If you’re anything like me, you probably spent way too many hours in the early 2000s obsessed with isometric tactical games. There was just something about that gritty, top-down perspective and the “pause-and-plan” strategy that felt so much more rewarding than a standard shooter.

While many people start at the beginning of a series, my introduction to this world actually began with the sequel, Dustwind – Resistance. Taking command of Jake and his loyal dog, Diesel, was a trial by fire that immediately hooked me on the series’ brutal “Active Pause” combat. It felt like a modern evolution of the Fallout Tactics DNA I grew up loving.

However, after successfully leading that insurgency, I felt compelled to go back and see where the console journey truly began. That led me to Dustwind – The Last Resort for Xbox.