Photo via Best Way/Fulqrum Publishing
People of World War II treads one of the vital trodden ground in gaming, media, and world history: World War II. Countless games, movies, TV series, and more tell these stories from every conceivable perspective. That said, developer Best Way has a number of short months to go before releasing a recent tackle the WWII RTS subgenre. I used to be lucky enough to play a number of multiplayer matches with some developers and other game stores. I actually have to say, People of World War II seemed distinctly unique, deep, and modern, despite the limited content within the preview. While testing the sport, I played three 2v2 multiplayer matches where I used to be paired with a developer and battled against one other dev/press team. Each match took place on a unique map and in a unique game mode.
The very first thing that struck me with People of World War II the preview was the depth, customization and control it gives players, even on the military select screen. US, German and Soviet armies were all playable within the preview I played. Within each army, several battalions can be found, including infantry, tanks and artillery. I spent one game trying out each battalion type. I selected the US tank battalion on the suggestion of the developers for the primary game. My jaw dropped once I saw what number of orders I can issue and what actions each unit can perform. For example, each tank had multiple weapons, and a few had various kinds of ammo for every weapon. Of course, each weapon and variety of ammunition serves a unique purpose. Most of the tanks I played had a foremost gun for other vehicles and a lighter machine gun for infantry.
The number of ammo types, weapons, and vehicles included within the battalions also led to my favorite preview moment. I spawned in a singular looking American tank with rocket salvos because the available weapon. My development partner really useful a spot to establish using his knowledge of the sport and the behavior of the opponent. It was obvious that the developers engaged in healthy competition during these tests. At his command, I fired a rocket salvo and surprised several enemy tanks, quickly destroying them. There were plenty of comparable vehicles and other units with different specialized roles based on their actual role in real warfare.
Photo via Best Way/Fulqrum Publishing
Accuracy assurance
People of World War IIThe developers of the s also went further within the historical accuracy department. They emphasized the importance of finding a golden mean between total realism and pure fun. The amount of real-life detail they’ve crammed into the sport while still keeping the gameplay fun has blown me away. During my tank game I discovered vehicles in People of World War II they consist of many individual parts. Each separate element reduces the effectiveness of the vehicle accordingly when destroyed. These smaller parts provide amazing realism to the vehicles in the sport. For example, the German tank battalion’s Panzer 4 Model G tank was heavier than other actual tank models. In the sport, the Model G is made up of heavier parts, making its model and playstyle much heavier.
The multiplayer maps provided one other necessary aspect of the sport’s historical roots. While not full scans of actual World War II battlefields, the maps offered the precise look, feel, and locations one would expect from the European theater. First we played on the Borovaya River map within the Combat game mode. The combat mode provided the classic real-time strategy gameplay everyone knows and love. There was no purpose apart from fighting the enemy. The map was stuffed with lush green forests, hills and farmland. Of course, it also contained an enormous basin dividing parts of the map. The wonderful mixture of high and low terrain allowed each army to take strong positions. However, the map stretches these positions enough that no place dominates the map.
Next, we played on the Winter March map in Frontline mode. Winter March played exactly because it sounds: a white winter landscape. It jogged my memory of Hitler’s real decision to invade the Soviet Union in winter. The proven fact that I used to be playing in a German infantry battalion added to this fact. Besides, more depth and flexibility of the sport shines in infantry units. Each battalion consists of several infantry units, no matter their composition. However, infantry battalions have way more versatile and specialized infantry units. For example, I used to be selecting between veteran riflemen, grenadiers, submachine guns, and mechanized infantry units on each spawn. The Frontline game mode also emphasized the importance of infantry. In this mode, the frontline divides the map in half. Each side must move its front line into enemy territory while maintaining its own. The catch is that only infantry units can move the front line.
Photo via Best Way/Fulqrum Publishing
We finally played our last game on the Coastal Raid map. Incursion provides an exciting twist on classic RTS gameplay. One side attacks, the opposite defends. The attacking side must push the front line to encircle the varied positions occupied by the defenders. Of course, the defenders must prevent this. While the Coastal map lacked the cliffs of true Normandy, it definitely did the job of providing a D-Day-like atmosphere to the match. The attackers start from the beach and must push their way inland. Additionally, the sheer variety of positions that attackers should occupy in Incursion significantly accelerates the pace of matches. There are so many positions that attackers have to soak up a limited period of time. Therefore, the attacking party cannot afford to spend an excessive amount of time preparing or specializing in one place.
In addition, People of World War II offers loads of contextual gameplay elements. For example, infantry units can take cover from almost any object and conceal in buildings. During the third test game, I ordered the team to carry the home to have cover from the advancing enemy. That’s once I discovered that the sport also has distractions. A couple of minutes later I checked the home and located that it had disappeared together with the squad. Reduced to atoms by enemy artillery.
I had an ideal time with it People of World War II preview and may’t wait to leap back in and check out out the opposite battalions that Best Way and Fulqrum Publishing are preparing. Be sure so as to add it to your wishlist Couple. The game doesn’t have a firm release date yet, but you may expect it to hit the battlefields sometime in 2023.
