Phantom Doctrine

My experience with this game began somewhat confusedly, got worse, and then I played it like it was my job for a couple weeks straight. It's pretty great.
There is a bit of jank in Phantom Doctrine, but some of what other players complain about are just the mechanics of the game and their unfamiliarity. The game could do a better job explaining a few things, but players could do a better job of experimenting. I actually did read a bunch of other reviews and many people seemed confused by the combat. I was too, at first, but found it rewarding to push through. Does it make sense that busting through a window behind someone does not cause a full alert when walking through a door in front of someone does? No. But, like, neither does hiding in a cardboard box. Nor are suppressed assault rifles actually quiet, much less "silent."
* Espionage * Action * Tactics *
I would not recommend the game to someone who isn't into spy stuff at all. A good bit of the fun for me was tied to this theme. The story is... ultimately kind of basic, but not as basic as it would appear to someone not thinking about it or who ignores all the documents.
I do not recommend Ironman mode for this game. There are basic missions, and then there are special story missions. If you encounter a bug such as I did and can't even initiate a story mission, that's it; that save file is over with, and if it's an Ironman game, you basically lost for nothing. Force majeure?
Otherwise, Easy isn't really THAT much easier than Normal. And Hard isn't really THAT much harder than Normal. Some of the agent perks can be exploited, if you're so inclined. It's pretty easy to blow a basic mission when you are impatient or imprudent, and it's not impossible to ace a harder mission if you're properly prepared and not rushed. I could see some players finding it taxing to have to "be careful" on a routine mission when that means an extra twenty minutes of real-life time. If you can only play a game for less than an hour at a time, this one probably isn't the best choice.
Things I like about Phantom Doctrine:
Although combat can be swift and brutal, a run going sideways isn't always a total loss. Say you sent two agents to retrieve something and you encounter stiffer resistance than you expected. If you know where your evac will be, you can still grab some intel and kidnap an enemy agent on your way out. It's only a "loss" in that the main objective wasn't achieved. You still get to interrogate the prisoner. Good stuff. The gameplay is too wonky to be truly "immersive," but it absolutely offers emergent opportunities, attainable either through planning or adaptive thinking.
Soundtrack is great. If I play a game long enough, I'll turn off the music no matter how good it is though. In this case, I have actually listened to the music on its own. Kind of jazzy, orchestral stuff with a bit of Hans Zimmer Dark Knight type stuff here and there.
The game takes full advantage of its M rating by allowing you to give all of your agents cigarettes.
A couple complaints:
There are visual markers denoting where a restricted area's boundaries lie. But I don't think they always work on stairwells. Also, it can be hard to estimate line of sight between floors.
There should be more maps. If you only played through once, you'd still become maybe a little too familiar with certain layouts.
If you do recon for an assault mission, you should know what the objective will be before gearing up. Also, I wasn't crazy about the "kill all bad guys" missions. If you get them all before reinforcements arrive, then the reinforcements don't count towards the total required for mission completion. But if the backup comes in one turn before you ice the final guy, their number is added to the objective total. That's annoying.
~
Altogether, it's a really good game, mainly to be enjoyed if you like the spy/Cold War tropes and aesthetic and have more than a few minutes at a time to devote.

Phantom Doctrine is a thrilling and immersive turn-based strategy game that takes players deep into the world of espionage and covert operations during the height of the Cold War. Set in an alternate history where the global conflict between the US and USSR never really heated up, Phantom Doctrine puts players in the role of a commander of a secret organization tasked with protecting their nation's interests through secret means .
The game offers a deep and compelling narrative that weaves a complex web of political intrigue, espionage and action. As the game progresses, players must gather information, recruit agents, and carry out a variety of covert missions around the world. From infiltrating enemy bases to stealing secrets from behind enemy lines, Phantom Doctrine offers a wide range of challenges that will test even the most seasoned tactical player.
One of the notable features of Phantom Doctrine is its innovative investigation system. By analyzing clues and piecing together fragments of information, players can uncover hidden conspiracies and gain valuable information about their enemies. This system adds a level of depth and realism to the game rarely seen in the turn-based strategy genre.
Another impressive aspect of Phantom Doctrine is its robust customization options. Players can choose from a variety of character classes, each with their own unique abilities and skill trees. From stealthy spies to brutal enforcers, there's a class for every playstyle. In addition, players can customize their weapons and gear, giving them a tactical advantage in the field.
Overall, Phantom Doctrine is an outstanding game that offers an unparalleled experience for fans of the turn-based strategy genre. The immersive narrative, innovative investigation system, and deep customization options make it a must-play for anyone who loves immersive, story-driven games. Anyway, I can't wait for the recently announced sequel, Phantom Doctrine 2. With the promise of new features and improved gameplay, I'm excited to see what the developers have in store for us.

Your spy can start as KGB spy or CIA spy, the replayability is not boring because the story isn't repetitive. Your spies doesn't have to use only a single type of weapon and they're definitely not locked to a single type of play style, the only difference is some of your spies may be able to do some things more efficiently than your other spies.
The enemy and civilian patrol paths and the loots are random, including the intelligence you get from the missions you complete. The enemies and civilians aren't random enough to be easily dealt with, this isn't a bad thing it's a good thing which encourages more planning and makes the game less boring. The level design isn't completely random which favors both stealth and loud play, they did a very good job and the level design is smart, it's most likely that you'll never face the same level twice. The gameplay is engaging enough for a game like this, especially if you're going loud, there are punishments for mistakes and there are benefits of going both loud or stealthy.
It's filled with a lot of historical references, starting from cable tapping to former Nazi officers being informers. It's not like XCOM where you miss an obvious shot, there's very little RNG and more detailed planning and it's fun. The music and graphics are awesome and they fit the theme too.
It's a 10/10 game if they drop the price for countries that doesn't use $ or € as there has been a price increase for these countries, it's understandable but also feels bad because these countries now have to use even more of their income as in % compared to countries that use $ or € as their own currency. While the price increase is definitely not good the game is really great, i don't think it deserves this price but i think it deserves to be played. Wait for a discount and buy it if your country doesn't use $ or € as their own currency.

The first few times I tried to play Phantom Doctrine I suffered through it, eventually getting tired by the third act and dropping it entirely. The tactical situations seemed way too hard and extremely punishing, forcing you to play always in a hurry and eat shit for it.
Then something clicked, and I realized - this is a stealth xcom. You will have a hard time if you try to play it like a regular xcom and you will eat shit if you don't play it how it wants to be played.
That said, Phantom Doctrine has a very steep learning curve to get the hang of its many mechanics - mechanics which are deterministic and I prefer infinitely over regular xcom RNG bullshit - and despite most of its content, I end up doing most of the same through the run. Move agents in pairs stopping plots to avoid unnecessary tactical scenarios and sending solo disguise agents to dismantle entire enemy bases.
Suffice to say, Phantom Doctrine also suffers somewhat of balancing issues, starting just about right and becoming way too easy by the end of the game, first by the nature of its own infiltration mechanics and then by the 'body enhancement' system.
Despite its many flaws, I still think it's good enough to merit a thumb up and hope that Phantom Doctrine 2 is a vastly more polished title.

This game is a turn-based espionage game set in an alternate Earth. Since it's a human spy game with current-gen weaponry, you won't see ridiculous weapons or actions like in the XCOM series.
The game itself, in my opinion, is interesting, unique and hard. However, it's also VERY tedious and monotonous. There's a lot of fast-forwarding time, I mean ALOT. No wonder, many players said it's boring. I can understand this sentiment. There is only that much entertainment value you can get from all the human missions and fast forwarding. Nevertheless, I think overall wise, the game and story is not that bad.
If they are going to make Phantom Doctrine 2, they need to improve the gameplay mechanics, more sub-events involving agents and plots, and include more key bindings. Also, fix the overwatch glitch.
The thumbs up is for the game based on my personal view only. However, I won't recommend this game to you although I like it, because I'm in the rare minority.
Rating: 64%

I've owned this game for a while and never really played it all that much. Decided to try it again after some time, got through the first mission, almost decided to quit out, but pushed through. I then proceeded to play the game for a solid 10-12 hours straight.
Understand that this game is not for everyone. If you're not a fan of watching pretty amateur made animations, or reloading saves constantly to get the right outcome, or 20+ turns of trying to stealth your way through a tiny building, this game probably ain't for you. It's best to wait for a sale to get the game, or at the very least, be ready to refund it if it's not for you.
For me, I had an absolute blast, and I'll probably finish the story soon.

Xcom + Commandos + Hitman = PD? A unique turn based tactics game that plays out like a cinematic spy thriller. The paperwork mechanic is tedious, there can be excessive micromanagement as your agent roster grows, and most perks are geared towards action even if you're playing stealth. Gripes aside, its definitely worth checking out if you're a fan of turn based tactics, or spy thrillers for that matter.
Maybe the upcoming derivative third person shooter sequel will increase awareness of the franchise and reinvigorate the original concept. One can only hope.