SOLDIERS AT WAR
Developed by: SSI/Mindscape
(1998)
Genre: Tactical World
War Two Combat
System Requirements: Windows
95, P166 recommended, CD ROM, 32 MB RAM (recommended), SVGA Card, 175 MB HDD Space, Mouse,
Modem for multiplayer options.
OVERVIEW: SSI/Mindscape's Soldiers At War, while set in World
War Two, is not a true combat sim- but rather a game that recreates all the action (and
"overreaction") of some of the best "Hollywood" style World War Two
flicks. You know, movies like "The Dirty Dozen", "Kelly's Heroes" and
"Where Eagles Dare" where realism gets short billing to entertaining action.
Sadly, while you won't find an "Oddball" (woof!! woof!!), hear a character say
"Make a deal- a DEAL deal...maybe the guys a Republican" or watch Jim Brown try
to outrace bullets Soldiers At War is a very fun game.
The game offers players turned based action
in 15 missions which can be played singly or in a campaign style mode. Yep it's time to
knock out the Jerry sub pen or destroy a V-2 rocket base with your "Dirty
Dozen"! Other scenarios include fighting it out in Frances during D-Day and even
assaulting Monte Casino. "Guns of Navarone" anyone? Soldiers At War offers you a
decent pool of "volunteers" (if only Lee Marvin was so lucky), 32 in all, each
with his own unique skills and abilities. Unlike Empire's "101: The Airborne Invasion
of Normandy" these guys have no real personality- which is a real drag.
Soldiers At War, while a great
Hollywood-style wargame, can be a bit confusing at first. While you will be impressed with
the excellent graphics and sounds, you will be initially frustrated by the in-game
toolbar. One can't just click through character inventories- it requires more action
(usually scrolling and such) to find the item you're looking for (bazooka, bazooka...who's
got the bazooka?). Changing facing requires key punching instead of using your mouse and
so on. You just look at it all and say "geez, this action could have been done
SOOOOOO much easier with a click of a mouse or two." Another flaw is how the game
handles tanks. While Germany used mobile armor elements to dominate Europe- you'd never
know it in Soldiers At War. The Panzers are really nothing more than cool-looking gun
emplacements (i.e. bunkers) since THEY DON'T MOVE! There are also some quirky
line-of-sight incidents where soldiers can be picked off while in dense cover or prone
behind something (i.e. stone wall or barrels). After a few games (and a couple of grumbles
and curses) you kind of get use to it- especially since the game is so enjoyable overall.
Kind of like a quirky member of the family- he/she has flaws but is a blast to hang with.
The clunky interface aside, Soldiers At War
is a great deal of fun to play- just like watching one of those cheesy World War Two
flicks.
THE SCOUTING REPORT:
THE PROS:
- Recreates those Hollywood style WWII flicks on your PC.
Decent overall graphics.
Good in-game combat sounds.
THE CONS:
- Not a realistic WWII small unit action sim.
Toolbar sould have been designed better.
Tanks don't move.
