I played the game from start to finish (good karma), it was the first time I played this game. I finished it just a couple of hours ago for my Twitch channel. I played it at 1080p windowed mode on a Windows 10 desktop PC. The specs of the PC are i7-5960X (8C 16T), GTX 1660 Super, 64GB RAM, PCIE SSD). Native desktop resolution of 2560x1440. I experienced zero crashes and zero noticeable faults other than an occasional lower than average framerate in some occasions which while there did not affect the game at all as they never happened during action. It took me 10 sessions of an average of about 4 hours each. Normal difficulty, though I admit I don't remember if I picked one at all. The game is an action rpg, with open world mechanics though not to the extend of say the Fallout games. Most of the game takes place in "closed worlds", for example a large city, or smaller other places. The travel between those places is done with a fast travel mechanic vaguely similar to the wagon in Skyrim. When you are inside one of those maps (like a city), depending on the size of it, there can be multiple levels within in it which are treated as different maps. You can travel between them with riding elevators or doorways. Within each map you can travel on foot. A lot. I am guessing about 25% of the game was me walking from place to place within a map. The fights are fun, with variety in options (3 different stances with weapons and skills to go you can pick on the fly) and one which is always available together with your chosen one. Good variety of weapons and armor to find, purchase and upgrade. Still, this is not Skyrim. Good story, a ton of missions (main and side), optional missions, decisions affecting the story, etc. Good music, good acting, good graphics. Good story. Good game. The main 2 negatives, tons of walking and rotating mini maps which makes it impossible to not also use the main map. No compass hurts too. Worth playing.
I see people in the reviews complaining about huge icons which from the screenshots at least are not there. I see people in the reviews complaining that the original rollercoaster tycoon was removed to push this, when it is not true as the original can still be bought here. WTF is going on?
I want to make it clear before I continue this review, that I haven't properly played the game in the last 30 years. It was one of few Atari ST games I could find boxed and bought in the 80s. I liked it and it is a fun game. I am sure the PC version is identical other than changes in graphics and sound. Now, gameplay. You get to play missions where you as a lone solider/ranger have to complete them. You usually have a couple of targets/goals. You are dropped with some freedom on the large map and proceed to fight or stealth your way through the mission/map. Think of Fortnite only not for 12yos. Or perhaps for 12yos of the 80s lol. While the game is not a simulation, it was at the time probably the most "simulation" like infantry game till the release of the (what is now known as) Arma series. AKA Operation Flashpoint. You are not going to just go all RAMBO style and win a mission. You have to take it slow, you have to hide, you have to penetrate the enemy defenses and complete your mission. There are terrain obstacles you can use and a variety of equipment. You also get to pick up to 3 IIRC bags which are also dropped from a a plane on different parts of the map to replenish your ammo/equipment or get new types of weapons you might use near that location. Yes you need to plan ahead your mission. The game is very cool and obviously it was unheard of this detail back then for an infantry rambo/commando look alike game. Mostly because it wasn't, this is not just a shoot'em up, this is not Commando. If you can get passed the old for now graphics, this is totally worth it. I don't know if the game contains a manual (this GOG release), but you would be smart to acquire one if there isn't one in the installation files. It's not just a pick up and play type of game. This is not Galaga. Enjoy.
Operational theatre as you can see by the pics. I used to play this a lot back in the day and I even made a short stream on it (the Atari ST version, but they are basically the same) I will link to in the end of this review. The game has you playing one of several scenarios, from either side of NATO or Warsaw Pact, during the 1980s. Basically WW3 in Europe. There is so much variety here for multiple playthroughs that it is a great value for money. It was great value for money even when it was a new game at full price. You are in charge of the side of choice and you give orders to each "unit"/"army" under your command. Each of them is made up of supplies, infantry, armor and close air support, from zero to 9. You have limited number of support points for each, for each turn. The number of support points, but also of starting armies and locations, depends on the scenario and on the situation in the war. You can check, among other information, the number of supplies you get each turn or are about to take, from one of the monitors on the bottom of the screen. Monitors which have other info and decision making, like use of special forces, use of the airforce, chemical and biological weapons and short, medium and long range nuclear weapons, both strategic and battlefield variety. You give orders to your armies where to move and where to attack. If close by and if in supply, you can order more than one army to attack an enemy. This way you can effectively flank, surround and cut off enemy forces, or not. It's up to you. The game has great atmosphere with a capital A. Especially of course if you were alive at the time. One of the best strategy games of its time and I 100% recommend it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-w7GAUtgPX4
I started playing the game for the first time few days ago as I decided to play through the campaign(s) for my twitch stream (same name). in the first session, just under 5 hours, I reached about the middle of the single player campaign. About 13 or so missions. My experience with the game was mostly positive up to that point. The game though didn't have an art style I liked, was good looking enough and had overall good presentation. Up to that point there were two things only, that I didn't like. The first was the complete lack of a pause function out of pressing Esc to check the menus. Not just no pause to give orders which would probably help a lot with this game, but no pause in general where you can at least check the map or something. The second thing was the complete lack of cutscenes. I realize this isn't the type of game to have the budget of previous Westwood games, but it still feels like they are missing to me. So, some negative things, but overall a good semi-classic style RTS. Then the BS started. The game starting every mission with you having close to zero base buildings and the enemy having several ready to go bases and armies, with super weapons ready to go in a couple of minutes. Yes a couple. I played 2-3 more missions like this till I just couldn't take it. In my second stream night of this game after less than 2 hours I just gave up in anger. The amount of BS was too much. I am not new in RTS, I played them since ever and even played 100s of hours multiplayer Generals/Zero Hour (by Westwood). The single player campaign sucks. The missions are basically multiplayer skirmishes, greatly outnumbered and out developed where you get rushed with several armies in 3-4 minutes. It just isn't any fun for me. I give it 3 stars out of 5 and I think I am very kind in doing so. I can tolerate lack of features and polish, but this BS campaign is just too much for me.
I played the game for good, once. Few days ago I decided to stream it over the however many days it would take to complete it. ( www.twitch.tv/trusteft/ ) The driving takes a bit to get used to in races, but eventually I got the hang of it. I liked it and enjoyed the racing parts. My main problem with it is the problem I have with other racing games which have tiered/locked "career" behind events which have nothing to do with actual racing. For example Drity Showdown. There are events in this game where you have to do certain things, acrobatics, with your vehicle. At that point the vehicle not only controls different, but it feels like physics don't apply to it. I finished the first cup, but approaching the end of the second cup (few hours in the stream) I just was not having any fun with these events. Give me racing, but don't force me to "jump through hoops" to play the rest of the game. I have no doubt if they weren't there or at at the very least if I could continue the cup(s) without having to win these events, I would give the game at least a 4/5. The game can be fun, but as it is, not for me.
I mostly played this on the ST in the late 80s, but it is identical. The game is two in one. I will explain. You have a platoon of M1 MBTs with usually some support vehicles or general support like helos, artillery calls, and close in air support (A-10 baby!) You play campaigns, which are dynamic and you play against Warsaw Pact forces. Depending on the result you proceed till you win or lose the war. Great so far. Oh yes there are training missions and blah blah, but the meat of the game is the campaign. Now, when you are in a campaign mission you get to use any post on any tank, commander, gunner, driver, while the A.I. controls the rest. Yes it is cool, yes it is super cool. However, there is another way I mostly played this game. If you watch the trailer you will notice a map with some icons etc. For me this was the favorite way to play the game. You can play it as a tactical real time strategy game. Give orders to your units, the 4MBTs plus any other vehicles (Bradleys, M113, A-10, Apache, etc) like a pure strategy game and let the A.I. in them fight it out with the enemy. It's glorious! Mind you, it is not an arcade game. This is a simulation. This is not Battlezone, this is not Ikari Warriors (as great as they are). If you have played flight simulators of the time, like F-16 Falcon, Fighter Bomber (FFS GOG bring this game here!), only that of course here you are in control of a tank(s). My favorite type of missions in the campaign was in defensive missions where I had support with Bradleys and A-10s. If you managed to create a kill zone..oh how glorious to see the pure destruction of enemy forces! Now the negative parts. The sound is very PC 1980s. It's just bad compared to even the mid 90s. The graphics were very impressive mostly due to the scale of the thing, each battle was huge in 3D, but as with all 3D games, it has not aged well. But if you are willing to see past that, it's a hell of a game! READ THE MANUAL.
There are two main things one needs to know before playing or buying this. 1) It is mostly a walking simulator. You walk, you hear a story and you locate items to read. It does feel like a game, but Alan Wake this isn't. The story is mostly well made and the controls work well. 2) The game is depressing. I am not even kidding. If you are suffering from depression (like I am) then I would avoid playing it. While I could see more or less what was going to happen from the first few minutes, it only got worse as the story and the very good acting tried their best. Do I recommend this one? It's a short game, I finished it for my stream in under 2 hours. In 1 hour 42 min to be exact. I didn't pay much money for it as I got it in a sale. For even the full price it is worth it for the quality of the acting alone. The graphics are good too. Just remember the two things I mentioned. Oh and the game did manage to scare me in a couple of occasions. But the most serious thing you need to remember is that this game is depressing. The game warns you when you start and I laughed at it. I have proof in my vod of my stream https://youtu.be/Rft70EEBXQc I was not laughing at the end of it. I got too depressed to do anything else that night. If you know you have no such issues, then I easily suggest this experience.
I give this game a 4 out of 5. For what it is, for what its genre is, for what it tries to be and how much it succeeds at it. The game is a hidden object game, with several added puzzles in it that are not hidden objects puzzles/games. It has an interesting story with some good acting and excellent music. The graphics are good, though technically only 5:4/4:3 aspect ratio. You can still play it at 16:9 as it comes out of the box (ie GOG), but I suggest changing it to a native resolution that isn't stretched. Played it to completion on the harder difficulty setting, with limited experience with similar games. It was fun, though not very long at about 5-7 hours long. The game has a hint system and a bypass puzzle option in case you get stuck. The only major issue for me, and the reason why I didn't give it full 5 stars, the ending is lackluster.. A let down. I also made a video review if you want to have a closer look, at about 10 min long. https://youtu.be/PIzcoy820I8
