Chroma Squad is Power Rangers plus Disgaea. If you like one or both of those, I am 99% sure you will like this. If you do not know of either, then that is what the rest of this review is for!

I confess, I never watched Power Rangers or any sentai shows as a kid. But I do know the tropes quite well and have heard more than enough about them to get the gist. Chroma Squad is a love letter to those shows, and you should expect them to follow those standard formulas. I found it to be an absolute blast, especially as an SRPG lover. Take a look below to see all the reasons why.

Pros:

• While I like SRPGs in general, this one hooked me and wouldn't let go. The gameplay is addicting. Every episode has different objectives and maps, and it is a lot of fun to figure out how to best impress your audience while winning the fight. It keeps the core gameplay strong while adding enough variables to make the on-foot fights fresh.
  
• There is a crafting system that works well. You can make some nifty equipment with materials that randomly drop. Sometimes the shop equipment will be better, and you always receive gold after each level. So even if you bomb during a crafting session, you have good resources to fall back on.
  
• Grinding does not exist. There is no experience present, and the only thing you can earn from each level is randomly dropped items, which cap off at eight per level. I approve of the levels all being scaled by equipment per season, rather than by level. You can even mix up the order you play groups of episodes in!
  
• You have a lot of freedom with your characters. You can select different designs for the squad of five, name them, choose their skills, equip them accordingly, and make some great set-ups while utilizing a "role" structure. As a bonus, you get to name your studio, catch phrase, and robot, among other things.
  
• The story starts off a bit standard, but it evolves into a fun plot. The build-up is excellently done, and the development your characters get helps a lot. I grew very fond of my squad and was sad to finish their story, though happy with how it ended.
  
• There are three endings, and while I have only gotten one of them, I get the feeling they are each very different. Along with this, some choices come up throughout the plot that have an impact on the battles and story overall. It is great to have a reason to replay it beyond simply wanting to play it.
  
• Very good graphics all around! The characters look distinctive and have well-done designs, the giant robot and enemies look hardcore, and the TV screen openings/endings/loading screens are nice touches. It is a colorful game that is pleasing to the eye.
  
• The music is fan-ta-stic! The opening theme alone made me go, "Oh heck yes," and the rest of the game kept that quality. You can buy the soundtrack for $3.99, which is more than worth it. I know I'll pick it up when I have some more funds to spare.
  
• Of course you get a giant robot to fight in. Why wouldn't you? I like the way it works overall. Defending requires precise timing with your clicks, which is of a fair difficutly. But trying to hit the kaijus multiple times is problematic. I missed far more 70% opportunities than I hit with. Bad luck? Most likely, but it can be frustrating. I still call the robot fights a plus due to their epic feel and most of their mechanics, yet unlike the on-foot fights, there is not a whole lot of variation. The developers mentioned they want to strengthen this part of the game, which would be great.
  
• Speaking of the developers, they are very friendly people who take fan comments and suggestions into account. They are constantly striving to improve Chroma Squad. Having people like them as the creators of this game makes me think it will become even better. That is incredible to consider, given that they already have produced an amazing piece right here. Their tribute to sentai shows is masterfully executed, and I love their dedication to that.
  
• There are 43 achievements that you can get, and most of them are not too difficult. As a bonus, if you beat the game on a higher difficulty level, you get achievements for that level and all of the ones below it. I wish more games would do this instead of insisting you play on easy mode after beating hard mode, all for the sake of an achievement.
  
• Okay, look. You control a group of people in colorful suits fighting evil cupcakes, lawyers, irons, badgers, and television sets with martial arts, wacky weapons, and a giant robot made out of cardboard boxes. What else do I need to say to get you to buy this?

Neutral:

• The analog stick movement with the PS3 controller seems a bit floaty. I am not sure how it is for other types of controllers. Using the mouse keeps the movements sharp. Thankfully, this is not a game that requires quick analog movements, so it is not a big deal.
  
• Speaking of controllers, you can't use the controller for the kaiju fights. Again, not a big deal, especially since there are not many commands used in them. It is somewhat bothersome to have to set the controller aside, but the store page does say it is only partial controller support. My PS3 controller actually worked in every other situation (besides typing out the names for my heroes/studio,) so that was a pleasant surprise given that I wasn't sure how well it would respond.
  
• There is no New Game+. Some games are not suited for New Game+, but this one begs for it. The good news is that the developers have acknowledged the lack of a New Game+ and are trying to implement it. I would be very happy with that addition!
  
• What this game does have are multiple save files. I like this feature. The problem is that there is nowhere in the game that makes it obvious this is possible. I thought I would be erasing an old file when I started a new one, and only then learned it keeps multiple files.
  
• This game does have trading cards. They look nice and are a good addition for collectors.

Cons:

• If you have more than a certain amount of weapons or armor in your inventory, you can only see a handful to equip. You can't scroll through them to get an older item if you want it. Since I like to have one copy of each item in most of my games, this drove me bonkers. You can still recycle the old items, you just can't get to them on the equip screen. Ugh!
  
• When using the keyboard controls, the mouse pointer shows over the game pointer. I don't know if there is a way to disable that. If there is, I couldn't find it. That is the main reason I used a controller, as when you are using the analog sticks instead, the mouse pointer vanishes.
  
• There are some spelling and grammar errors scattered throughout the game. Most of them are not that noticeable, and they do not interfere with the story, but they are worth mentioning. The oddest one I saw was weapons that you craft saying "any role" can use them, when in truth some are limited to certain roles.

Overall experience:

I was excited to play this game, and it surpassed even those expectations. It satisfied me not only as an SRPG, but as a stand-out tribute to a great genre. It is charming, fun, and has fantastic spirit. I've beaten it once, but I plan to play it at least two more times. It's too good not to!

Rating:

9/10. I was leaning toward 9.5/10, but there's a few issues that drag it down a little too much for me to give that precious half of a point. That being said? This game is awesome and playing it will make you feel more awesome as well. Join in on the sentai love and pick up Chroma Squad now!

Looking for more great indie games? Check out my other reviews on Indie Games Treasure Trove!

[h1]Go, go, Chroma Squad![/h1] Chroma Squad is Power Rangers plus Disgaea. If you like one or both of those, I am 99% sure you will like this. If you do not know of either, then that is what the rest of this review is for! I confess, I never watched Power Rangers or any sentai shows as a kid. But I do know the tropes quite well and have heard more than enough about them to get the gist. Chroma Squad is a love letter to those shows, and you should expect them to follow those standard formulas. I found it to be an absolute blast, especially as an SRPG lover. Take a look below to see all the reasons why. [b][u]Pros:[/u][/b] [list][*]While I like SRPGs in general, this one hooked me and wouldn't let go. The gameplay is addicting. Every episode has different objectives and maps, and it is a lot of fun to figure out how to best impress your audience while winning the fight. It keeps the core gameplay strong while adding enough variables to make the on-foot fights fresh. [*]There is a crafting system that works well. You can make some nifty equipment with materials that randomly drop. Sometimes the shop equipment will be better, and you always receive gold after each level. So even if you bomb during a crafting session, you have good resources to fall back on. [*]Grinding does not exist. There is no experience present, and the only thing you can earn from each level is randomly dropped items, which cap off at eight per level. I approve of the levels all being scaled by equipment per season, rather than by level. You can even mix up the order you play groups of episodes in! [*]You have a lot of freedom with your characters. You can select different designs for the squad of five, name them, choose their skills, equip them accordingly, and make some great set-ups while utilizing a "role" structure. As a bonus, you get to name your studio, catch phrase, and robot, among other things. [*]The story starts off a bit standard, but it evolves into a fun plot. The build-up is excellently done, and the development your characters get helps a lot. I grew very fond of my squad and was sad to finish their story, though happy with how it ended. [*]There are three endings, and while I have only gotten one of them, I get the feeling they are each very different. Along with this, some choices come up throughout the plot that have an impact on the battles and story overall. It is great to have a reason to replay it beyond simply wanting to play it. [*]Very good graphics all around! The characters look distinctive and have well-done designs, the giant robot and enemies look hardcore, and the TV screen openings/endings/loading screens are nice touches. It is a colorful game that is pleasing to the eye. [*]The music is fan-ta-stic! The opening theme alone made me go, "Oh heck yes," and the rest of the game kept that quality. You can buy the soundtrack for $3.99, which is more than worth it. I know I'll pick it up when I have some more funds to spare. [*]Of course you get a giant robot to fight in. Why wouldn't you? I like the way it works overall. Defending requires precise timing with your clicks, which is of a fair difficutly. But trying to hit the kaijus multiple times is problematic. I missed far more 70% opportunities than I hit with. Bad luck? Most likely, but it can be frustrating. I still call the robot fights a plus due to their epic feel and most of their mechanics, yet unlike the on-foot fights, there is not a whole lot of variation. The developers mentioned they want to strengthen this part of the game, which would be great. [*]Speaking of the developers, they are very friendly people who take fan comments and suggestions into account. They are constantly striving to improve Chroma Squad. Having people like them as the creators of this game makes me think it will become even better. That is incredible to consider, given that they already have produced an amazing piece right here. Their tribute to sentai shows is masterfully executed, and I love their dedication to that. [*]There are 43 achievements that you can get, and most of them are not too difficult. As a bonus, if you beat the game on a higher difficulty level, you get achievements for that level and all of the ones below it. I wish more games would do this instead of insisting you play on easy mode after beating hard mode, all for the sake of an achievement. [*]Okay, look. You control a group of people in colorful suits fighting evil cupcakes, lawyers, irons, badgers, and television sets with martial arts, wacky weapons, and a giant robot made out of cardboard boxes. What else do I need to say to get you to buy this?[/list] [b][u]Neutral:[/u][/b] [list][*]The analog stick movement with the PS3 controller seems a bit floaty. I am not sure how it is for other types of controllers. Using the mouse keeps the movements sharp. Thankfully, this is not a game that requires quick analog movements, so it is not a big deal. [*]Speaking of controllers, you can't use the controller for the kaiju fights. Again, not a big deal, especially since there are not many commands used in them. It is somewhat bothersome to have to set the controller aside, but the store page does say it is only partial controller support. My PS3 controller actually worked in every other situation (besides typing out the names for my heroes/studio,) so that was a pleasant surprise given that I wasn't sure how well it would respond. [*]There is no New Game+. Some games are not suited for New Game+, but this one begs for it. The good news is that the developers have acknowledged the lack of a New Game+ and are trying to implement it. I would be very happy with that addition! [*]What this game does have are multiple save files. I like this feature. The problem is that there is nowhere in the game that makes it obvious this is possible. I thought I would be erasing an old file when I started a new one, and only then learned it keeps multiple files. [*]This game does have trading cards. They look nice and are a good addition for collectors.[/list] [b][u]Cons:[/u][/b] [list][*]If you have more than a certain amount of weapons or armor in your inventory, you can only see a handful to equip. You can't scroll through them to get an older item if you want it. Since I like to have one copy of each item in most of my games, this drove me bonkers. You can still recycle the old items, you just can't get to them on the equip screen. Ugh! [*]When using the keyboard controls, the mouse pointer shows over the game pointer. I don't know if there is a way to disable that. If there is, I couldn't find it. That is the main reason I used a controller, as when you are using the analog sticks instead, the mouse pointer vanishes. [*]There are some spelling and grammar errors scattered throughout the game. Most of them are not that noticeable, and they do not interfere with the story, but they are worth mentioning. The oddest one I saw was weapons that you craft saying "any role" can use them, when in truth some are limited to certain roles.[/list] [b]Overall experience:[/b] I was excited to play this game, and it surpassed even those expectations. It satisfied me not only as an SRPG, but as a stand-out tribute to a great genre. It is charming, fun, and has fantastic spirit. I've beaten it once, but I plan to play it at least two more times. It's too good not to! [b]Rating:[/b] 9/10. I was leaning toward 9.5/10, but there's a few issues that drag it down a little too much for me to give that precious half of a point. That being said? This game is awesome and playing it will make you feel more awesome as well. Join in on the sentai love and pick up Chroma Squad now! [quote]Looking for more great indie games? Check out my other reviews on [url=http://steamcommunity.com/groups/indiegamestreasuretrove#curation]Indie Games Treasure Trove![/url][/quote]