1971 PROJECT HELIOS
- June 9, 2020
- Recotechnology S.L.
- 3h median play time
No aspect of 1971 Project Helios can make it a worthwhile gaming experience. It's not too ugly and it doesn't crash too often, but if those are the only compliments a title can get, you're in deep trouble.
Get on Steam
Get on Xbox Games Store1971 Project Heliosis a turn-based strategy game which combines modern warfare military tactics and close combat. Firearms and vehicles are scarce, conflicts and hostilities have no end, and the terrible freezing cold annihilates friends and foes in its path.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Playstation 4
Playstation 5
Windows
Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- The game features an interesting post-apocalyptic setting with a strong narrative and engaging characters.
- The combat system, while simple, poses a decent challenge and introduces unique mechanics like Fulgor.
- The artwork and lore are well-crafted, contributing to an immersive experience.
- The control system is clunky and the camera angles are awkward, making navigation and combat frustrating.
- There is a lack of essential features such as a map, character voice, and graphic settings, which detracts from the overall experience.
- The gameplay becomes repetitive and lacks depth, with fixed starting positions in combat and minimal tactical options.
- story12 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The story has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it engaging and the characters charming, while others criticize its linearity, lack of coherence, and poor dialogue. Many feel that the narrative fails to connect meaningfully with gameplay, often feeling disjointed and undermined by a rudimentary inventory system and irrelevant collectibles. Overall, the potential for a deeper story is overshadowed by a meandering plot and unsatisfactory execution.
“Story is quite engaging, and the characters that go along with it are charming and interesting.”
“The plot is incredibly good, the mechanics group all what you wish and even more in a strategy game, and the levels are really immersive (I love the cold effect on the screen).”
“For some reason, I find this more disappointing than anything else, because when I first heard the background music, it set the tone for a potentially lethargic and tragic story like 'This War of Mine', with a very simple but deep story, but delivered a meandering combat romp with a story that falls apart at every point instead.”
“I still can't understand how the prologue led to the second mission; it felt like an unnecessary plot point that the characters could have completely avoided.”
“The story is only propelled from there by the power of NPCs being omniscient, knowing everything that you did despite no survivors being left alive to tell the tale.”
- music12 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising the atmospheric and haunting ambient tracks that effectively set the tone, while others criticize the repetitive and jarring combat music that disrupts the experience. Although some find the overall soundtrack charming and fitting, there are notable complaints about its inconsistency and the quality of certain tracks, leading to a generally divided opinion among players.
“Even though some battle songs were a bit too intense, the music in general is charming and matches well with the environment.”
“Nice TBS game in the vein of the XCOM series, with a focused and strong narrative, excellent soundtrack and a combat system that is simple compared to other titles in the genre but still poses a challenge.”
“The ambient music is actually atmospheric and haunting, but is quickly replaced by the same repetitive and grating song once you enter combat.”
“For some reason, I find this more disappointing than anything else, because when I first heard the background music, it set the tone for a potentially lethargic and tragic story like 'This War of Mine', with a very simple but deep story, but delivered a meandering combat romp with a story that falls apart at every point instead.”
“The music is something borrowed from a (bad) Atari game from the early 80s - and there's only one - and it will annoy the hell out of you.”
- gameplay8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
Gameplay reviews are mixed, with some players finding it engaging due to interesting mechanics and immersive levels, while others criticize it for being repetitive, clunky, and lacking clear distinctions in combat elements. Overall, the game offers depth but suffers from significant gameplay issues that detract from the experience.
“The fulgor mechanics are very interesting and grant an extra level of depth to the game.”
“The plot is incredibly good, the mechanics encompass everything you wish for and even more in a strategy game, and the levels are really immersive (I love the cold effect on the screen).”
“About 10 hours of constant gameplay.”
“The gameplay gets boring after some time.”
“Don't waste your money on this game; the combat is totally simple, the story is bad, and the gameplay camera is horrible.”
“The gameplay mechanics are a mess: clunky movements, no clear distinction between elements of the scenario (it's all the same, either half or full cover), no distinct range elements, nothing.”
- graphics7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews; while the artwork and lore are praised for their excellence, many players express disappointment over the lack of graphic settings and the repetitive visual design, which makes it difficult to differentiate between enemy types. Overall, the aesthetic appeal is noted, but the execution falls short in variety and customization options.
“Artwork and lore are excellent.”
“The graphics, the setting, and the scenario are very nice.”
“There is no setting for graphics in the menu.”
“Without basic content like graphic options, I'm so disappointed with the game as a tactical turn-based strategy player.”
“Although the art project is quite beautiful, the actual graphics are awful with everything looking exactly the same: you can't distinguish the types of enemies from their looks.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is considered somewhat unstable, with users reporting bugs that detract from the experience, leading them to suggest that there are better options available for the same price.
“Not a bad game, but it's buggy and there are better games worth 10 euros.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is initially enhanced by haunting ambient music, creating an immersive experience; however, this is disrupted during combat by a repetitive and grating soundtrack that detracts from the overall ambiance.
“The ambient music is atmospheric and haunting, creating an immersive experience that draws you into the game world.”
Critic Reviews
1971 Project Helios review – Left me feeling cold
No aspect of 1971 Project Helios can make it a worthwhile gaming experience. It's not too ugly and it doesn't crash too often, but if those are the only compliments a title can get, you're in deep trouble.
30%1971 Project Helios Review – A rough diamond in need of a polish
All things considered, I think 1971 Project Helios will be enjoyable for casual gamers who enjoy the occasional strategy title. Even though the game lacks depth and polish, 1971 Project Helios’ combat setup is easy to grasp and looks great. Its battles can certainly be entertaining for someone looking for a quick strategy fix. However, if you’re looking for a bigger strategy challenge to sink your teeth into, perhaps 1971 Project Helios is not your best bet.
50%1971 Project Helios Review
70%
