An alternative history spin on the WW2 real-time strategy genre from the developers Digital Reality
26 August 2006 | By Simon Priest
An “alternative history” spin on the WW2 real-time strategy genre from the developers Digital Reality.
Reliving those chaotic times has always been a focus point in the game industry, with many success stories and utter failures. Fortunately War Front seems to be shaping up well and looks set remind us how fun and crazy the RTS market can be.
As with any preview releases you cannot hammer down any real judgements, what with bugs, fine tunings and even features yet to add. That didn’t stop me though having a great time at this game and exploring what we can expect.
Graphically it delivers with rich textures and big explosions; though it’s not the most realistically detailed around it does look pleasing. Even the scripted action sequence behind the main menu was entertaining, I couldn’t help but watch what happened and of course it showcases some of the games unique units.
I had started up the games tutorial and though it’s missing perhaps an audio dialogue to help guide you along, it was easy enough to navigate and go me to grips in no time. The thing that struck me was when an unexpected downpour opened up; it looked great and eerily real for a RTS title. Sadly I’ve yet to see any snow but if the rain is anything to go by it should be just as cool (no pun intended).
Resources ingame are simply enough, you have a mine to use as your primary source and it’s best to build a supply depot as close as possible. Other goodies like oil pumps or even banks can also be found on some maps, potentially rewarding the curious and bold player to venture out. Base structures are put up by engineer trucks, much like the C&C Generals way of things. In fact this game feels very much like a second-cousin to C&C style of play, maybe even a first-cousin which can only be a good thing really.
As expected many bits of text are either missing or spelt wrong, all just waiting for some poor guy in the team to go digging for. The GUI isn’t the most glamorous and could use a magic touch but apparently it’s already expected to receive a fine-tuning which I hope does.
The music has that WWII vibe to it and fits comfortably in the background while I churned away with my superior strategies. Voice-overs are still in the pipeline so let’s hope they get some good talent to compliment how great this game is set to be at this stage.
One handy feature, which I have yet to see in another game, is the ability to assign a building a group number so any unit produced will automatically be in the corresponding group. It may not seem like much but I think many gamers will find this a great help when kick starting their hordes and legions.
How else could War Front stand firm amid all those titles out there, why by letting you get some FPS action with turrets of course! Yes if you’re simply not content with an automated defence from those Anti Tank turrets you placed then take over and blast away. This goes for any Anti Air turrets as well, which is great fun to try and blow down enemy aircraft. Whether you’ll opt to use this in dire circumstances I’m not so sure, but it is a welcome little quirk.
The buildings themselves that make up your base are great, and each army feels quite unique. The Americans feel rugged with their tents while the Germans arrogant and menacing with fortress like buildings.
Units range from what you’d expect to the almost bizarre, after all this is an alternate reality. One thing that sells War Front to me is the thing that really matters to an RTS gamer at heart …the nuclear bomb. Yeah sure other super weapons matter, but the nuclear explosion unfolding on screen almost has that special feeling to it.
So selecting my airfield and targeting the enemies with my nuclear payload I watched and waited as the incredibly long winged bomber of doom steadily approached. The little bomb (I nicknamed him nukey) dropped; I couldn’t help feel anything but impressed as Digital Reality has clearly worked on the realism of effects here. First the shockwave blows down any trees along with a bright flash; the cloud slowly rises and gets bigger and bigger. The wave of death flies out devastates and scorches the terrain while the mushroom cloud slowly disappears leaving behind one large, deadly radioactive mess.
Good times. In the full version we can expect to see 35 storytelling cut scenes, now that’s quite a lot.
Now for why this is a …slightly different spin on WWII than perhaps certain elders maybe used to. Shield Generator, APC that digs, Ice Spitter Tank, Frost Bomb, doesn’t sound much like a normal history lesson to me but it sure would have been a lot more fun. Yes it would seem those Red Ruskies are trying to harness the power of frozen water, the US is already looking at sci-fi energy fields and the Germans like their aerodynamic creations. Of course herein the problem lies, balancing the more conventional armoured vehicles with the not so orthodox selection.
There’s still plenty of tweaking left to do with War Front, tightening up AI and of course balancing units should be well up on the list. They seem proud of this “labour of love” and I can’t fault them for it. War Front: Turning Point looks to be a shaping up well, providing you like alternate realities and gunning for or with those tricky Germans.
Top Game Moment: Nuking! I could play this game all day just for the nuclear delights.
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| My choice of ‘appropriate’ response … | They better have more than a life jacket under their seat |
Reliving those chaotic times has always been a focus point in the game industry, with many success stories and utter failures. Fortunately War Front seems to be shaping up well and looks set remind us how fun and crazy the RTS market can be.
As with any preview releases you cannot hammer down any real judgements, what with bugs, fine tunings and even features yet to add. That didn’t stop me though having a great time at this game and exploring what we can expect.
Graphically it delivers with rich textures and big explosions; though it’s not the most realistically detailed around it does look pleasing. Even the scripted action sequence behind the main menu was entertaining, I couldn’t help but watch what happened and of course it showcases some of the games unique units.
I had started up the games tutorial and though it’s missing perhaps an audio dialogue to help guide you along, it was easy enough to navigate and go me to grips in no time. The thing that struck me was when an unexpected downpour opened up; it looked great and eerily real for a RTS title. Sadly I’ve yet to see any snow but if the rain is anything to go by it should be just as cool (no pun intended).
Resources ingame are simply enough, you have a mine to use as your primary source and it’s best to build a supply depot as close as possible. Other goodies like oil pumps or even banks can also be found on some maps, potentially rewarding the curious and bold player to venture out. Base structures are put up by engineer trucks, much like the C&C Generals way of things. In fact this game feels very much like a second-cousin to C&C style of play, maybe even a first-cousin which can only be a good thing really.
As expected many bits of text are either missing or spelt wrong, all just waiting for some poor guy in the team to go digging for. The GUI isn’t the most glamorous and could use a magic touch but apparently it’s already expected to receive a fine-tuning which I hope does.
The music has that WWII vibe to it and fits comfortably in the background while I churned away with my superior strategies. Voice-overs are still in the pipeline so let’s hope they get some good talent to compliment how great this game is set to be at this stage.
 |
 |
|
| Incoming! | A lone, brave Allied bomber |
One handy feature, which I have yet to see in another game, is the ability to assign a building a group number so any unit produced will automatically be in the corresponding group. It may not seem like much but I think many gamers will find this a great help when kick starting their hordes and legions.
How else could War Front stand firm amid all those titles out there, why by letting you get some FPS action with turrets of course! Yes if you’re simply not content with an automated defence from those Anti Tank turrets you placed then take over and blast away. This goes for any Anti Air turrets as well, which is great fun to try and blow down enemy aircraft. Whether you’ll opt to use this in dire circumstances I’m not so sure, but it is a welcome little quirk.
The buildings themselves that make up your base are great, and each army feels quite unique. The Americans feel rugged with their tents while the Germans arrogant and menacing with fortress like buildings.
Units range from what you’d expect to the almost bizarre, after all this is an alternate reality. One thing that sells War Front to me is the thing that really matters to an RTS gamer at heart …the nuclear bomb. Yeah sure other super weapons matter, but the nuclear explosion unfolding on screen almost has that special feeling to it.
So selecting my airfield and targeting the enemies with my nuclear payload I watched and waited as the incredibly long winged bomber of doom steadily approached. The little bomb (I nicknamed him nukey) dropped; I couldn’t help feel anything but impressed as Digital Reality has clearly worked on the realism of effects here. First the shockwave blows down any trees along with a bright flash; the cloud slowly rises and gets bigger and bigger. The wave of death flies out devastates and scorches the terrain while the mushroom cloud slowly disappears leaving behind one large, deadly radioactive mess.
Good times. In the full version we can expect to see 35 storytelling cut scenes, now that’s quite a lot.
Now for why this is a …slightly different spin on WWII than perhaps certain elders maybe used to. Shield Generator, APC that digs, Ice Spitter Tank, Frost Bomb, doesn’t sound much like a normal history lesson to me but it sure would have been a lot more fun. Yes it would seem those Red Ruskies are trying to harness the power of frozen water, the US is already looking at sci-fi energy fields and the Germans like their aerodynamic creations. Of course herein the problem lies, balancing the more conventional armoured vehicles with the not so orthodox selection.
 |
 |
|
| Explosions really showcase the physics well | Debris will fall and scatter, very cool |
There’s still plenty of tweaking left to do with War Front, tightening up AI and of course balancing units should be well up on the list. They seem proud of this “labour of love” and I can’t fault them for it. War Front: Turning Point looks to be a shaping up well, providing you like alternate realities and gunning for or with those tricky Germans.
Top Game Moment: Nuking! I could play this game all day just for the nuclear delights.
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