Review - Grit and Valor - 1949

Developer: Milky Tea Studios

Publisher: Megabit Publishing

Available On: PC (Steam)

Review Console: Steam via Steamdeck

WAR! It's 1949 and World War II never ended. Though the allies valiantly put up a fight against The Axis War Machine, new technologies have driven the brave men of freedom back across the Atlantic. War has waged for years and the Axis threaten the world with their newfound technology. Tanks have become walking mechs and have become the premier form of warfare to be waged. With your own elite group of pilots, victory boils down to you, Commander.

Grit and Valor - 1949 is one of the games I had a blast playing at the MIX Seattle back during PAX West in 2024. This inventive approach to roguelikes and real-time strategy takes mechs to the forefront to create bite-sized but epic grand battles. Now that the final game has arrived, I can say Grit and Valor - 1949 is one of the very best roguelikes out there and easily a contender to be on a GOTY list.

War Never Changes

It is 1949. World War II should have been over by now. The Axis powers gain ahold of special technology that introduces a new form of warfare: Mechs. Machine guns, flamethrowers, artillery, and other weapons can now be mounted on hulking metallic monstrosities that tower over the battlefield and wreak havoc among the allies. The Allies are pushed to the brink. Facing imminent defeat, an elite group known as "The Resistance" is formed to fight back and ultimately defeat the Axis Powers.

The Resistance forms their own special military, complete with mechs and cutting-edge weapons. A team of pilots and scientists are chosen to develop new technologies and man the cockpits of mechs. All it needs now is a Commander willing to do what it takes to fight back and win. From the British Isles to Germany, there is a battle to be won.

The Briefing

Grit and Valor - 1949 is a roguelike real-time strategy game with a focus on mech units. The goal of the game is to survive each battle, complete objectives, and ultimately defeat a boss at the end of the run. Each zone is different, presenting its own enemy units, bosses, objectives, and environmental attributes that challenge players.

The tutorial does a good job of introducing players to the dynamics of combat. Battles do not take place on expansive fields but instead happen in small dioramas of battlefields. This inventive choice keeps the action compact and narrowly focuses on your units on the battlefield. The diorama can be zoomed in and rotated for better effect.

Boot Camp

Players are introduced to their mech. Their first mech, the Ironclad, carries several heavy machine guns that perforate targets with hot lead. Each mech has a special ability as well. The Ironclad can leap and stomp on enemies, crushing them and damaging others nearby. Movement takes place across a square tile grid. Click on a mech, click on a tile, and the mech goes there. The mechs do not attack while in motion and will not stop at the enemy, meaning movement can be risky if not taken care of ahead of an enemy wave.

The most important piece of the battlefield is the Command Vehicle. This defenseless vehicle commands the mechs, and while it is heavily armored, it is vulnerable to attack. The Command Vehicle can either repair mechs or deploy a sentry gun to attack enemies. However, if the Command vehicle is destroyed, the game is over. To mitigate this, the vehicle can move across the board and can be upgraded to further its speed and defense. Additionally, like the mechs, the Command Vehicle can hide behind a designated cover, though the mechs can return fire from the cover whereas the Command Vehicle cannot.

Combat Triangle

Grit and Valor - 1949 does have an attack triangle: Ballistics > Flame > Explosives > Ballistics. This triangle is essential for survival as the enemy launches a bevy of enemy units with various attacks. Fortunately, after a few runs, players do get access to various mechs and can unlock more with blueprints collected during runs. Mechs can carry flamethrowers and artillery. More advanced mechs can use long smoothbore cannons and fire molten shells, as well as carry ballistic missiles.

The roguelike mechanics in Grit and Valor - 1949 are sound. Each battle has four waves. At the beginning of each wave, there is an airdrop of supplies. These are the roguelike upgrades. These upgrades help augment your mech units with various enhancements. Some enhancements benefit critical damage and fire rate. Others benefit the ability of a mech, such as making the Ironclad's jump ability drop bombs over the tiles between takeoff and landing. Some are risky, increasing damage but sacrificing resistance to damage. The upgrades can be common, rare, epic, or legendary, with legendary being the best.

We Will Fight Them on the Beaches

No run is the same, and the mission layout changes. During each battle, there are secondary objectives to achieve. These range from defending a special building, like a Resistance Base, to destroying V2 rocket installations. While these objectives can be risky, they do yield various currencies. Scrap can be used to buy upgrades. Valor can be used to upgrade pilots. Blueprints unlock new mechs. Black Coins can only be used during runs. Between missions, there may be repair stops or encounters with the black market that can offer additional enhancements or repairs for Black Coin.

At the end of a run, the main base provides the hub for incremental progress. Each run will unlock parts to customize the attributes of a mech from the cockpit to the legs. The lab unlocks special permanent unlocks such as more cover, additional mech modules, and even permanent enhancements to certain abilities. The Hangar allows customization of parts to better offensive and defensive abilities. The Barracks allows players to use currency to unlock and enhance the various attributes of a pilot. Finally, the archives allow players to see their past victories and the data that got them there.

A Well-Oiled Machine

The gameplay in Grit and Valor - 1949 is exhilarating, eclectic, and downright awesome! Every battle feels like a true gritty battle won by brains, brawn, and valor. It's extraordinarily cinematic between the sharp sound effects and visual effects. The music could have used some work but it does its job. Voicework also compliments the sheer chaos of what is happening on the battlefield, though, if one gets annoyed, the voicework can be muted.

It's a loop with great ideas and excellent gameplay. Every loss felt like a chance to get better. Every run had that "one more time" feeling. Every level felt like a great challenge to overcome. Slaying the mammoth bosses at the end of each run felt like a true titanic victory. Progress feels incremental and meaningful and the game feels balanced. Not too challenging but no cakewalk either.

Grit and Valor - 1949

The only drawback to the game would be nitpicks. The music could have been better and the narrative could have had voicework as well. At the same time, the focus is the gameplay and the gameplay is refined to a wax shine. I would change a thing in that regard and only add meaningful changes to it, should the game feature additions and expansions. Grit and Valor - 1949 takes place in a diesel-punk universe. It would be interesting to see how naval battles play out in this world.

Grit and Valor - 1949 is an excellent strategy action roguelike and a prime example of balancing engaging gameplay with difficulty. It's a triumphant and exciting gameplay experience that sinks into you and doesn't let go until all of Europe is liberated. It's not an easy mission but it must be won. Grab your mechs and command your forces. War must be won!

GRIT AND VALOR - 1949 IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

A review key was provided thanks to Tom at Tara Bruno PR