Why do you like HoI?

[unmerged(31328)]

I've seen quite a bit of "HoI is the only game ever that does this, HoI is the only game that does that" going on.

As to the economics, you should check out "High Command" from c. 1995, which had equally (or more) complex economics.

As to operational + strategic scope, High Command covers both as well. Even Clash of Steel (c. 1993) does.

As to technology, I was initially quite pleasantly surprised by the technology tree, but I eventually realized that other than a few techs that enable certain unit types, like 80% is merely "+10% org Inf, +1 Hard Attack" stuff, despite all the historical background they give for it. So, in other words, it's equivalent to "Inf. level 1, Inf. level 2 and so forth" which other games have long enabled.

So I hope those opinions weren't the fruit of people starting to play wargames in the 2000s and not checking out previous releases.

And saying GG:WaW is an Axis & Allies clone or HoI for dummies is absolutely superficial and the result of taking a quick glance at a screenshot.

Don't take me wrong, I enjoy HoI, I find it enjoyable and have spent many days playing it, but I don't at any time feel I am playing a "WW2 simulation" or even a "WW2 game". What I go for in HoI is playing a "game of World politics and warfare set in the 1930s and 1940s", and enjoy this 'bizarro' world in which almost anything goes. And that's fun in itself.

But if you wanted to play a WW2 simulation or game, you would probably be better off going with the 'classics' or with GG:WaW.

 

[unmerged(34329)]

A friend of mine and I bought the new Axis and Allies Revised edition. Being big AA fans in the past, the new edition seemed great. But, we were still starving for more detail. My buddy wanted to mod the game with an incredible amount of detail. I told him, "no way", only a computer could keep up with that. We then found HOI.

HOLY CRAP!

I haven't played any computer strategy games over the last few years. What detail! It was also good to know, that HOI was considered the best, so I didn't have to look further.

No one will ever be perfectly satisfied with the level of detail (too much, or not enough), but Paradox has done a fantastic job.

...anybody want to buy the box game AA Revised from me?

 

[rado907]

I like HoI cuz it rocks so hard.

 

[unmerged(9377)]

HOI is the best computer wargame Ive played, right from the old buggy ctding 1.01 upto the latest core release today. HOI just has that 'What if' appeal of changing history. My latest what if is What if President Roosavelt read Mine Keimpf and said yeah lets destroy the commies and joins the axis instead of the allies and have GIs Goosestepping down Phildephia street. :rofl: :rofl:
Thats the real appeal of HOI there are no boundaries and you can totally rewrite history. HOI is also the most modifiable wargame ive seen. The differences that people like the Coregroup and Stonyroad have brought really increase the longivity of the game. Havent seen the 'Great War' scenario' but that just shows how changeable HOI is.
I also like how my decisions be it about economy , research or unit production can change each game that I play,and that makes each game I play completely different to the last.This makes HOI a 'eternal game' a game I can see me playing till im 80.
Ive had the game since release, and Ive yet to play even every major country. Played Germany alot. UK alot, Japan never, Russia never, Italy afew times Nat China once, USA twice,Aussie 3 times Canada Romania(fun game getting clobbered) Poland(a not so fun game getting clobbered),Brazil(fun game getting clobbered by the US for been a imperialist colonial facist), France never.
Overall HOI is my No.1 game and still has so much potential to get even better ,as I like to make mods too once( having made a Huge Russian front scenario in Talonsofts East front game. and a huge WW2 scenario in CIV2) I will 1 day make an attack of the lizards game in HOI.Though my editor for HOI has never seemed to work and cant figure out why.
<confirmed HOI FANBOI

 

[WarDog]

HOI is without any competition the best game I've ever played!

As another historybuff overread on ww2, I have always been facinated by the tactical brilliance of the Wehrmacht and the strategic stupidity of Adolf. Forgetting the horrors of war I have more then once thought "what if...".

HOI gives for the first time a player the possibility to play out such scenarios. Throw out the battleships and build 300 subs before sept 39? OK, try it.

I find the complexity of the tech-tree to be wonderfull. It gives a sence of realism unparralelled in grand strategy.

And roaming the world with panzerarmys lead by Rommel, Guderian.......

I'm a bit strange and enjoy every minute with HOI!

 

[unmerged(31329)]

First of all, I find myself playing HoI alot. I wonder why, because I inheretly hate the game And so many have complained about crappy AI, crappy supply system, weird stacking limitations, Brazil conquering the world, too much micromanagment etc etc etc. Are we just starved for "grand strategy games" as HoI is the only one (or am I mistaken?). Or is it a Civ-factor hidden here somewhere?


JT

I play HOI for its scope and possibility to overrun th world with tanks

 

[unmerged(31814)]

I started playing again - nothing better for a hangover than taking over the world. You have full control over the destiny of most countries, can shape your own armies, basically do what you want - I mean how else is Brazil going to take over the world !

The glitches are annoying but hey, thats software and Im thankful the PP team make updates etc plus have this very useful forum. We should be lucky were not still playing Battle of britian in on the Amstrad 464 64KRAM back in the late 80's !

 

[Kanitatlan]

I like it because it provides a complete model of the world. It gives access to the full range of decision making areas. It is true that it is weak in some areas but at least Paradox tried to give me the game I always wanted. No other games company has tried to do that.

 

[Atomcreator]

We should be lucky were not still playing Battle of britian in on the Amstrad 464 64KRAM back in the late 80's !

Or 'Tyrant of Athens' and ' Johnny Reb ' on the Spectrum 48K

 

[unmerged(33694)]

Or 'Tyrant of Athens' and ' Johnny Reb ' on the Spectrum 48K

Ah, Johnny Reb... Brings back memories. That was the turning point of my life, I became so hooked on turn-based strategies. And Battle Isle on Amiga...

Back to the topic: I like HoI because... because... Ah, you all know it why, or you wouldn't be here!

 

[mvsnconsolegene]

Despite its faults, HoI is the ONLY decent Real Time Strategy Grand Strategic War game that covers the ww2 area.

Other attempts completely fall flat, you either have the absurd (building an infantry barracks and pumping out 13 tanks and then taking an entire city) or the tedious (referring to turn based games where it takes you 5 hours just to deploy and move all your units around stupid hexagons).

Also, the ability to play almost every nation drastically increases its playability. Additionally, it is set just enough in advanced that countries that were sub-par in real life can be turned around if one takes DRASTIC action.

- MVSN

First of all, I find myself playing HoI alot. I wonder why, because I inheretly hate the game And so many have complained about crappy AI, crappy supply system, weird stacking limitations, Brazil conquering the world, too much micromanagment etc etc etc. Are we just starved for "grand strategy games" as HoI is the only one (or am I mistaken?). Or is it a Civ-factor hidden here somewhere?


JT

 

[unmerged(31328)]

...or the tedious (referring to turn based games where it takes you 5 hours just to deploy and move all your units around stupid hexagons).

- MVSN

Wait a minute right there. Just to quote the 'Gotterdammerung' thread, people have also complained about how unbelievably long it takes them to properly set up their forces in that scenario (organizing corps, armies, leaders, etc.), so your comment on '5 hours to deploy' as a critique on other games and as a strong point of HoI is baseless. (And the way some HoI players play, with lots of micro-management, can make a game of it longer than any of Gary Grigsby's monster games)

And as to 'stupid' hexagons, some games work better with hexagons, others with areas. I could hardly imagine a tactical game with areas, it would be quite nonsensical. Areas on the other hand can, at best, be just as good as hexagons, if they are well designed. But anyhow, how do you designate what the limits to each area are going to be?

What seems 'stupid' to me is that short range fighters are completely useless in Central Africa, Central Asia or the entire Americas, simply because the areas are too big for them to be able to intercept anything in another area.

And going out of your way to label all the great hex-based games as 'stupid', now that's a show of complete misundertanding of the system and utter disrespect.

 

[unmerged(27050)]

I play HOI because it gives me an excuse to say 'All your base are belong to us' and it actually makes sense.

 

[unmerged(16083)]

Because HoI is the most awesome WWII strategy game ever.

It has the right amount of history mixed with the right amount of 'what-ifs?' . It lets players form the historical alliances WWII buffs are familiar with, and it's a game that allows players to form hypothetical alliances.

You can be pretty much any country in the world, and it's on a global scale. You don't have to stay in a small portion of the globe. You can have troops stationed anywhere from Brazil to Madagascar to the Ukraine to Japan all on one board.

If you were to get WWII, table top strategy games that cover the countries, the units, and the years (1936-48) of warfare I'll bet it would cost several hundred dollars, pounds, or Euros to have the options you have in HoI.

Plus you get to cover many different aspects of warfare. You can control the air forces, the naval forces, armor, submarine, infantry, special forces and more all at the same time. There are lots of games that let you cover one or two of these, but not virtually ever type of warfare.

If that's not enough, you get to try your hand at diplomacy, resource management, unit upgrade and creation.

All in the context of 20th Century war. Plus there are enviromental factors such as time of day, weather, and terrain.

I am sure there is a ton of other things that I am leaving out, but these are the ones that really grab me. And I know that doesn't even come close to the nuances of the game that those of you have been playing for 2 years have picked up on. IMO, it's just a great game.

 

[Kyril]

Being a militaristic megalomaniac helps to pick up the game. The reason to keep playing it is the replayability: After winning the scenarios as the different Mayor powers, you can try them again with totally different tactics / technology focus, try Minor nations to give a good account of yourself, or try alternate history by playing an Axis France, DOW the Allies as Russia, etc.
And this is just Single Player.

By the time you have played all these variations, there will be a new Patch, which will surpise you, and you can retry and modify all your old tactics .