HoI IV $30 on greenmangaming.com

[Rosseau]

Strategy Guide - great!

As I get older (ahem), manuals aren't as fun to read as they were before. I did like the PDF because you could search for the exact word if you had a question. Doesn't work as well on a Wiki.

Well, time to download the game and figure it out!

[wings7]

ORIGINAL: rosseau

Strategy Guide - great!

As I get older (ahem), manuals aren't as fun to read as they were before. I did like the PDF because you could search for the exact word if you had a question. Doesn't work as well on a Wiki.

Well, time to download the game and figure it out!

"Ctrl + F" works well on most pages and things for searching.

[Alchenar]

There is no Paradox game where the manual didn't become hopelessly out of date within 6-12 months of release. That's why there's no manual. They could have done better with the tutorial information, but wasting time on a manual that most people wouldn't read and would almost immediately become defunct would have been a bad decision.

[bairdlander2]

I'm holding off on this one...not wise to purchase on release date

[Speedysteve]

Unlikely I'll get this in the short term but it does interestingly get pretty positive reviews on metacritic.

[aaatoysandmore]

Wow, it might even make it to the real christmas this year before it goes below $10?

[wings7]

The Steam reviews have been very good so far!
http://store.steampowered.com/app/394360/

[gexmex]

I've only got 3 hours in it, and I hate that they axed the in-depth organization, but so far I've really enjoyed it. Tutorial has been good so far, and there's loads of helpful pop ups. Battle plans are a lot of fun to set up and execute. I can't help but wonder if they took some cues about preparation for battle plans and naval invasions from WitW [;)]

[wings7]

ORIGINAL: gexmex

I've only got 3 hours in it, and I hate that they axed the in-depth organization, but so far I've really enjoyed it. Tutorial has been good so far, and there's loads of helpful pop ups. Battle plans are a lot of fun to set up and execute. I can't help but wonder if they took some cues about preparation for battle plans and naval invasions from WitW [;)]

Awesome! [:D]

[Ranger33]

I've played a few hours now as well, it's a lot of fun and much easier to play than HoI 3. I would recommend all of the grizzled grognard types to steer clear. The game is way too streamlined and user friendly for you [:D]

Only complaint so far would be that the AI can certainly do some very silly things with troop movements and I really don't like how military access works currently.

I'm playing my first game as Romania. I went fascist and then attacked Bulgaria (I mean, why not?) to get some extra factories and such. Then I lined up against Hungary. I really should have lost that war since my army got all but pocketed and then Hungary slipped a dozen divisions into Romania proper. Instead of going for my undefended capital they were happy to loiter in the north for several months, giving me time to reach somewhat undefended Budapest, forcing them to capitulate.

A later oddity was when Germany attacked Poland. The Soviets did not attack Poland and the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact was still on. They instead attacked Estonia, who was allied with Poland, which for some reason caused 50 German divisions to travel around Poland and into the SU, then they reversed course and then 50 SU divisions cruised into Germany. Then Germany won against Poland, then the next day declared war on SU, leaving dozens of SU divisions hundreds of miles from supply. So, yeah, some work to be done there. Or AI Hitler is just a very sneaky trickster.

[wings7]

ORIGINAL: Ranger33

I've played a few hours now as well, it's a lot of fun and much easier to play than HoI 3. I would recommend all of the grizzled grognard types to steer clear. The game is way too streamlined and user friendly for you [:D]

Only complaint so far would be that the AI can certainly do some very silly things with troop movements and I really don't like how military access works currently.

I'm playing my first game as Romania. I went fascist and then attacked Bulgaria (I mean, why not?) to get some extra factories and such. Then I lined up against Hungary. I really should have lost that war since my army got all but pocketed and then Hungary slipped a dozen divisions into Romania proper. Instead of going for my undefended capital they were happy to loiter in the north for several months, giving me time to reach somewhat undefended Budapest, forcing them to capitulate.

A later oddity was when Germany attacked Poland. The Soviets did not attack Poland and the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact was still on. They instead attacked Estonia, who was allied with Poland, which for some reason caused 50 German divisions to travel around Poland and into the SU, then they reversed course and then 50 SU divisions cruised into Germany. Then Germany won against Poland, then the next day declared war on SU, leaving dozens of SU divisions hundreds of miles from supply. So, yeah, some work to be done there. Or AI Hitler is just a very sneaky trickster.

Sounds good! I've been impressed of what I've seen and heard! [:)]

[Rosseau]

For some reason, it reminds me of the Supreme Ruler series done right. Pretty easy to play without a manual or a wiki.

Well worth it for the $30 I wound up paying. Rather big negative for me is only 1936 and 1938 start times, so you can't jump right into war without using the console or cheating.

Good game, but I am rather glad HOI 3 v4.02 is still around. I just love Francesco's counter mods and the ability to paste in brand new OOBs in seconds.

[vaalen]

I would recommend that you read the MANY very negative reviews on Steam before you spend anything on this.

I am definitely not going to buy it, even on sale.

[bairdlander2]

ORIGINAL: vaalen

I would recommend that you read the MANY very negative reviews on Steam before you spend anything on this.

I am definitely not going to buy it, even on sale.

positives 890,negatives 138

[aaatoysandmore]

ORIGINAL: vaalen

I would recommend that you read the MANY very negative reviews on Steam before you spend anything on this.

I am definitely not going to buy it, even on sale.

The users scores on Metacritic ain't so hot either: http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/hearts-of-iron-iv

[vaalen]

If you read the very first positive review that appears on steam when you look at the store page, the writer is having a great time, using Mongolia to conquer Japan. Other positive reviewers enjoy similar nonsense where Italy conquers half of Europe early in the game. Another positive reviewer said that the AI can now make naval invasions, so what else do you need?

A negative reviewer saw China take Tokyo with an amphibious assault in 1940, and stated there is no way to stop a naval invasion.

A negative reviewer stated that the AI is one hundred percent brain dead, which is perhaps the reason that Mongolia was able to conquer Japan, to the delight of the first positive reviewer.

A common theme in the negative reviews is that the game is not at all historical, even in the historical mode, that it feels like a shell in many areas, and is stripped of many features previous games had, to make it easy to play. And there is no manual.

I have only read the first twenty or so reviews to appear on the store page, as no one has time to read all of the over one thousand reviews. So these comments are based on those twenty, as I felt no need to read more.

Now, if you want an easy game that allows you to dominate the world as a minor nation, such as Mongolia, this is the game for you. Many people enjoy that experience.

I want games to give a feel for history, and to be challenging. I greatly enjoyed HOI 2.
But HOI 4 is not the game for me.

[Aurelian]

ORIGINAL: vaalen



If you read the very first positive review that appears on steam when you look at the store page, the writer is having a great time, using Mongolia to conquer Japan. Other positive reviewers enjoy similar nonsense where Italy conquers half of Europe early in the game. Another positive reviewer said that the AI can now make naval invasions, so what else do you need?

A negative reviewer saw China take Tokyo with an amphibious assault in 1940, and stated there is no way to stop a naval invasion.

A negative reviewer stated that the AI is one hundred percent brain dead, which is perhaps the reason that Mongolia was able to conquer Japan, to the delight of the first positive reviewer.

A common theme in the negative reviews is that the game is not at all historical, even in the historical mode, that it feels like a shell in many areas, and is stripped of many features previous games had, to make it easy to play. And there is no manual.

I have only read the first twenty or so reviews to appear on the store page, as no one has time to read all of the over one thousand reviews. So these comments are based on those twenty, as I felt no need to read more.

Now, if you want an easy game that allows you to dominate the world as a minor nation, such as Mongolia, this is the game for you. Many people enjoy that experience.

I want games to give a feel for history, and to be challenging. I greatly enjoyed HOI 2.
But HOI 4 is not the game for me.

Brain dead AI: Check.

Taking a minor, backward country and doing what even Genghis Khan couldn't do: Check.

Pretending a fantasy game is historical: Check.

Nope, not going to waste the money

[Ranger33]

Good thing is there will be mods to make the game more realistic. Paradox took steps to make this their most moddable game ever. There's even a tool to add 3D models and such into the game easily. Yes, the AI can be dumb, but that's true for plenty of other games. I'm sure it will get better.

In my Romania campaign I've joined the Axis and we took Moscow in late '41 so that's at least a plausible outcome right? The fact that it's encirclement was spearheaded by my elite Romanian infantry probably less so [:D]

[aaatoysandmore]

I wonder if "Brazil" can take Berlin again? [:D]

[wings7]

ORIGINAL: Ranger33

Good thing is there will be mods to make the game more realistic. Paradox took steps to make this their most moddable game ever. There's even a tool to add 3D models and such into the game easily. Yes, the AI can be dumb, but that's true for plenty of other games. I'm sure it will get better.

In my Romania campaign I've joined the Axis and we took Moscow in late '41 so that's at least a plausible outcome right? The fact that it's encirclement was spearheaded by my elite Romanian infantry probably less so [:D]

I do look forward to the mods! [:)]