Battle Academy

88%
Game Brain Score Based on 145 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Battle Academy Game Cover
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Battle Academy is a turn-based strategy game set in World War II, where players command a group of units and use real-world tactics to secure victory. With a wide range of unit types, missions, and multiplayer options, the game offers high replayability and a host of user mods and scenarios. Players must use ambushes, suppressing fire, and flanking movements to outmaneuver and defeat the enemy.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Windows
  • Mobile Platform
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

88%
Audience ScoreBased on 145 reviews
graphics12 positive mentions
replayability3 negative mentions
  • Battle Academy offers a fun and engaging turn-based strategy experience that balances accessibility with tactical depth, making it suitable for both beginners and seasoned wargamers.
  • The game features a variety of scenarios and campaigns, providing ample content and replayability, with a strong emphasis on historical accuracy and unit diversity.
  • Despite its dated graphics, the gameplay mechanics are robust, allowing for strategic decision-making and rewarding tactical planning in battles.
  • The tutorial is poorly designed and lacks depth, leaving players to figure out many game mechanics on their own, which can be frustrating for newcomers.
  • The game suffers from some balance issues, particularly with overpowered artillery and reaction fire mechanics that can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.
  • Many scenarios and additional content are locked behind expensive DLCs, which can feel like cash grabs and may deter players from fully enjoying the game.
  • story37 mentions

    The game's story is conveyed through a series of interconnected campaign missions that present varied and challenging scenarios, keeping players engaged without overwhelming them. While some missions are better designed than others, the overall narrative structure allows for strategic gameplay where players can adapt to different troop compositions and objectives. However, the lack of detailed information about units and mission specifics can detract from the experience, making it essential for players to strategize effectively to succeed.

    • “The game is shipped with three campaigns sporting a dozen missions each (desert war, Normandy, and the Battle of the Bulge), plus a special game mode and a user-friendly level editor.”
    • “Campaigns in the game are a series of related scenarios that sort of tell a story.”
    • “I loved how each mission was set up and you could go into it with a plan only to fail because you prepared wrong!”
    • “My biggest gripes are: (1) the lack of information about units under your command, including weapons and effective ranges, and (2) the lack of information about the order of battle for each mission, with the responsibility for selecting additional forces from a limited force pool without knowing what forces are already organic to the scenario.”
    • “Ive given this game so many opportunities, but the deflection all the time is bollocks. There's one particular mission where you are totally outmatched; your tanks break down every turn. I wish I had a physical copy so I could smash it against the wall.”
    • “However, due to mission and map design, if you stray from the standard mix of tanks and infantry, you will have a very difficult time.”
  • graphics31 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the fun, cartoonish art style and decent detail, while others criticize the visuals as grainy and lacking polish compared to modern titles. Although the graphics are generally serviceable and suitable for mobile platforms, they may not meet the expectations of PC gamers accustomed to higher-quality visuals. Overall, the game's aesthetic is seen as appealing and effective for gameplay, but it may not impress those seeking cutting-edge graphics.

    • “Fun childhood game, still fun today piques my interest in WW2 with its battles and art style.”
    • “The art style is appealing and still holds up after more than a decade.”
    • “The graphics are surprisingly detailed yet fun at the same time.”
    • “While Battle Academy excels in historical accuracy and strategic gameplay, the visuals and audio could benefit from some improvement.”
    • “The graphics, while serviceable, lack the polish and detail found in more modern titles.”
    • “Graphics are cartoonish, sounds are cheap, and gameplay is slow and clumsy.”
  • gameplay28 mentions

    The gameplay of Battle Academy is characterized by its robust turn-based strategy mechanics, which effectively capture the essence of WWII tactics while offering a refreshing alternative to action-oriented games. Despite some dated visuals and minor technical issues, the game excels in historical accuracy and strategic depth, making it appealing to both history buffs and strategy enthusiasts. However, players have noted frustrations with certain mechanics, such as infinite reaction fire and a lack of comprehensive tutorials, which can detract from the overall experience.

    • “From the meticulously detailed units and maps to the realistic combat mechanics, Battle Academy successfully captures the essence of the era, making it a must-play for history buffs and strategy enthusiasts alike.”
    • “The gameplay mechanics of Battle Academy are focused on turn-based strategy, providing a refreshing change of pace from other action-oriented WWII games.”
    • “The strategy gameplay is great, the fog of war system is one of the greatest I've seen in any hex strategy game, and the ability to suppress any position, whether occupied or not, adds so much to the gameplay.”
    • “Boy oh boy, just for starters; I jumped into the tutorial... it walks me through issuing move orders and goes way too in-depth on how to use the mouse, but then before it can make it to any sort of game mechanics or any other basics, it glitches me out of the tutorial... guess I was done.”
    • “Graphics are cartoonish, sounds are cheap, and gameplay is slow and clumsy.”
    • “It tries to freshen up the old Panzer General formula, but poor explanation of mechanics and bugs make for an irritating experience.”
  • replayability5 mentions

    Overall, the game offers solid replayability, with players enjoying multiple campaigns and various modes such as skirmishes and special assignments. While some users rate the base replay value around 6/10, the potential for higher replayability increases significantly with the use of mods, suggesting that dedicated players can find hours of engaging content.

    • “Bottom line is it's a lot of fun and has a high replay value if you're interested in this type of game.”
    • “However, it is done really well and if you are willing to shell out, you won't be disappointed and are in for hours of replayable fun!”
    • “Replay value: 6/10 (if you don't mind using the editor to make mods then 8/10).”
    • “Replayability in the form of Normandy skirmishes, Allied special assignments, Axis special assignments, and the option to restart every campaign from the beginning after completing it.”
    • “I think there is some replayability at least, as I think I did most of the campaigns twice at least (like maybe came back and played them through a couple of years after the first time).”
  • music4 mentions

    The music in the game features catchy themes that can become earworms, but it also suffers from repetitiveness, leading to potential boredom. While some players appreciate the excellent sound quality, others feel it lacks atmospheric depth and can be grating over time.

    • “Also, some of its musical themes are earworms.”
    • “Excellent music and sounds.”
    • “On the downside, the music in the game is enough to drive anyone nuts and it lacks real atmosphere.”
    • “The music is a repetitive track that can be a bit boring once you notice it.”
    • “Some of its musical themes are earworms.”
  • stability4 mentions

    The stability of the game is mixed, with some users reporting significant glitches and crashes, particularly during the tutorial, while others have experienced a bug-free experience with smooth installation and gameplay. Overall, there are concerns about the game's reliability, especially regarding its graphics and AI performance.

    • “Bug-free - a solid game experience.”
    • “I have not encountered any issues with graphics or sound; playability is smooth with three levels, and it installs and runs great straight out of the box.”
    • “Boy oh boy, just for starters; I jump into the tutorial... walks me through issuing move orders and goes way too in-depth on how to use the mouse, lol. But then, before it can make it to any sort of game mechanics or any other basics, it glitches me out of the tutorial... guess I was done, lol.”
    • “Bad graphics, bad AI. The description says you can play Canadian forces, but in reality, you can't. It's buggy as hell and crashes often. Was this game made in the 90s?”
  • optimization3 mentions

    The game is praised for its excellent optimization, offering smooth performance without requiring high-end hardware, and is free from major bugs, making it a reliable choice compared to similar titles at a lower price point.

    • “Game-breaking bugs are non-existent (or rare; I don't know if anyone else has run into major problems, but my version has run smoothly since I installed it).”
    • “A quarter of what similar games cost and no glitchy performance.”
    • “It doesn't require a computer with high graphics performance.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    Players express a lack of emotional investment in the game, citing that the maps feel too small and the units are perceived as mere cannon fodder, which diminishes their connection to the characters and overall experience.

  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is criticized for its lack of depth, with repetitive music that detracts from the overall experience and fails to create an engaging environment.

    • “On the downside, the music in the game is enough to drive anyone nuts, and it lacks real atmosphere.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players find that while Battle Academy 2 offers larger maps and a variety of units, the battles can feel grindy due to their increased difficulty and complexity.

    • “If you like Battle Academy 2, this game has bigger maps, but bigger doesn't always mean better. It features artillery, snipers, minefields, and ski units, making it far more difficult, but the battles can feel quite grindy.”
    • “The game has a lot of potential, but the grinding aspect really drags it down. It feels like I'm just repeating the same tasks over and over without any real progress.”
    • “While the mechanics are interesting, the constant grinding to level up or gather resources becomes tedious and takes away from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization strategy has been criticized for its initial cash-grabbing tactics, which left a negative impression on users.

    • “The initial cash grab left a bad impression.”
    • “The monetization strategy feels overly aggressive and detracts from the overall experience.”
    • “It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind paywalls.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
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Negative mentions (%)Negative

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