Matrix Games Forums

Drex

I have tried Steel Beasts.

Visually it is quite good.

Then again, "visually" is not much of a qualifier eh. I have seen a lot of games lately that are "visually" quite good.

The interface looks ok though. Or at least I was able to drive around a Bradley in the demo fairly easily.

But I can't get much more into it than that. I don't really run to playing tank sims much.

Les the Sarge 9-1: Well thanks, only I was looking at something a bit more indepth. While I'm not crazy about squares, the graphical nuances are good enough, it's the historic possibilities and whether the thing 'can be' less directed than daily, that concerned me. It looked as though I could play with assigning the AI some of my command if I so deemed, whilst making some of the really interesting changes like tank production any time I want. They went into a great deal of detail, with things like daily tank production, so there's definitely some hope for the title on that alone. I'm wanting a serious review beyond what's immediately obvious to the eye, because my intent is to find the meat behind it and not to ignore the meat just because the graphics and hexes are lackluster. My attitude, despite the limitations of squares, is that if this title can gameplaywise do what no other has done, even if not necessarily better, then the graphics matter little. With a strategic title like SOE if I get anything better looking than X's and O's (and even the general military icons are satisfactory - squares with X's in them) the graphics are pretty meaningless. The graphics are pretty much forgotten once one gets into playing with ease. I just want to know if getting familiar with the title is worth my while and based on your review you've only tiold me of the squares, which I hadn't realized.

One gameplay turnoff I found particularly annoying is that it appears I cannot attack with more then one unit at a time, so if that's true a lot rides on that. If you can only attack in like manner, and I'm not at all certain about that, given that it's a demo and that I haven't even exploited that entirely, that doesn't bode well. I was still having some fun with it, as trying to beat any game might, and I did enjoy being able to change production, but I need more, especially more than one unit being able to attack at once and more accuracy elsewhere. I need to know the core, not the skin.

Good input Charles.

Yes my look at it was brutally brief actually.

First reaction was yes, squares, is this game serious?

The counter images looked basic, but I agree a game is not its graphics.

I liked how the move radius altered based on where I moved (seemed an interesting feature in a basic way I guess).

Modest animations for combat, but nothing to excessive. To much movement could result in no attack that move for a unit, not to bad I suppose.

The game had limited range of enemy unit detection I think as well. I always like a modest fog of war element (thats about the main reason I like computer games actually, no need for umpired double blind games).

I liked the ablity of artillery to support at a distance. Didn't experience any air support modelling but I am not sure I think air and naval are not present in the demo (can't recall).

Final analysis I give game (don't think I stated it well in my first post), a light weight entertainment possibly. Because sometimes you just don't want a delux experience. That and this looks like a nice introductory game for new wargammers perhaps.

I tried the demo of Soldiers of Empires and I agree with Les the Sarge about its qualities. Grigsby did as good a job with his game of that Front. It is hard for me to get into strategic games that deal with so many forces over such a large area but maybe I just haven't found a game with an interface that is user friendly. Now I don't mind large strategic naval games like Pac-War and I am looking forward to WitP, but good old tactical wargames like SPWAW are my meat and potatoes.

Drex/ Les the Sarge 9-1:

Grigsby did as good a job with his game of that Front.

My goodness, if it's that good the core of the game must be outstanding! Ah, though Les's review ability improved from the first to the last post, none of us are really too 'core' just yet. Now if only one of you suckers - er - guinea pigs - er- people, would just buy it, I'm sure we'd get a better clue. For me, there are a number of curious factors about the game just on face value, so I am a bit intrigued: such as daily production of materials, ranged artillery as Les said (though AA units couldn't be used, really, since there was no air), and even daily turns is 'interesting' though I might find myself giving up to such micromanagement. Just the fact that such an awful possibility is possible in the game is interesting, whether one would ever play it past the first week or not. Surely if those people are serious, there must be some alternate turn length option, as opposed to the apparent idea of letting the AI handle part of your forces (yuck!). I was intrigued too with how the FOW was working. Too bad the air routines weren't there.

Given the price of the game ($30), assuming the game is available yet, it looks to me as though the game is meant to be shareware, especially considering how some things are very good, like altering production/forming new units/cities often taking more than one hex, etc. and then there's some fairly awful things like squares, and even worse the probability that you can only attack with one unit at a time. Considering the grandiosity of the game, while initially I'd agree with Les on it being meant as a entry-level game, it has some things far too cumbersome or complex for it to fit there either. From what I can see it almost looks as though they got one guy to do it who did graphics for Telengard and one guy who did detail for BTR (I think it even has ratings for exp/morale too) and threw them together (naturally the Telengard guy would've done the squares and 'the one unit attacking at a time' bit).

Sure do hope some of those reviewer types tackle it, but it's shareware look may keep them away.

Well, I dropped in a vote for SPW@W. Of the others, I only tried one. Battlefield 1942 was a major disappointment. After 13 hours of fighting through the demo download, I start the game with "some.dll file not found". @#!@$%. Delete!!

With a limited number of hours in the day available for 'entertainment', SPW@W keeps me plenty busy all by her little self.

The only other game mentioned so far that piques my interest is Harpoon. But I had a poor experience in the past with that program too. I have been hoping that they've developed a less 'buggy' game for the 21st century market. Does anybody have more info on, or can direct me to the latest in the Harpoon series?

I played the original Harpoon and had a hell of a time. Did they ever finish Harpoon IV? I'd like to try that one.

SPWAW for computer games - waiting for CL, tho'.

Clearly this is about computer games, which I play just for a kick from time to time.

If I had to say what I am playing with gusto, it would be ASL. Nothing in the same league. Takes a serious commitment, but you never have to bitch, piss, and moan about the AI or game engine. Just about your opponent's hygiene.

Hey another ASLer wonderful.

Welcome to the mob Sitting Duck (assuming from your post total you are newish here).

Originally posted by Drex
I played the original Harpoon and had a hell of a time. Did they ever finish Harpoon IV? I'd like to try that one.

I pre-ordered Harpoon IV last year when it was due out but got a notice the game was delayed. After contacting the company I struck up a friendship with one of the designers (we have some friends in common) and have been in regular touch with him since then. Last word I got was that they were shooting for a Spring '03 release now.

Thanks Bernie. I'll be looking for that one.

Hey Sarge - yeah, I saw your little Brit SMC there!

I have no clue what ASL avatar I'd take... let me think about it. OK, I think I'd be a Brit 6+1 SMC - hehe

Actually, no, I am not new. Just a new screenname. I'd been away from it for awhile but am now back. Let me try to find my ol' name. I like SittingDuck anyhow. It's how I feel in some of these scenarios!

-SD

Believe it or not , still playing 'Sid Meier's Gettysburg', excellent game!

Also, Day of Defeat, as far as I'm concerned the BEST WW2 FPS----forget about MOH and BF1942!

Then I guess you've been to my SMG site? I don't mess with the game anymore, but there are some files on there for you to check out.

http://www.geocities.com/generalrichmond/

Thanks for all the replies, you opened my eyes to some games I didn't know were out there.

Mainley European Air War (4 years old, but still going strong), Close Combat: A Bridge Too Far and SP-WaW.

im into modding EAW.....

http://www.simhq.com/cgi-bin/boards/cgi ... &number=41

With the woefully short spare moments in a day now, I can only start up IL-2 Sturmovik, set the realism level to unlimited ammo and invulnerable and shoot the He-111 Zwillings or Me-323 Gigants for 15 minutes (these guys make you appreciate the 30mm cannons). A bit more time might steal me a round of Panzer Elite (I am not alone!) and when I have more time, to start another round of UV...

--Mikko

I just picked up IL-2 the other day and am in about the same boat you are in msaario. If I can ever get into IL-2's servers and pick up those rather large updates, maybe I will have a little more success in paralleling Erich Hartmann's career. lol.

That is not an easy sim.

Il-2 eh?
EAW has just had a few releases that will make it 10X better than Il-2....including ultra high graphics mod and OAW (Online Air Wars Utility)
www.eawhostsite.0catch.com
www.eawlinks.0catch.com

SPWAW is like an old friend, I usually play it.

I'm just studying UV, so nothing more about that now.

MOHAA and Wolfenstein are in my HD. I actually like Wolfenstein more, althrough it is bit cheesy.

-Sasa