Laser Squad is a turn-based tactics video game, originally released for the ZX Spectrum in 1988 and converted over to the Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, Amiga, Atari ST, and MS-DOS. It was developed by Julian Gollop and his team at Target Games (later Mythos Games) and published by Blade Software, expanding on the ideas applied in their earlier Rebelstar series. The initial 8-bit releases came with three mission scenarios, with expansion packs being released, containing further scenarios.
Reaction from gaming magazines was positive, gaining high review ratings and several accolades. The legacy of the game can be seen with the X-COM series, especially the acclaimed UFO: Enemy Unknown, which was initially conceived by Julian Gollop as a sequel to Laser Squad.
Gameplay
thumb|left|ZX Spectrum screenshot
Laser Squad is a one or two player turn-based tactics war game where the player is tasked with mission objectives such as assassination, infiltrate and destroy, and hostage rescue operations. Some mission objectives are achieved by eliminating enemy troops by taking advantage of cover, using squad level military tactics, and careful use of weaponry.
Before each mission begins, the player is given a limited amount of credits to purchase weapons and armour for their squad. The player then chooses the starting position for their squad members by placing them on one of the designated deployment squares.
Each mission takes place in a scenario map which is divided into square grids, and each unit occupies one square. The squad's team members are maneuvered around the map one at a time, consuming action points by carrying out movements, shooting, and picking up objects. This is part of the game's line of sight functionality, which means that the player can only fire upon any enemy targets that are within the unit's field of vision. Victory points are obtained by carrying out the core mission for each scenario such as destroying equipment or by eliminating enemy targets, or a variation of both. Along with his brother, Nick, he set up Target Games with the aim of developing and publishing their future games.
Teque Software (renamed Krisalis Software soon after) took on responsibility of developing the Amiga, Atari ST, and PC versions. The 16-bit versions came with the first five scenarios, although there were no expansion pack for scenarios six and seven.