Sudden Strike 4

Back in the days I played Sudden Strike 1 and SS Forever. Didn't bought 2 because it was 1 with a few extra's. Number 3 had too much gamebreaking issues. Saw the pre order did read a few reviews wich where mostly negative because the gameplay was different. Exactly what I was looking for. Did some calculations and thought that the pre order was quite a good deal or I had to wait much longer for such a price drop. The good: -The gameplay is defenitly not the same as 1 or 2. Quite catchy and responsive. -Nice physics -Good graphics -Encountered no technical game breaking bugs (found none so far yet) -Performance is quite good (laptop i7 2GHz Nvidia 970M 16GB Ram) -Well scripted campaigns -AI performs ok -Lots and lots of gameplay options The bad: -Skirmish/MP is somewhat underwhelming (maps all too much the same including Kursk, no stationary/AT guns or machinegun nests, no bunkers) -Armor quite overpowered (or infantry is too useless) -Repair truck? It only fixes broken guns and broken tracks. No damage. In MP or skirmisch the gameplay is too fast to bother repairing. Useless... -Medic? The gameplay is in MP and skirmish too fast. And infantry dies to fast before a medic can be of any use. Sudden Strike 4 is a good and solid game that differs from its predecessors. I do recommend this game (though you have to decide for yourself what price you will pay for it).

This new installment is a refreshing entry into the RTS genre, feels and plays very much like the orignal 1&2 with a huge increase to graphics and details. It is apparent the developers have put time and effort into delivering the series back to it's former glory (before 3). The detail in the units is fantastic and the explosions in this game could teach Michael Bay a thing or 2. It avoids the choatic meat grind of CoH series and requires more thought out strategy because loosing a tank at the wrong time due to recklessness can prevent your objectives being reached which requires a bigger picture attitude towards tactics. The campaign selection is nice offering the 3 campaigns, with enough in each to keep you busy. Especially because each mission is interesting and well scripted where it needs to be giving you abit of a narative to follow. Hopefully the DLC will be well developed and not to far away but in the meantime the skirmish and online matches will keep you occupied. Overall - definetely a must buy if you have played previous Sudden Strike games and if your new to the series it is worth the price.

If you love to rush this game is not for you. I you love to take your time with tactics this is one for you. If you have a few infantry snipers you can take down the crew of some vehicles and claim them yours. Same goes for getting movable cannons, and then use them against the enemy. Take fast troops to provoke and lead them to your ambush. Or bombard them when other troops scout the area. Forests and fields give tactical advantage to your infantry which can hide there, allowing hit-and-run tactics without loosing troops. The only negative: Don't think you can play those missions quick. If you are not forced to be quick by the way the mission was made scout. Lay a landmine in the way of patrolling cars or tanks. Take your time. No need for Blitzkrieg when it doesn't give you an advantage.

As usual in the serie, we have beautiful units and maps, and a deep sense of details. That's about the only good points ! The most important thing in a RTS game should be tactics. I tried to find a tactical aspect in this game, but couldn't. No advantage due to terrain, forests, obstacles which could protect your troops. The units can't follow the roads. What for ? The skirmish maps are desperately flat and symetrical. I thought the talent of a commander was to make better use of terrain than his ennemy, but forget it. Another weakness of this game, which was also present in SS1 and SS2 is the sight radius, which is shorter than the firing range. In other words, you may have an ennemy tank right in front of you and not be able to see it. If one of your other units gets closer, you will finally see it, and your tank will start firing on it. This rule could have been OK for artillery but not for other units such as soldiers or tanks. I've had very good moments with SS1 and SS2, despite their weaknesses. But SS4 isn't half as good.