By Tim Stone on February 22nd, 2009 at 11:38 am.
Great – it looks like I’m going to get to use my ‘The smell of the greasepaint, the roar of the Krauts.’ strapline again. Theatre of War, one of the more wargamerly WW2 RTSs of recent years, is about to spawn a sequel. Going by this hot-off-the-compiler Russian-language demo, that sequel will please a lot more grogs than its parent did.
Anyone brave enough to fumble their way through the install process and menu Cyrillic is rewarded with two battle scenarios. The first is a tutorial involving jeep ferrying, Vickers MG crewing, and the evisceration of a trio of Panzers IIs (find bazookas in a crate next to the burning truck). The second, a much more elaborate specimen, recreates some Kasserine Pass nastiness.
Though the setup – assaulting a trench-ringed settlement with a mix of armour and infantry – is worryingly familiar (too many of ToW’s scenarios had a similar premise) the addition of features like accessible structures and on-map artillery ensure things feel fresh. Now, if only 1C would let the folk responsible for the ToW promo vid, write their campaign plots and do their cutscenes.
22/02/2009 at 12:41 Nighthood says:
That promo video is genius. I would love a game like that, shame silliness isn’t very popular in mainstream games. :(
22/02/2009 at 13:08 Senethro says:
oh look, another WWII “X of Y” game with one variable being War! :V
22/02/2009 at 13:17 Heliocentric says:
ToW2 vs MoW?
Who has the best little man war?
22/02/2009 at 13:23 Heliocentric says:
Here at imaginary-soft we are proud to announce our new game.
Company of brothers who are also heroes on call to medals of dutiful honour in arms, of war
Available from april first.
22/02/2009 at 13:25 Tei says:
Heh… fun machinima :-)
22/02/2009 at 13:29 Mort says:
Had some fun with this today (and not just in decyphering Russian). Huge improvement on the dissapointing original.
22/02/2009 at 13:35 fulis says:
that ninja thing was the most awesome thing in a long time
22/02/2009 at 13:49 Andrew says:
That promo video… good GOD. :D
22/02/2009 at 13:53 DeliriumWartner says:
It’s The Sims: World War Expansion Pack.
Really well done, surprising. Not enough to get me to buy it, like, but still good fun.
22/02/2009 at 14:43 Marty Dodge says:
Very funny…the Krauts have better music though…nothing like a bit of Germanic power metal.
22/02/2009 at 14:57 Legandir says:
If someone made a game like that video, I’d get that in a second. Too many games take themselves too seriously. Part of the reason I’m still playing Team Fortress 2 after more than a year is that whenever i play, i end up laughing and i leave the game with a smile
22/02/2009 at 15:00 Pags says:
Cliché of War: Obligatory Subtitle
Fantastic promo video though. Was that commander playing Il-2: Birds of Prey?!
22/02/2009 at 15:04 Skurmedel says:
Lol. Great video :)
22/02/2009 at 15:27 Arathain says:
I haven’t laughed so much at promo in a long while. Really top animation- someone worked really really hard at that!
22/02/2009 at 18:26 PleasingFungus says:
That was an utterly delightful little promo video.
I have nothing but approval.
23/02/2009 at 06:30 Tunips says:
Brilliant video. Although I was hoping the soldier with bound arms would cossack dance his way to freedom.