ranges, and unique abilities gives tactics some teeth here, with plenty of chances to exercise your military muscle.
In between testing the firepower of your muskets and the stompiness of your mechs, Bonaparte: A Mechanized Revolution tests your leadership. Your views on important social matters such as government, civil rights, and religion help shape the landscape of what’s to come. Do you permit terror to achieve your aims or denounce it? Do you ride the wave of revolution or defend the Bastille with a 20-foot-tall robot centaur? Historical figures brush shoulders (and exchange musket balls), but in this alt-history strategy game, the “what if?” of mechs is never far.
History Has Its Eyes on You
Bonaparte uses history as a launching point, beginning with the snubbing of the king and sparking of the revolution at the Estates General. Soon, however, it opens itself up for significant deviations. One of Bonaparte‘s greatest strengths, its eye for authenticity, is also its most subtle. Studio Imugi has done its research and knows when to honor actual history and when to let its mechs take center stage. These hero units dramatize the confict, so even if you aren’t captivated by French history in other circumstances, Bonaparte‘s calculated battles may win you over.
I will never say no to giant robots, deep strategy games, and clever alt-history settings. Whether Bonaparte can tie it all together into a satisfying package remains to be seen, but Studio Imugi has already given fans a good reason to watch and wishlist. Whether you’re in for the bribes, favor-trading, and giant robots, or you just want to watch the Bastille burn, Bonaparte: A Mechanized Revolution will be available for PC in 2025.
