Call of War
- October 21, 2017
- Bytro Labs GmbH
- 42h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on Play Store"Call of War is a strategic MMO game set in World War 2, where players control a country and expand their empire through battle and defense. With long-term gameplay, players can recruit units, upgrade buildings, train armies, and research technologies to gain an edge. Natural resources are vital for success but can also be exploited by rivals, adding another layer of complexity to the game."
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Reviews
- Engaging grand strategy gameplay that allows for deep tactical planning and alliances.
- Fun to play with friends, offering a social aspect to the strategy experience.
- Free to play with the option to earn in-game currency through gameplay, making it accessible.
- Heavy pay-to-win mechanics that can overshadow skill-based gameplay, making it frustrating for free players.
- Real-time mechanics lead to long wait times for troop movements and building construction, which can be tedious.
- Inconsistent moderation and community management, with reports of bans for minor infractions or criticism.
- gameplay83 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is characterized by solid mechanics and strategic depth, but it is heavily marred by pay-to-win elements that allow players with financial resources to gain significant advantages. While some players appreciate the engaging and immersive aspects, many criticize the slow pace, lack of clarity in mechanics, and the overwhelming influence of microtransactions, which detracts from the overall enjoyment and fairness of the experience. Despite its potential, the game struggles with balancing free-to-play accessibility and monetization strategies, leading to a mixed reception among players.
“Solid strategy gameplay!”
“Great strategy war game with simple and understandable gameplay and concepts.”
“Great replay value, with balanced game mechanics.”
“The pay-to-win basis of the game is expensive, especially when you consider the very low graphics and basic mechanics of the combats, and the cost of resources and build time speed-ups.”
“Pay-to-win gameplay with ads.”
“Although the gameplay is good under most conditions, when battle conditions or numbers of players start having too many moving parts, gameplay slows and access to the server becomes buggier than a tick-infested hound dog.”
- monetization37 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 49 % negative mentions
The monetization model of the game has drawn significant criticism, with many players labeling it as a "pay-to-win" system that creates imbalance, particularly between PC and mobile users. While some players appreciate the ability to earn premium currency through ads and achievements, the overwhelming presence of microtransactions and intrusive advertisements detracts from the overall experience, leading to perceptions of the game as a cash grab. Despite the potential for enjoyment, the monetization practices have left many feeling frustrated and disillusioned.
“In-app purchases exist but give only small advantages that don't affect game balance enough to really call it pay to win.”
“I know it's free to play and that Bytro needs funds (and thus in-game purchases of gold), but I would certainly pay a fair price for this game if it were to not include gold.”
“There's a great community of players and all the games I've played have not been influenced heavily by the microtransactions, plus the more experienced players play games where there's a strict rule against the use of the currency!”
“This game is just a lazily made cash grab.”
“You have to use gold, the in-game purchased currency, to keep up with the one guy in your game that spends his life savings on gold.”
“The game is designed as a free-to-play / pay-to-win Hearts of Iron type real-time strategy game, however, according to Bytrolabs' terms of service, you are not allowed to complain about anything to do with pay-to-win methods, even though some people throw their wallets at this undeserving, immoral cash grab disguised as a game.”
- graphics27 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the superior and engaging visuals, while others criticize them as outdated or lacking depth, likening them to a "cheap version" of more polished titles. Despite some updates improving the artwork, many users feel the graphics do not meet modern standards, especially for a game released in recent years. Overall, the consensus suggests that while the graphics can be decent, they fall short of expectations for a contemporary gaming experience.
“Superior graphics, engaging mechanics, and immersive atmosphere, yet, the narrative could be richer compared to similar titles.”
“The graphics are almost rustic looking and give a real sort of feeling the game should have.”
“Good artwork (especially after these few updates).”
“The pay-to-win basis of the game is expensive, especially when you consider the very low graphics and basic mechanics of the combat, and the cost of resources and build time speed-ups.”
“Also, the graphics look like total garbage for a game that's not even a year old yet.”
“It's kind of like a cheap version of Civilization with crappy graphics and no sound.”
- story14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is mixed, with some players noting a lack of a traditional narrative, while others appreciate the opportunity for role-playing and storytelling through gameplay experiences. Those interested in historical events may find it particularly engaging, though patience is required to fully enjoy the unfolding stories created during play. Overall, the game is seen as fun, especially for those who enjoy crafting their own narratives.
“If you like history and historic events, this is the perfect game for you.”
“Good for role playing with other players and creating a story (if you play and survive long enough).”
“I have pages and pages of battle photos I took, each telling a story of a game.”
“☑ no story”
“☐ no story”
“Long story: this game is for those who are patient.”
- humor10 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as hilariously chaotic, with players finding amusement in the absurdity of the game's mechanics and community interactions, such as the banter in global chat and the antics of admins. Many users appreciate the comedic elements of gameplay, including writing articles for the in-game newspaper and the irony of competing against pay-to-win players, which adds a layer of fun despite the game's monetization issues. Overall, the community's lightheartedness and the game's chaotic nature contribute to a humorous experience.
“Feels like World War 3 in my brain, hilariously chaotic!”
“I loved the newspaper; writing articles in that paper was hilarious.”
“Yes, most of that time is spent in global chat just talking, but the game has a really funny, positive, and helpful community.”
- stability10 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The stability of the game is heavily criticized, with users reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and server unreliability that significantly detract from the overall experience. Many players express frustration over the game's numerous technical issues, which include unresponsive units and constant crashes, leading to a perception of it being a "buggy mess." Additionally, the game's monetization practices and lack of effective communication from admins exacerbate the dissatisfaction among players.
“This isn't even mentioning how buggy and unreliable the servers are.”
“The game crashes and glitches constantly; this is a result of the ads they put on after you have invested time.”
“The game is fun, but unfortunately, it glitches a ton.”
- grinding10 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively time-consuming and tedious, often requiring a significant daily commitment to progress. Many express frustration with the imbalance between players who can invest more time or money and those who cannot, leading to a sense of disadvantage. While some players note that grinding can be avoided with enough dedication, the general consensus is that it detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“No grinding or buying needed; from the beginning, you can do whatever, except for the whole level thing. But if you play for like a week, you unlock all of the fun game modes.”
“Strongest negative: time consuming and generally grindy game”
“Good, but it can get tedious to log in every day.”
“Pub games are dull and tedious as anyone who's throwing their money at the game has a major advantage, being able to dump out more units and build structures before you can do half of that.”
- music7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate a significant dissatisfaction with the game's music and sound design, with multiple users noting the complete absence of background music and sound effects. This lack of auditory engagement contributes to a sense of boredom and detracts from the overall experience, particularly for a war strategy game where music is often expected to enhance the atmosphere.
“But I miss some good soundtrack...”
“This game is good and playable for those who love command and conquer, but it needs more graphics and sounds; actually, this is a completely silent game.”
“It doesn't even have sound or music.”
“I dislike that it has no sounds, music, tactics, something that a war strategy game needs.”
“The slothlike pace makes everything grind to a halt until you just stop out of boredom, especially since the devs didn't even bother putting in background music.”
“This game is good and playable for those who love command and conquer, but it needs more graphics and sounds; actually, this is a completely silent game with no music or any sound.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game is well-optimized, featuring no lag and a high frame rate, which enhances the overall experience. Players can enjoy extensive gameplay for free, focusing on strategic planning and army customization.
“Optimized; no lag, high frame-rate.”
“There is a fun game here; you can play for free, spending weeks carefully planning your economy and curating your army into specific divisions optimized for your goals.”
“There is a fun game here, you can play for free, spend weeks carefully planning your economy, curating your army into specific divisions optimized for what you want.”
“The optimization is lacking, leading to frequent crashes and frustrating gameplay.”
“Despite the potential, the game suffers from poor optimization, resulting in long loading times and stuttering performance.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is praised for its superior graphics and engaging mechanics, creating an immersive experience; however, some reviewers feel that the narrative lacks depth compared to similar titles.
“The superior graphics and engaging mechanics create an immersive atmosphere that truly draws you in.”
“The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, making every moment feel alive and captivating.”
“The game's atmosphere is enhanced by stunning visuals and sound design, creating a truly engaging experience.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game offers great replayability due to its balanced mechanics, encouraging players to return for multiple playthroughs.
“Great replay value, with balanced game mechanics.”
“The game offers endless possibilities, making each playthrough feel fresh and exciting.”
“With multiple endings and diverse character choices, I find myself coming back for more.”
