Battle Cry of Freedom
- March 1, 2022
- Flying Squirrel Entertainment
- 16h median play time
Get on Steam"Battle Cry of Freedom is a free-to-play multiplayer game set in the American Civil War, where players can experience brutal combat as either the Union or Confederacy. The demo offers a limited selection of classes and regiments, but modded content is available. Join the community and prepare for a 19th century battle!"
PC
Windows
Reviews
- gameplay224 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Battle Cry of Freedom" is characterized by a mix of engaging mechanics and notable jankiness, particularly in AI pathing and melee combat, which many players find clunky and unresponsive. While the shooting mechanics and overall combat experience are praised for their depth and realism, the game suffers from a lack of players and optimization issues, leading to a less enjoyable experience in empty servers. Despite its potential and a friendly community, the game struggles with performance and requires further refinement to fully realize its ambitious gameplay concepts.
“The gameplay is unique and fun, the sound design is great, and the setting is by far my favorite.”
“The gameplay is smooth for the massive battles that erupt, and the devs put a lot of heart into this game.”
“A very well-crafted experience that excels above other historical battle games of its period, the right blend of realism as well as enjoyable gameplay.”
“No way to learn the game mechanics alone before jumping into PvP or just have fun without sweats.”
“The game feels incredibly clunky; the whole movement and shooting mechanics need a lot of work, as does the map design, which most of the time consists of empty fields that stretch hundreds of meters, causing the game to turn into a running simulator.”
“Horrible mechanics, no player base, looks like shit, plays like shit.”
- optimization175 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is widely criticized, with many players reporting severe performance issues such as stuttering, lag, and low frame rates, even on high-end hardware. Despite being available for over a year, the optimization has not significantly improved, leading to frustration among users who find it difficult to enjoy the game at its best settings. While some players still find enjoyment in the gameplay, the consensus is that substantial work is needed to address the ongoing optimization problems.
“While in need of optimization at the moment, gameplay-wise it is already a fun, challenging, and rewarding game.”
“This game has a massive customization system, you are free to interact with a lot of things, is well optimized, easy to learn, and released with modding support.”
“Just redownloaded, I must say these are some real devs, the game has been improved so much with content and optimization.”
“However, this game is horribly optimized; even though it's been out for over a year, it somehow runs the same as it did when it came out.”
“The game even after launch and receiving multiple hotfixes still tends to stutter and suffer from optimization, leaving those with a decent computer often having to play on medium-low settings, not being able to enjoy the game at its best.”
“This game is probably one of the worst optimized games I have played in a long time.”
- graphics146 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the detail and beauty when settings are optimized, while others criticize performance issues and dated visuals. Many users note that the graphics are adequate for gameplay, especially on lower settings, but can suffer from significant frame drops during large battles. Overall, while the graphics may not be groundbreaking, they are generally considered good enough to enhance the gaming experience, particularly for those with capable hardware.
“The graphics are the right level of detail so you can do large scale operations but not worry about your computer hating you.”
“The graphics, the sound effects, and the historical accuracy are all top-notch.”
“Amazing graphics and details with great sound effects.”
“Horrible graphics.”
“The servers can barely handle commander battles and you'll have to either play on lowest graphics settings where everything looks like playdough or settle for 10 fps consistently.”
“For all of its dynamic systems and immersion, the graphics and performance fall short due to the engine and +250 player count, I get consistently 50fps on a 2070 and a Ryzen 3600.”
- music101 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many players praising the soundtrack as "phenomenal" and "epic," effectively enhancing the immersive Civil War atmosphere. While the variety of instruments and folk tunes adds to the experience, some users noted that the music can become repetitive over time. Overall, the game's audio elements, including sound effects and voiceovers, contribute significantly to its enjoyment and historical authenticity.
“Absolutely recommend, did I mention the music is amazing.”
“The music, both soundtrack and what you can play in-game, is absolutely phenomenal.”
“Great gameplay, great music, great community.”
“Rounds take a long time, and you're listening to some very cringe music the whole time while you sit and spectate.”
“It was difficult to tell what was happening through the smoke, music, and shouting.”
“If you want a game that appears to be civil war, has a jackass community with no coordination, plays like crap and has some funny civil war music built in, this is the game for you.”
- humor60 mentions
- 97 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The humor in "Battle Cry of Freedom" is widely praised, with players highlighting the game's hilarious voice chat and community interactions that often involve role-playing and comedic accents. Many reviews note the balance between serious gameplay and absurd moments, creating a fun and immersive experience, though some caution about the presence of dark humor and offensive language among players. Overall, the game is described as a funny and entertaining take on the Civil War theme, making it a standout choice for those seeking humor in gaming.
“Battle Cry of Freedom is fun, gets decent support, and when active, has a genuinely hilarious community.”
“The proximity chat was amazing because everyone would role play Civil War era characters and do hilarious accents.”
“The serious moments like storming through a fresh wall breach to capture a point are well contrasted against the funny moments like someone ambushing you with a frying pan.”
“This used to be funny, but then they made it not funny.”
- stability45 mentions
- 4 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 96 % negative mentions
The game's stability is frequently criticized, with players reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and performance issues, particularly during melee combat and in specific game modes. While some users find the gameplay enjoyable despite these problems, many express frustration over the game's unfinished feel and lack of optimization. Overall, the game is seen as fun but plagued by significant stability concerns that detract from the experience.
“It is relatively bug-free and all basic features function without an issue.”
“There are multiple hitbox glitches and some of the maps don't even work, e.g., windows in buildings not opening or trees refusing to be cut down.”
“It's broken, buggy, and has plenty of problems, but the right server will have you looking past those problems most of the time.”
“There are a lot of glitches including phasing through the planks when entering a fort, the melee seems like jelly, kill range printout is glitched, not being able to walk or even jump over knee-high barriers, and the game lags when engaging in melee.”
- monetization17 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 6 % neutral mentions
- 88 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the lack of microtransactions and the extensive customization options included with the initial purchase. However, many criticize the developers for allegedly abandoning the game and mismanaging funds, leading to a perception of it being a cash grab rather than a fully realized product. Overall, while there are no additional costs for content, the game's direction and development have left players feeling frustrated and misled.
“Excellent customization, many options of classes to play as, many options of uniform variations to outfit them with, and all come with the purchase of the game, no microtransactions!”
“The developer is deliberately and unethically trying to scam gamers into paying them the cash grab price of $10 USD for a game they abandoned.”
“Devs mismanaged their funds and decided to make mods that did not pertain to the civil war and lied about future development for a cash grab.”
“Has now been abandoned so once again early access turns into a cash grab without a game to play.”
- atmosphere15 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its authenticity, with expansive landscapes, fitting music, and immersive sound design that enhance the historical experience. While some players note occasional gameplay jankiness and issues with online player counts, the overall ambiance, especially in online matches, contributes significantly to the enjoyment. However, the lack of offline play options against bots is seen as a drawback for those wanting to experience the atmosphere without relying on online connectivity.
“Wide landscapes with all features, objects, and characteristics of an honest effort to create a solid, authentic atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere is perfect, the music fits greatly, gunplay is awesome, and while movement can be a little slow, it's done in a playable manner.”
“Amazing atmosphere and mechanics; the sounds and gameplay are worth at least trying if you like history and strategy.”
“The voice comms can become a bit toxic, but just lower or turn off the voice chat volume and immerse yourself within the civil war atmosphere!”
“Seriously enjoying Battle Cry of Freedom, and while the gameplay can feel a little janky at times due to the game being made by a fairly small team (4 members), the atmosphere in online matches and VoIP really make for a fun experience.”
- emotional10 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, particularly when engaging with historical elements like the Massachusetts 54th regiment, which evokes feelings of joy and nostalgia. However, this emotional engagement is somewhat overshadowed by technical issues and a less-than-ideal community experience, suggesting that while the game has potential for emotional resonance, it is hindered by other shortcomings.
“When I discovered that the Massachusetts 54th were in the game, I felt joyfulness and had an emotional attachment to it.”
“This game had a lot of potential in the beginning by touching on a niche genre like the American Civil War.”
“I love connecting with my Confederate side.”
- story8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game's story is not expansive, akin to larger titles like Total War, but it is well-suited for a campaign format that involves completing various missions and objectives as part of a larger army. However, some users have reported technical issues, such as crashes when selecting missions, which detracts from the overall experience.
“The game has no story.”
“There is obviously no grand narrative, just a series of missions without any engaging plot.”
“The lack of a cohesive story makes the gameplay feel disjointed and uninteresting.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Players express that the grinding in the game is excessively time-consuming, suggesting that it requires an unrealistic commitment akin to having a second life to fully engage with it.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Despite a small player base, developers are actively enhancing the game's replayability, indicating a commitment to long-term engagement rather than treating it as a fleeting cash grab.
“The developers are genuinely committed to enhancing the replay value of the game, ensuring it doesn't become just a temporary cash grab.”
“The game offers a variety of experiences that encourage players to return, making each playthrough feel fresh and engaging.”
“With regular updates and new content, the replayability of this game keeps players coming back for more.”
“There's still a small player base, but the devs really seem to be taking the time to improve the replay value of the game instead of letting it die and just leaving it as a temporary cash grab.”
