How good is this game? My review 9.6

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How good is this game? My review 9.6 - 10/27/2007 10:44:32 AM

freeboy

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As many games go, play against the ai is not great, it is ok, but to get a total emersion in game one should play pbem. Hello anyone?

What I have liked emensely in my day plus learning is, that the hq, supply, research and upgrade of component parts is intuitive, easy to use, logical, and by far the BEST in this type of game I have ever seen.

It allows the user to custom their "shell" formation as they see fit, want a few infantry and a morter or two? fine , Want an armada of heavy tanks and some infantry in half tracks , thats works too, only watch out for the weight in the hex, or perhaps some other way of calculating the "over stacking"!

Settings for what amount of damage a unit, shell not parts, will take before retreating are there, supply, sure its there on offense, defense and even the ability to abstratcly interdict it with air and sea units!
What else? Zones of control, supply lines and diminushed returns on distance.. over sea lines too!
Moral sure, quality of the hq troops , you bet both in initial type and over time with experience gained winning battles!
Strategic bombing too, and actually when you get outside WW2 you could create any type of conflict, as the mods page, see above , has some very non ww2 games.

I would like to see what someone could do on a small unit scale... giving units the ability to fire more distance, as I believe, this is a guess, that only artillery has ranged fire for ground units.. although that may be in error. Modern conflicts with helis, I do not see why not! And on to the Editor:

Editor? Well not a fully developed easy build ala Combat missions, but a very powerful one including events and "cards" Again, having yet no AT editor experience with my limited time in this game I would guess that one could add percentage chances to randomize play, even in two player games.

This game may very well be the best blend of its type! 9.6 out of ten...
And for what would I deduct? While it is hard to pan it at all, I would like some more types of units, but that is just me, there are alot when you consider all the levels for each type. Graphics are marginal and I was surprised Matrix let it out without a freash coat of "shiny" again purely cosmetic and no affect on game play!

Other issues,; Some may want the easier type of editor, but really getting the ability to make and trade scenarios is what has set games and companies like SSG and their Decisive Battle series appart, and their editor was not too friendly either!

I was very impressed with all that came from this as an initial release, the pacific war, the war in Europe and other two player only games are icing on the cake!

Again, this is a truly great game.. well balanced for those that like to tinker with the oob and factory research as well as partake of a robust tactics game... It is not War In the PAcific, It is not Taow3, each very good games, but may surpass them both in what it does best, provide obvious replay-ability, is that a word?, and a easy yet challenging intuitive game. FUN(features understood now)

One more word, learning this was a brease! Absolutly the best user interface I have ever sceen, and I do think I own about 95 of the strategy games made in the last 20 years for pc. This interface is on a par with very developed games, read Ageods Blue and Grey or the Total War series.. as examples of interface only.

Post #: 1

RE: How good is this game? My review 9.6 - 10/27/2007 11:19:48 AM

highpocrisy

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Very nice indeed...I can already tell I will spend a good chunk of my life on this game.
One thing though, it would be real nice to have an option to use NATO icons instead of graphic ones.Great work otherwise,finally something worthy to take a break from TOAW and Panzer Campaigns.

(in reply to freeboy)

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RE: How good is this game? My review 9.6 - 10/27/2007 1:26:30 PM

Awac835

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Yeah its nice with a wargame of this scale that actualy have a interface as if it was created in the year 2007.
Ill admit that the DB interface of BiN,BiI and KP leaves verylittle room for improvement to.

And yes, this game is streangely easy to learn compared to how i had to struggle with TOAW.

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Post #: 3

Sound effects old school. - 10/27/2007 2:06:03 PM

Magpius

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Did anyone else notice that the start turn wav file is identical to one from SP-WAW? (ie: 1502.wav)
Love the game, great stuff Vic. Looks like it could shunt TOAW aside.

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RE: Sound effects old school. - 10/27/2007 3:14:56 PM

freeboy

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How did I miss Engineers buildingstuff in my review? That might be a huge winner for those wanting seebies in the pacific war and fortified lines in the East(west?)

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Post #: 5

RE: How good is this game? My review 9.6 - 10/27/2007 3:26:56 PM

Erik Rutins

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Freeboy,

Thank you for the huge vote of confidence, we're delighted that you're loving AT.

Regards,

- Erik

< Message edited by Erik Rutins -- 10/27/2007 3:28:09 PM >

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For official support, please use our Help Desk: http://www.matrixgames.com/helpdesk/

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RE: How good is this game? My review 9.6 - 10/27/2007 4:46:13 PM

Kipper

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How can you write a review without mentioning the nice anti-supply rules? For shame

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RE: How good is this game? My review 9.6 - 10/27/2007 4:52:31 PM

kevinkins

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Where did the 0.4 points go?

Kevin

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Post #: 8

RE: How good is this game? My review 9.6 - 10/27/2007 6:20:13 PM

freeboy

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re read paragraph three talks about supply dude! I cannot in a mini review hit everything in detail!

.4 off also mentioned lol!
Editor ease of use, and graphics etc. all told a very fine product, now who will brave a pbem game against me , remember I am not a Playtester for this game, and opened mine up Thursday like many of you here! ?

< Message edited by freeboy -- 10/27/2007 6:22:58 PM >

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Post #: 9

RE: How good is this game? My review 9.6 - 10/27/2007 7:49:26 PM

Bossy573

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Well thanks a lot freeboy. I honestly was looking for every reason in the world not to bust out the plastic. So many games released lately....

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RE: How good is this game? My review 9.6 - 10/27/2007 9:46:37 PM

Hertston

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Early days, but I'm really enjoying this one. What I wanted was a construction kit rather than a purely WW2 game (I have enough of those already) and was relieved to see there are ACW and fantasy scenarios, among others, available for download as that indicates that the editor should be capable of pretty much anything once I get a chance to mess with it. AT is a very well designed, elegant and fun system... the sort of game that reminds me why I love gaming and an antidote to those occasions when you find yourself halfway through a big TOAW scenario and wonder why you don't just take up chess instead.

It's not really a criticism as I fully appreciate this is essentially a one-man effort, but if anything I think AT would have benefitted from a little more input from Matrix to smarten up the UI (which functions well enough) and general presentation a little.

8/10 maybe, but an 8/10 that will stay on my HD a lot longer than most.

(in reply to Bossy573)

Post #: 11

RE: How good is this game? My review 9.6 - 10/28/2007 1:05:00 AM

ravinhood

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quote:

and by far the BEST in this type of game I have ever seen.

I stopped reading there because that is where the reviewer turned fanboi <sigh> can't anyone give a review anymore without becoming emotionally involved? ;)

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RE: How good is this game? My review 9.6 - 10/28/2007 1:58:58 AM

Hertston

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quote:

ORIGINAL: ravinhood

I stopped reading there because that is where the reviewer turned fanboi <sigh> can't anyone give a review anymore without becoming emotionally involved? ;)

You can't say you like anything "without becoming emotionally involved". Give the guy a break; he wasn't writing for Gamespot or PC Gamer. Read between the lines if you have to. It's far too early days to write a full review that would pick up all the nit-picking stuff, anyway.

< Message edited by Hertston -- 10/28/2007 1:59:46 AM >

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RE: How good is this game? My review 9.6 - 10/28/2007 2:15:29 AM

freeboy

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no, he is allowed to be critical.. saying it is the best is like saying, Better in this type that alot of GREAT games, SSG titles etc. Many games excell at two play, this one seems to combine a great many things well. Every is allowed a polite opinion, and even a well worded non polite one.. am I a fanboy, blinded by some thing? not really, My motive is simple to give a positive and HONEST evaluation.

I truly think if played in a two player mode this game will be a benchmark for playability. There are good games that have some aspects you truly like, Forge, love the intense and challenching tacticle battles where you really do not know whos side is winning until one breaks and runs of the feild. For solo games there are some great simulations, I liked the Combat Mision games , Like Tow, even in its not too refined release, even Total war games can be modded to something like a fun solo game. Everyone has there own area they think is important. This is certainly a game that allows for designing in both tactics and strategic aspects.

Why is this better? That is an intangible, it is easy... has the option to add componenet parts to shell formations, uses and effective moral and experience and supply rules that one does not need to get a MBA to understand. allows for air, land and sea intaraction.
Call me a name, just try this game out and prove me a lyier, I assure you, you will not!

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RE: How good is this game? My review 9.6 - 10/28/2007 2:20:08 AM

Awac835

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With ravinhoods history i think i could trace a tiny bit of sarcasm in his post or maybe it was that smily at the end.

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RE: How good is this game? My review 9.6 - 10/28/2007 2:21:57 AM

Banquet

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Well said!

quote:

ORIGINAL: freeboy

no, he is allowed to be critical.. saying it is the best is like saying, Better in this type that alot of GREAT games, SSG titles etc. Many games excell at two play, this one seems to combine a great many things well. Every is allowed a polite opinion, and even a well worded non polite one.. am I a fanboy, blinded by some thing? not really, My motive is simple to give a positive and HONEST evaluation.

I truly think if played in a two player mode this game will be a benchmark for playability. There are good games that have some aspects you truly like, Forge, love the intense and challenching tacticle battles where you really do not know whos side is winning until one breaks and runs of the feild. For solo games there are some great simulations, I liked the Combat Mision games , Like Tow, even in its not too refined release, even Total war games can be modded to something like a fun solo game. Everyone has there own area they think is important. This is certainly a game that allows for designing in both tactics and strategic aspects.

Why is this better? That is an intangible, it is easy... has the option to add componenet parts to shell formations, uses and effective moral and experience and supply rules that one does not need to get a MBA to understand. allows for air, land and sea intaraction.
Call me a name, just try this game out and prove me a lyier, I assure you, you will not!

< Message edited by Banquet -- 10/28/2007 2:22:58 AM >

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RE: How good is this game? My review 9.6 - 10/28/2007 2:29:09 AM

Banquet

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Awac835

With ravinhoods history i think i could trace a tiny bit of sarcasm in his post or maybe it was that smily at the end.

Everything ravinhood says has sarcasm in it.. if someone gave me 1p for everytime he said 'kiddie clickfest' I'd be a rich man (I'd have enough for a packet of cigarettes, anyway!) He's usually entertaining though, even when he's wrong. Every forum needs a ravinhood

< Message edited by Banquet -- 10/28/2007 2:31:08 AM >

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RE: How good is this game? My review 9.6 - 10/28/2007 2:39:10 AM

ravinhood

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Sarcasm? I'm never sarcastic I'm 100% adamant in my opinions and beliefs why wouldn't I be? ;) Now if you had said "Devils Advocate" well that I MIGHT agree to from time to time. ;) I just find that people that usually start out with "Best game I ever played or Best this or Best that" do not give a thourough review and it's lopside as you saw in Freeboys initial post. Not one FLAW? cmon we must be realistic here there's gotta be some flaws. ;) I like a review that has both sides of the coin not just the fanboi one. I'm more interested in what's "WRONG" with the game than what's right afterall we EXPECT the game to be RIGHT now don't we? ;)

< Message edited by ravinhood -- 10/28/2007 2:41:50 AM >

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RE: How good is this game? My review 9.6 - 10/28/2007 2:55:37 AM

freeboy

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Ok, fair point, BUT I did say it was after having it for twelve hours, not days, and it "shines in two player mode" IF your read, hehe, between the lines I am implying that it is less than steller, like all the other games like it in solo mode.

FOR ME! I read movie reviews, not because I like reviewers, but I get a feel for their tastes over time., and while I may prefer one Actor over another in general, having a review helps me to sellect movies ,, I REALLY like movies. If you like games read reviews and take the things there as they are. I am not saying this will not be the best game.. or that it has no flaws. Rather, it is elegent, easy and retains a depth of complexity in the playing! This is what made GGWAW a hit, although not my particular favorite.
For someone who wants a challenge and is a good to better gamer and will only play solitaire, look elsewhere.. but that is true of all games in this type no? Best in catagory!

< Message edited by freeboy -- 10/28/2007 2:58:28 AM >

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RE: How good is this game? My review 9.6 - 10/28/2007 2:58:56 AM

Banquet

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quote:

ORIGINAL: ravinhood

Sarcasm? I'm never sarcastic I'm 100% adamant in my opinions and beliefs why wouldn't I be? ;) Now if you had said "Devils Advocate" well that I MIGHT agree to from time to time. ;) I just find that people that usually start out with "Best game I ever played or Best this or Best that" do not give a thourough review and it's lopside as you saw in Freeboys initial post. Not one FLAW? cmon we must be realistic here there's gotta be some flaws. ;) I like a review that has both sides of the coin not just the fanboi one. I'm more interested in what's "WRONG" with the game than what's right afterall we EXPECT the game to be RIGHT now don't we? ;)

Fair enough :) I'm sure there are things wrong with this game. No doubt they'll emerge over the next few weeks. Honestly though, ravinhood, keep an eye on this one because it does have some great gameplay. It's early days.. I haven't really tested the AI yet, etc.. but there are so many positives.. I haven't been this addicted to a game for quite some time :)

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RE: How good is this game? My review 9.6 - 10/28/2007 3:09:55 AM

ravinhood

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Oh I am I'll probably even buy this because VIC did such a good job on Peoples Tactics and it was FREE. I like Vic he answers questions really fast and I really have no doubt this will be a game for all wargamers to add to their library. :) It was just that "best ever thang" that got me on a tangent. ;) I'm waiting on kissmas anyways, but, if matrixgames is true to their other kissmases this won't be on the list I'm afraid. But, yah never know ole Erik might get the kissmas spirit and put ALL their games on the kissmas special this year. :)

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RE: How good is this game? My review 9.6 - 10/28/2007 3:14:42 AM

freeboy

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did you try reading what was not said yet oh great one?

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RE: How good is this game? My review 9.6 - 10/28/2007 3:25:33 AM

Awac835

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quote:

ORIGINAL: freeboy

Ok, fair point, BUT I did say it was after having it for twelve hours, not days, and it "shines in two player mode" IF your read, hehe, between the lines I am implying that it is less than steller, like all the other games like it in solo mode.

Yeah i got that impression to when i read your OP. And sure AT have faults. But i would actualy go as far as say its leaps and bounds from any other wargame ive played in terms of fun.

This is practicaly what i had hoped BattleFront would be. A DB game like BiN with direct arty and planes. Where you control what to build and where to drop those troops. That it then also have a rather nice navy model is only a bonus.
One thing the DB system as going for it 110% is the fully transparent combat resolutions. Its a bit more hazey in AT. But after playing alot of small games against the AI i think im really getting a hang of the units and how to use them. Also the readiness, XP and moral system is a joy together with the supply system.
All im really lacking from the DB engine is railroads, and i really liked how divisions got a bonus if it maintained choesion among its regiments. Ofc much the same is modled here with HQ bonus etc. and will properly come more into play on bigger maps which i havent tried yet.

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RE: How good is this game? My review 9.6 - 10/28/2007 3:47:35 AM

TheHellPatrol

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Awac835

But i would actualy go as far as say its leaps and bounds from any other wargame ive played in terms of fun.

To be honest i didn't know what to expect when i bought AT, i didn't even look at PT or the AT website. It's a Matrix game and has WW2 in it so...why not

. After some time it's hitting me, it's truly a wargame in every sense of the word. Complete freedom of choice to wage war any way you want whether by air, land or sea. The AI is really good and i am starting to think think that this may just be "the best" wargame package to date. Now before ravin' yells "fanboi" i'll remind you i am critical of my purchases as my life's responsibilties have robbed me of much of my gametime and i avoid frustration like the plague.
That said, it's not just another WW2 game...it's a wargame sandbox complete with an AI that doesn't wait around for you to pummel it, lol. I've seen it do some rather human moves in the last 4 hours of gameplay and i don't mean stupid ones either

. Yes, i'll keep an eye out for errors etc. but so far it's looking very polished which is suprising given the scope of the game

.

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RE: How good is this game? My review 9.6 - 10/28/2007 4:57:24 AM

freeboy

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Right, I was kicking butt as Russia against German A+, but against German "A ++" I am not nearly doing as well. RE the DB series.. I buy all the SSG stuff, as they are a small company that have kept me gaming for years, but I would only have rated the last Battlefront game, especially solo as a 8.4, too combersome and non intuitive , FOR ME! I like this resolution better when You understand how it works seems much more accurate. Am starting some pbem, and will be looking for some lessons as the folks sending me are some of my betters!

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Post #: 25

RE: How good is this game? My review 9.6 - 10/28/2007 5:21:03 AM

ravinhood

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TheHellPatrol is a fanboi.

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RE: How good is this game? My review 9.6 - 10/28/2007 5:35:02 AM

freeboy

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I think in your heart U are a fanboy! lol
ok, there are somethings I have found, no anti ground defensive air settings, unless I missed that.
Factory changes for new equipment is emidiate with no delay, maybe adding an optional rule to allow delays of x number of turns per designers specs?
I do not like the replay verses just watching the screen as the ai or other players turn gets to me, would rather see what is happening minus the fog of war of couese..
other minor issues?
All of the above do not in any way attract from the play ability.. and the ease of use will keep this a pbem game for some time.
feeling better now Ravemanatic?

< Message edited by freeboy -- 10/28/2007 10:48:02 AM >

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Post #: 27