Ready to Buy??

[Toby42]

I've been following this title for awhile now, but have held off on purchasing. What I would like to know is, that with the patches that are now available, is it ready to buy???

Thanks for any input....

[Venator]

Well if you wanted to be cautious you might hold off til the official 1.2 patch. But to be honest I've had a great time playing it since I purchased it, even with the early bugs. And one can be confident that the developer will iron out all bugs and is actively working on them, which (sadly) is not always the case. Great game and first class support from the developer. Every company should aspire to this standard.

[Toby42]

Thanks for the reply. It gets me to thinking more posititve about the game, especially with not much available on WWI...

[Toby42]

Well, my next question is... Is this a "boring" game? It looks like the Western Front is pretty much what it was really. A stalemate!!!
 
I'm still undecided about making a purchase????

[Venator]

I find it rather exciting.

You don't have to concentrate on the Western Front, you can embark on all manner of Churchillian sideshows if you want (and allocate resources properly).

Even if you think that the Western Front should be your main battleground, the game is still strangely tense. I don't find it's the combat that provides this tension exactly - though some battles can be suitably nerve wracking, more the resource allocation and wondering if you've got it right or whether you've overlooked something and will be made to pay for it several turns down the line. Or whether if I commit resource points to plenty of offensives I will win teh war by Christmas. Or whether your subs will inflict sufficient damage on transports to hurt the opponents food supply and hence sap their morale. Or whether Italy will join the allies in time to tip the scales. Or indeed whether a war of attrition on the Western front will bleed your opponent white before it destroys your side's will to fight.

The things I don't like about the game are interface related (like having to try and work out whether my transports are going to actually deliver food or slink back to port - I should be able to 'automate' that kind of thing - but I believe a patch is addressing that) and I can happily accept those relatively minor faults because I feel like the game is giving me choices - but choices that will have fairly realistic consequences and restraints.

[Joel Rauber]

ORIGINAL: Treale

Well, my next question is... Is this a "boring" game? It looks like the Western Front is pretty much what it was really. A stalemate!!!

I'm still undecided about making a purchase????

No, see previous post

[Toby42]

Thanks for the info Guys. I may have to give this Puppy a try....

[Sytass]

ORIGINAL: Venator

I find it rather exciting.

You don't have to concentrate on the Western Front, you can embark on all manner of Churchillian sideshows if you want (and allocate resources properly).

Even if you think that the Western Front should be your main battleground, the game is still strangely tense. I don't find it's the combat that provides this tension exactly - though some battles can be suitably nerve wracking, more the resource allocation and wondering if you've got it right or whether you've overlooked something and will be made to pay for it several turns down the line. Or whether if I commit resource points to plenty of offensives I will win teh war by Christmas. Or whether your subs will inflict sufficient damage on transports to hurt the opponents food supply and hence sap their morale. Or whether Italy will join the allies in time to tip the scales. Or indeed whether a war of attrition on the Western front will bleed your opponent white before it destroys your side's will to fight.

The things I don't like about the game are interface related (like having to try and work out whether my transports are going to actually deliver food or slink back to port - I should be able to 'automate' that kind of thing - but I believe a patch is addressing that) and I can happily accept those relatively minor faults because I feel like the game is giving me choices - but choices that will have fairly realistic consequences and restraints.

Indeed, the greatest challenge of the game is probably managing your very scarce resources. Should I commit the High Seas Fleet to facing the British at the risk of sustaining losses that will be very hard or near impossible to recover (or face starvation at home)? Should I research tanks or rather use the resources for supplies and offensives? What about reinforcements? Should I produce infantry? Or planes for recon? Trenches? Tanks? And if you think it's hard for Germany, France or Britain, then look at the sore position that Russia, Austria-Hungary and Ottoman Empire find themselves in who often can only buy one or two items per turn ....

Not to mention that you can freely deploy your troops before the first turn, so that you can create a limitless number of "what if" scenarios.

[wurger54]

Well, my next question is... Is this a "boring" game? It looks like the Western Front is pretty much what it was really. A stalemate!!!

I'm still undecided about making a purchase????

The game has a definate 'chess' feel to it. This is no doubt attributed to the 1 hex at a time pace. If deep panzer thrusts and virtical envelopement are your thing, you may want to pass on this one. [:-] But if you enjoy seeing a complex multi layered strategy gradually unfold to the impending doom of your opponant as his population riots in protest for lack of food. This may be your sadistic cup of tea.

[Toby42]

It sounds like I may make a "Buy" on this title. I think that I will wait a little longer to see if Matrix has their Christmas Sale on games again this year. Has anyone heard any news on this???

[wurger54]

[/quote]


The game has a definate 'chess' feel to it. This is no doubt attributed to the 1 hex at a time pace. If deep panzer thrusts and virtical envelopement are your thing, you may want to pass on this one. [:-] But if you enjoy seeing a complex multi layered strategy gradually unfold to the impending doom of your opponant as his population riots in protest for lack of food. This may be your sadistic cup of tea.
[/quote]




I did fail to mention that there are those occasions, especially in PBEM, where you are on the recieving end of the above mentioned strategy, and its your head the rioters outside are looking for.