Blitzkrieg 2 Anthology

About

"Blitzkrieg 2 Anthology" is a strategy game that offers three campaigns with the Soviet Armed Forces, US Army, and German Wehrmacht in World War II. It features a new graphics engine, improved realism, and expanded strategic options, such as planning operations, choosing reinforcements, and capturing strategic locations. The game aims to provide a gritty and immersive experience of the past century's most dramatic and bloody conflict. Note: This summary is based on the game's self-description and does not include information about the release date or developer/publisher.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

83%

Audience ScoreBased on 322 reviews

story13 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

The game offers a fun and engaging experience for fans of WWII strategy games, with a variety of missions and campaigns to enjoy.
It features a nostalgic feel and allows players to experience the equipment and tactics used during the era, making it appealing for history enthusiasts.
The reinforcement mechanic adds a layer of strategy, encouraging players to think carefully about resource management during missions.

The game suffers from significant technical issues, including crashes on startup, problems with saving, and poor pathfinding for units.
Many players find the AI to be frustratingly unresponsive and often ineffective, leading to a lack of strategic depth in gameplay.
Compared to its predecessor, the game is seen as a downgrade in terms of graphics and overall gameplay experience, leaving some fans disappointed.

story
85 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
81%
4%
The game's story unfolds through a series of diverse missions across three campaigns, each featuring unique objectives and a strategic reinforcement system that encourages careful planning. While the mission design offers a variety of challenges, some players feel that the narrative lacks depth and coherence, leading to a repetitive experience as they progress. Overall, the tactical elements and mission variety are praised, but the storytelling aspect could benefit from further development.
- “For me, the best thing about this game is that a lot of missions give you only an objective but don't say how to complete it.”
- “The missions are completely different from each other, which can't be said about its predecessor, Blitzkrieg.”
- “It offers a lot of missions through three different campaigns, and each mission is truly unique in its own way.”
- “To sum it up, it always felt like the enemy had infinite counterattacks to spam, and so every mission was essentially a timed mission, the worst type of mission. The only way to win was to rush your few units through the path of least resistance and try to achieve the objective as fast as possible, no matter the casualties. I felt like I was just spamming reinforcements and sending my men to the slaughterhouse, instead of feeling like a tactical genius as I did in the original Blitzkrieg.”
- “The mission design is a little brainless though. It's not supremely difficult - though there are definitely a few missions I've played that have been pains in the ass - but after the first few missions of each campaign, you do need to put some thought into things like positioning and combined arms.”
- “If you want to play this game, be prepared to quick save and quick load more than 20 times per mission.”
graphics
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
59%
11%
The graphics of the game are generally considered outdated, with many reviewers expressing a preference for the visuals of the original game. While some appreciate the nostalgic charm and atmospheric quality of the graphics, others find them lacking compared to modern standards. Overall, the consensus is that while the graphics may not impress, they do not significantly detract from the enjoyable gameplay experience.
- “The graphics hold up okay, even to this day, because it is atmospheric and the solid soundtrack switches from calm to aggressive according to the situation.”
- “Graphics may be at the brink of being dated but in my eyes it still looks good; damage models and vehicle wrecks mixed in among the craters of different sizes (depending on the caliber/type of bomb detonated) can make the game look like a scene from a movie.”
- “It offers very pleasant graphics and enjoyable gameplay.”
- “The graphics are undoubtedly outdated for this era, but then the whole game is.”
- “I just disliked the graphics; it was too toyish for me compared to Blitzkrieg 1 where I felt fully immersed.”
- “The graphics look like crap, but gameplay is where it shines most.”
gameplay
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
44%
8%
The gameplay is praised for its depth and variety, offering players multiple strategies for offense and defense, alongside a challenging reinforcement mechanic that encourages careful resource management. While some players find the AI to be significantly improved and the overall experience addictive, others criticize the graphics and pacing, noting that the game can feel frustratingly difficult at times. Despite mixed opinions on aesthetics and difficulty, many agree that the gameplay remains engaging and offers substantial content for both single-player and multiplayer experiences.
- “Gameplay is deep, offering many options for offense or defense.”
- “Gameplay can be as fun as it is frustrating; gather intel through recon or saturate an area with bombs/artillery by chance. It is up to you how to advance, but it can be costly, and each loss is counted up for your commander of that branch it belonged to, adding an extra challenge for those who want to go through the war with minimal losses.”
- “Graphics may be outdated, but its entertaining and addicting gameplay are enough reasons to buy this game.”
- “This flaw combined with an enemy with AI far better than that of the first game, not only having superior (I assume infinite, through the new reinforcement mechanic) numbers but using them better through constant counterattacks, makes the game unfairly hard, only to be played constantly in pause checking for red dots on the map and ordering single units to move and shoot at which target, since unlike the computer, you are not conscious simultaneously of all your units and their situation.”
- “Weak game, lame gameplay, way too slow unit movement, very bad reinforcement system.”
- “Also, the gameplay is too boring and the unit AI is lazy.”
music
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
36%
27%
Overall, the music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players praise the atmospheric and intense orchestral soundtrack that enhances gameplay, others find it repetitive and less impressive compared to the original game. Nostalgia plays a role in the appreciation of the music, with many recalling it fondly, but there are also criticisms regarding its quality and originality.
- “I was thrilled to see it on Steam many years later and I always remembered the music.”
- “Great campaigns, phenomenal map editor, and very good music.”
- “The graphic holds up okay, even to this day, because it is atmospheric and the solid soundtrack switches from calm to aggressive according to the situation.”
- “The only truly disappointing aspect of the game was its boring repetitive soundtrack.”
- “If you're looking for an enjoyable strategy game, don't buy this one; it's a cheap knockoff of the real series, plus they stole some of the soundtrack from the real series.”
- “I'll also be honest in saying that the graphics, music, and gameplay have aged noticeably, and perhaps this review is nostalgia speaking; however, I still find the game to be quite enjoyable.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
The game offers strong replayability due to its engaging multiplayer and campaign modes, despite some minor historical inaccuracies that prioritize playability over realism. Players have enjoyed it for years, finding it more replayable than some competitors, making it a worthwhile purchase, especially at a good price.
- “Owned and played through before Steam, but worth the buy at a good price and has great replay value.”
- “Have been playing it for years and it still holds its replay value with great multiplayer and campaigns.”
- “The game lacks significant variety in missions, making it feel repetitive after just a few playthroughs.”
- “Once you've completed the main storyline, there isn't much incentive to dive back in; the side quests feel uninspired and don't add much to the experience.”
- “The limited character customization options and predictable enemy behavior make replaying the game feel more like a chore than an enjoyable experience.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its nostalgic appeal, effectively transporting players back to their teenage years. The graphics, while dated, still contribute to a strong ambiance, complemented by a dynamic soundtrack that shifts from calm to aggressive, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.
- “But wow, as soon as I started this game, it brings me back to my teenage atmosphere!”
- “The graphics hold up well, even to this day, because it is atmospheric, and the solid soundtrack switches from calm to aggressive according to the situation.”
- “I love its atmosphere and overall gameplay.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is appreciated by players with a good sense of humor, particularly due to the AI's reckless behavior, which can be both amusing and frustrating. Interestingly, some players noted a difference in comedic elements between campaigns, such as the German campaign lacking certain humorous issues.
- “AI will give you some good laughs if you have a sense of humor.”
- “They don't care about roads and destroy everything, which is kind of funny and annoying.”
- “One funny thing, I did not have this problem in the German campaign.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
150%
Players express frustration with the grinding aspect of the game, noting that after extended play, issues with saving and loading can lead to crashes. Additionally, the repetitive nature of random missions contributes to a sense of tedium, detracting from the overall enjoyment.
- “Not to mention that there are no tedious random missions that feel like the same thing over and over again.”
- “I was playing fine and enjoying it, but after 3 hours of grinding on the Ruhr Pocket (Allies), the game decided not to save. Then, other saves wouldn't load at all; they were either stuck loading or just crashing the game.”
- “The grinding in this game feels endless and tedious, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “After countless hours of grinding, I feel like I'm not making any real progress, which is incredibly frustrating.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users express a mix of frustration and nostalgia regarding the emotional aspect of the game. While some feel disappointment due to gameplay mechanics, others recall poignant memories tied to their early experiences, highlighting the game's significant impact on their childhood.
- “As a child, when I first got this on disc, the files were corrupted. I cried - I had bought it with my own money.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
150%
Overall, the game runs well on Linux through Proton, but users have reported bugs with aircraft, particularly ground attack and paratrooper transport crafts, which can unexpectedly leave the battlefield upon arrival.
- “Runs great on Linux via Proton, for anyone interested.”
- “The game maintains a steady frame rate, even during intense action sequences.”
- “I haven't experienced any crashes or bugs, which is impressive for a game of this scale.”
- “Aircraft, especially ground attack craft and paratrooper transports, are somewhat buggy and will sometimes leave the battlefield as soon as they arrive.”
- “The game frequently crashes, making it nearly unplayable during intense moments.”
- “I experienced numerous glitches that disrupted gameplay, including characters getting stuck in the environment.”