Gary Grigsby's War in the East
- July 9, 2015
- 2by3 Games
- 307h median play time
While a fun and extremely deep simulation, the price tag & learning curve will restrict this one to the hardcore fans only.
Get on Steam"Gary Grigsby's War in the East" is a turn-based strategy game set on the Eastern Front of World War II, from Moscow to Berlin. It features intense battles, realistic terrain and weather, and historically accurate orders of battle. Lead divisions and brigades in massive campaigns, considering factors like supply, fatigue, and leader skills to achieve victory. The game offers 4 large campaigns and numerous scenarios with varying challenges.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Incredibly detailed and complex game that offers a deep dive into the Eastern Front of WWII.
- Great historical accuracy and a challenging experience that keeps players engaged.
- Offers a variety of scenarios and campaigns, allowing for both short and long-term gameplay.
- Steep learning curve that can be overwhelming for new players, requiring significant time investment to master.
- The user interface can be clunky and not intuitive, making navigation and understanding mechanics difficult.
- Long wait times for AI turns can disrupt gameplay flow, especially in lengthy campaigns.
- gameplay42 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its depth and complexity, requiring a significant time investment to master its intricate mechanics, including supply, logistics, and combat. While the tutorial and simpler scenarios help ease players into the game, the lack of detailed tool-tips and a steep learning curve may deter some. Overall, it offers a rich and rewarding experience for dedicated wargamers, though it may not appeal to those seeking a more casual gaming experience.
“The tutorial gives you a quick means to learn the basic game mechanics.”
“The supply and logistics mechanics in this game are outstanding.”
“Combat, supply, leadership, and infrastructure are all dealt with in clear but detailed and complex ways, and if you play through the scenarios in increasing complexity, you can slowly learn the mechanics of the game.”
“This game doesn't hold hands, but maybe some better tool-tips would be a good idea, especially given that the manual also doesn't always provide a straightforward answer or explain what a couple of gameplay mechanics actually do.”
“That truly kills all immersion and gameplay, and really makes this a waiting game, a complete grind.”
“It makes no attempt to distill and explain the core mechanics of the system, but rather simply attempts to provide an inventory of the different user interface details and to apologize for the daunting complexity of the application.”
- graphics21 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 76 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The graphics of "War in the East" are generally described as simplistic and reminiscent of a board game, featuring a static map and basic unit icons. While some players find the lack of flashy visuals disappointing, others appreciate the game's focus on strategic depth and historical accuracy over aesthetics. Overall, the graphics serve the game's purpose but may not appeal to those seeking a more visually dynamic experience.
“But this is a trap; behind the game's very simple graphics, there is an engine that takes an extreme amount of detail.”
“A well laid out 'board' with enough graphical detail to give information without being over the top.”
“Lackluster graphics, repetitive musical score and tedious movement counters make it a lame duck.”
“Disappointed a little in that there are not more graphical representations of things like combat, but I suppose you are meant to use your imagination.”
“Graphics: as this pretty much simulates a 'board game', the game is played on a static map (that is actually rather impressive to look at) with little icon 'wargame chit' counters for your troops.”
- music14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it repetitive and lacking in variety, featuring only a short total of around 7 minutes across two tracks. While some appreciate the atmospheric qualities of the soundtrack, others feel it quickly becomes tiresome, leading them to prefer listening to their own playlists instead. Overall, the music is seen as a weak point in an otherwise complex gameplay experience.
“The musical score is rather impressive for a war game that helps keep the tension of the conflict going.”
“The game has a lot of complexity but also atmosphere in spades with its intro movie and in-game music and sounds.”
“The soundtrack of the game isn't bad, but being really short means it gets tiresome quickly.”
“The game also does not remember your settings, so you get blasted by the in-game music every time you boot the game up.”
“Lackluster graphics, repetitive musical score, and tedious movement counters make it a lame duck.”
“For one, the music: you get maybe a grand total of 7 minutes of actual music, divided into 2 tracks.”
- grinding12 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight that the grinding aspect of the game is characterized by excessive complexity and tediousness, with players often feeling bogged down by intricate supply chains and unit management. While some appreciate the depth and micromanagement opportunities, many find the experience frustratingly slow and repetitive, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game. Overall, the consensus suggests that the game leans too heavily on tedious tasks, overshadowing its strategic elements.
“This is needlessly complex to allow the player to squad out generals, set the various plane squadrons to either bombing or air defense; you must maintain a chain of supply to headquarters units, which gets tedious real fast.”
“This is just tedious and overly complex.”
“You spend a lot of time on tedious tasks to very little effect.”
- story8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The story in the game is described as an epic portrayal of the harsh realities of war, focusing on the experiences of soldiers and the complexities of military strategy rather than a traditional narrative. Players appreciate the realistic elements, such as supply lines and unit cohesion, which contribute to an immersive experience of the Great Patriotic War, though some note a lack of a conventional plot typical of strategic war games. Overall, the emphasis is on the operational challenges and historical accuracy rather than a linear storyline.
“This is the story of that war, and boy oh boy, is it ever epic.”
“Check out Grey Hunters' let's play for a truly epic story.”
“This is quite frankly a game of the poor bloody soldiers, tanks, and artillery, so no, there are no super soldiers or special missions; this is war, plain and simple.”
“So with that being said, I can't really detract from a lack of plot for a strategic war game.”
“All of which is only backstory to my purchase of War in the East - technology has granted us the ability to actually play the beast that is the Great Patriotic War at the operational level without renting a hall and losing our minds.”
- humor5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the reviews reflects a blend of absurdity and irony, with users finding amusement in the juxtaposition of serious gaming scenarios and lighthearted commentary. One reviewer humorously critiques their own gaming experience while also poking fun at the absurdity of hypothetical questions about gaming on a deserted island. Overall, the humor is characterized by a self-aware and sarcastic tone, highlighting the often ridiculous nature of gaming and its community.
“Well this is hilarious as they really want to sell their game... in normal difficulty on my first campaign vs axis AI, I trapped so many units in October '41 that the Axis is so far from many historical objectives.”
“I don't know if this was supposed to reflect funny moustache man's avoidance of Moscow and prioritization of the Ukrainian fields or simply because Moscow would not lead to Soviet capitulation even if it was surrounded and captured in real life, but oh well.”
“Ever get that random question from an unwashed stranger: 'If you had one, okay, two computer games to take with you to a deserted island, what would they be?' Now my first response would be: 'Where am I supposed to plug it in, asshole?' But if I humored this nosy lunatic, I'd say unquestionably, 'Anything by Graviteam Tactics, and Gary Grigsby's War in the (muthafunkin) East.'”
- replayability4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is mixed; while some players find it lacking in incentive to replay scenarios, others appreciate its depth and challenging AI, which enhance the experience. Overall, it offers a balance of complexity and replay value, making it worthwhile for hardcore strategy enthusiasts.
“This certainly is one of the best hardcore strategy games - not easy to learn and truly hard to master, but with unrivaled depth, historical accuracy, replayability value, and a decent AI when you have no human opponent at hand.”
“The game's replayability is questionable; a lot of the scenarios, while no doubt they are long, don’t really seem to give any reason to play them again; play it once and that’s it.”
“I did buy this full price 110+ AUD at Matrix Games site; this is a bargain for replayability and challenging AI plus PBEMs.”
“It's a quick fix, shows you the basics, but also is complex enough to offer a lot of replayability.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its strong optimization, with users noting that the complex world operates smoothly and without bugs. Additionally, the mechanics for managing generals, including their dismissal for poor performance, are well-implemented.
“No bugs: all this complex world works and is rather well optimized now!”
“The optimization in this game is impressive, allowing for smooth gameplay even in the most demanding scenarios.”
“I appreciate how the developers have fine-tuned the performance, making the experience seamless and enjoyable.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's stability is heavily influenced by environmental conditions, with prolonged battles leading to a swampy terrain that hampers equipment mobility and durability. As the ground freezes, movement becomes easier temporarily, but severe cold and blizzards can immobilize troops, emphasizing the need for strategic adaptation to changing weather.
“The longer you fight, the thaw comes where the entire battlefield turns into a swamp. The mud slows down the equipment and causes it to break down, leaving you watching as your tanks move slowly and run out of fuel, equipment, and supplies. Over time, the ground freezes, making it easier to advance for a couple of weeks, but then severe cold and blizzards force troops to almost stand still and prepare for containment and survival.”
“The game frequently crashes during intense battles, making it frustrating to progress. Stability issues ruin the experience and lead to lost progress.”
“I encountered numerous bugs that caused my character to get stuck in the environment, forcing me to restart the game. This lack of stability is a major drawback.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game excels in atmosphere, enhanced by a captivating intro movie and immersive in-game music and sound effects, creating a rich and engaging experience for players.
“The game has a lot of complexity but also atmosphere in spades with its intro movie and in-game music and sounds.”
