After having played this game for only a few hours, I do have some immediate first impressions. There is a lot to like about this game, but there is also a lot that could be improved. Perhaps I am overly biased because I may have been looking too much for a modern version of Close Combat. Granted, this is a beta so some of my ideas may in fact be in the works.
1) Perhaps I missed it in the settings, but the camera needs the ability to rotate like a Total War game.
2) The game sometimes feels too much like a game meant for mobile devices. What I mean by that is the icons above the units are way too big. What is the point of sneaking around if your units are just highlighted bright as can be once they are spotted?
3) Going along with #2, for the minimap, I would prefer indicators that show the direction and location (if spotted/known) that incoming fire is coming from, rather than where units are exactly.
4) I love the idea of the dynamic front-line. But it also makes it too easy to know where the enemy forces are located. See a bulge out west? Well, there must be some enemies over there. There are a few solutions to this.
a) Quasi-static frontlines. This would mean that the frontline only updates after so much time. Say every minute or two minutes. That would at least only allow you the general idea of where an enemy unit is.
b) Close Combat had chokepoints you fought over for. I would rather this idea, and perhaps they will exist in a post-release gamemode. I would add chokepoints (far more than CC... say 20-30 per 1v1 map?) to move the front rather than exact unit location.
c) The front only updates when units engage in combat and/or units are killed in combat.
5) I am not sure I like the unit spam this game results in. While that is the core of the game, I would prefer close combat style where units are limited. Thus I would add a game mode where so many points are given before battle and can be spent any way you want. However, units will still enter the map during their proper phase. This will make units far more valuable than they are now.
6) Close Combat had a way of making me feel more connected with my units. Each man in each unit had a name.. their individual kills were tracked as were their medals they earned. It appears Steel Division only gives a single name to each unit (I assume the commander of each squad). I would like to see the stats expanded. Though with the unit spam style of this game, that may not be as valuable. But what if you could carry over units from game to game (whether multiplayer or single player)? Add more experience levels and suddenly you will care about that one infantry squad that's been remarkable battle after battle and somehow avoids the reaper.
7) Perhaps this is in the works. I have not been able to find a ton of info on this game. But specific attacking and defensive missions need to be added to the game. I set up a beautiful defensive perimeter in my games only to have the AI take forever to advance on them. Obviously, those taking the defense should have far more limited resources than those on the offensive.
8) Battle continues. I actually fought to a draw in one of my skirmish matches. If the objective is not reached, then I believe, at least for single player, the option to continue the battle with redeployment based on present zones of control should exist.
9) More movement/stance options. We do have the option to move fast. But why is there no sneak option? I know there is the option to use cover when moving, but the sneak option in CC was extremely useful. And how about the ambush/defend options of CC? Right now your units either fire when they feel like or they return fire when fired upon. Massacred many a units in my CC days with a well placed Schweres MG42 set in ambush.
Well, those are all I can think of at the moment. Again, perhaps I was expecting this to be too much like the old Close Combat games. But this game really feels way too arcady and smartphoneish at the moment. Hopefully a few more hours with it will change my mind. It has sooooo much potential. Unfortunately, my couple hours with it makes me feel like reinstalling the CC remakes they released about 10 years ago, that probably still work with Windows 10, rather than playing this. :/
1) Perhaps I missed it in the settings, but the camera needs the ability to rotate like a Total War game.
2) The game sometimes feels too much like a game meant for mobile devices. What I mean by that is the icons above the units are way too big. What is the point of sneaking around if your units are just highlighted bright as can be once they are spotted?
3) Going along with #2, for the minimap, I would prefer indicators that show the direction and location (if spotted/known) that incoming fire is coming from, rather than where units are exactly.
4) I love the idea of the dynamic front-line. But it also makes it too easy to know where the enemy forces are located. See a bulge out west? Well, there must be some enemies over there. There are a few solutions to this.
a) Quasi-static frontlines. This would mean that the frontline only updates after so much time. Say every minute or two minutes. That would at least only allow you the general idea of where an enemy unit is.
b) Close Combat had chokepoints you fought over for. I would rather this idea, and perhaps they will exist in a post-release gamemode. I would add chokepoints (far more than CC... say 20-30 per 1v1 map?) to move the front rather than exact unit location.
c) The front only updates when units engage in combat and/or units are killed in combat.
5) I am not sure I like the unit spam this game results in. While that is the core of the game, I would prefer close combat style where units are limited. Thus I would add a game mode where so many points are given before battle and can be spent any way you want. However, units will still enter the map during their proper phase. This will make units far more valuable than they are now.
6) Close Combat had a way of making me feel more connected with my units. Each man in each unit had a name.. their individual kills were tracked as were their medals they earned. It appears Steel Division only gives a single name to each unit (I assume the commander of each squad). I would like to see the stats expanded. Though with the unit spam style of this game, that may not be as valuable. But what if you could carry over units from game to game (whether multiplayer or single player)? Add more experience levels and suddenly you will care about that one infantry squad that's been remarkable battle after battle and somehow avoids the reaper.
7) Perhaps this is in the works. I have not been able to find a ton of info on this game. But specific attacking and defensive missions need to be added to the game. I set up a beautiful defensive perimeter in my games only to have the AI take forever to advance on them. Obviously, those taking the defense should have far more limited resources than those on the offensive.
8) Battle continues. I actually fought to a draw in one of my skirmish matches. If the objective is not reached, then I believe, at least for single player, the option to continue the battle with redeployment based on present zones of control should exist.
9) More movement/stance options. We do have the option to move fast. But why is there no sneak option? I know there is the option to use cover when moving, but the sneak option in CC was extremely useful. And how about the ambush/defend options of CC? Right now your units either fire when they feel like or they return fire when fired upon. Massacred many a units in my CC days with a well placed Schweres MG42 set in ambush.
Well, those are all I can think of at the moment. Again, perhaps I was expecting this to be too much like the old Close Combat games. But this game really feels way too arcady and smartphoneish at the moment. Hopefully a few more hours with it will change my mind. It has sooooo much potential. Unfortunately, my couple hours with it makes me feel like reinstalling the CC remakes they released about 10 years ago, that probably still work with Windows 10, rather than playing this. :/
