Theatre of War:Did it improve over time?

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Theatre of War:Did it improve over time? - 4/15/2008 11:31:25 PM

marcusm

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I know the game was disappointing for many but did it improve with patches?
Downloading the demo just to check.

For those who didn't like it. Did you see potential with sequels/patches? The vistas look amazing on the screens, maybe the best looking wargame ever? But I find it idiotic that you can't enter buildings.

Hopefully Panzer Command can get similar graphics in the future ;).

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RE: Theatre of War:Did it improve over time? - 4/15/2008 11:40:36 PM

Grell

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Hi Marcus,

I played the latest Demo and it just stank. The game is very heavily scripted as well.

Regards,

Grell

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RE: Theatre of War:Did it improve over time? - 4/15/2008 11:50:52 PM

JudgeDredd

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I love it...but I am a self confessed graphics whore and I think the animations are ace. Especially tanks.

Personally, I'm not a BIG RTS fan, but I thought it was a good game. Not nearly as good as some other games I have, but imo it was worth the money I paid.

I'd say the same for Combat Mission Shock Force...so take my advice if you want

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RE: Theatre of War:Did it improve over time? - 4/15/2008 11:55:04 PM

marcusm

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Well my problem with CM:SF was the "theatre". I simply don't find Syria interesting.
I will soon try the demo, before it's time to get Kharkov ;)..

This game was made by the guys that gave us IL2 after all. Can it really be without any potential?

The Africa corps addon looks stunning though. Love the British vs Italian campaign :).

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RE: Theatre of War:Did it improve over time? - 4/15/2008 11:59:15 PM

Hertston

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Yes, it did improve substantially with patches, particularly the last one (all 1 GB of it). It is pretty, but limited in that all the maps look much the same.. whether they are supposed to be in France, Poland, or Russia.

I like Theatre of War, but it is important to accept it for what it is, an RTS game and not a wargame. Without the base building, troop recruiting stuff and with some 'realism' elements, yes, but still an RTS. It plays very differently from Shock Force which is a genuine real-time tactical wargame. The game is highly scripted, yes, and many maps take the form of a puzzle to find the 'right' way to win but in fairness that right way generally has some resemblance to appropriate real-life tactics. I've never tried multiplayer since they fixed it as my aging system struggles enough coping with single player, but I suspect it might be rather fun if you can find an opponent. Overall, I suppose ToW is another of those 'OK' games that you think could have been really special if a little more work (or maybe a lot more) had been put in.

I haven't seen any indication significant further improvements or a sequel are intended (but have just noticed the comments on Afrika Corps?). I doubt it sold well enough to justify a sequel.

< Message edited by Hertston -- 4/16/2008 12:01:18 AM >

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RE: Theatre of War:Did it improve over time? - 4/16/2008 12:01:09 AM

Sarge

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quote:

ORIGINAL: marcusm

I know the game was disappointing for many but did it improve with patches?
Downloading the demo just to check.

For those who didn't like it. Did you see potential with sequels/patches? The vistas look amazing on the screens, maybe the best looking wargame ever? But I find it idiotic that you can't enter buildings.

Hopefully Panzer Command can get similar graphics in the future ;).

I gave the demo a go and also found the vehicle and environment models/textures were all top notch but found the individual soldier models were lacking in equipment and polish in FOW.

Seemed more of a Armor type game from my limited hands on

Not a bad game just not my cup of tea.

PS: I think your underestimating the 3D models and environment in Panzer Command

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RE: Theatre of War:Did it improve over time? - 4/16/2008 12:06:05 AM

marcusm

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Well it(Africa Corps) seems well under way and it looks great. There is a thread about it in their forum.
Panzer Command looks good but one has to admit that while boring in their repetition, the TOW plains just look gorgeous.

Neither game seems to have any cities/villages of size though :(.

World in Conflict was amazing in the way it had great detail close up as well as gorgeous terrain.

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RE: Theatre of War:Did it improve over time? - 4/16/2008 12:21:39 AM

marcusm

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Btw. Screens from Africa Campaign. Buildings are now enterable.

http://games.1c.ru/art_of_war_afrika/?type=gallery

I like this one especially.

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RE: Theatre of War:Did it improve over time? - 4/16/2008 12:24:31 AM

JudgeDredd

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you know, I set up a battle with Shermans on one side and some AT guns, and a mix of Tigers and King Tigers on the other....I just love playing that...those tanks are sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!!

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RE: Theatre of War:Did it improve over time? - 4/16/2008 12:39:21 AM

Titanwarrior89

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They also have the artillery and air strikes down. Including the sound. I like the job they did with that.

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RE: Theatre of War:Did it improve over time? - 4/16/2008 2:49:00 AM

Peter Fisla

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The graphics are great, the way damage modeling is handled on vehicles is also great, I'm not so sure though if infantry stuff is handled just as well. There is simply not enough stuff in it, for example: no 88mm AA gun, in fact very limited selection of ordnance, no mortars no smoke, infantry can't currently enter buildings, very few tanks and vehicles. AI is too scripted and there is no no dynamic campaign like in say Steel Panthers, Eastern Front from Talonsoft, even Close Combat campaign would be cool. I have the "uber" patch (LOS fixes some other things, like random battle generator) but quite honesty I haven't tried it yet. I think the engine is great and it has true potential but there is too much of the basic stuff missing for me and needs still a lot of work from my point of view; talking about game rules. I will buy the add-on pack and hope that things will change. Honestly, I don't care for 3D anymore...just give me updated Steel Panthers with more detail...keep the 2D...give me good quality campaign and I could care less about 3D.

After so many years in pc wargames world I have decided to try to learn ASL and boy am I glad I did! I love it! It doesn't have flashy graphics (yet clean and elegant) but has huge buckets of gameplay, lots of scenarios and campaigns! I'm actually writing computer version of ASLSK (got sick and tired waiting for somebody to write the game I want to play, so I have decided to do it on my own) and I already have AI working as well...still need to do tanks and campaign module.

< Message edited by Peter Fisla -- 4/16/2008 2:58:56 AM >

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RE: Theatre of War:Did it improve over time? - 4/16/2008 3:33:44 AM

marcusm

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Nothing wrong with ASL graphics, they look better than most of the digital hexbased wargames.

I played the British vs German scenario and it seems it still needs updating. It has nothing on CMBB nor PCK. The
AI is quite bad. I still think it can be fixed though but it remains to be seeen if they support it beyond the addon.

The battlefields do look like dioaramas though, a bit like those model wargames we played during conventions.
The tanks interaction with the environment is also quite awesome to look at (fences breaking up etc).

Personally I think both 2d and 3d have their place. 3d is best for the computer equivalent of model wargaming and 2d is the equivalent of AH style wargaming. Both are fun :).

< Message edited by marcusm -- 4/16/2008 3:39:03 AM >

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Post #: 12