Voted tactical, but only because that is the very core part of the game. The strategic part gives the player the freedom to progress through the world, exploring, conquering and defending sectors as you see fit. I think the game would be a bit boring if there were a set number of maps to conquer in a specific order.
But what really gives the game it's soul is the character, be it you love them or hate them. Still to this day, almost 24 years later, I still get a grin on my face when mercs complement each other for a task well done. These mercs are the reason I keep coming back to JA instead of games with generated characters.