Gary Grigsby's War in the West

83%
Game Brain Score Based on 94 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • graphics
Gary Grigsby's War in the West Game Cover
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Gary Grigsby's War in the West is a turn-based strategy game set in World War II. Players can command either the Allied or Axis forces in the European Theater, managing units, resources, and battle tactics in a detailed simulation of the conflict. With a focus on historical accuracy and strategic depth, it offers a challenging and immersive experience for hardcore wargamers.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

83%
Audience ScoreBased on 94 reviews
replayability1 positive mentions
grinding3 negative mentions
  • The game offers an incredibly detailed and complex simulation of the Western Front during WWII, appealing to serious wargamers and history enthusiasts.
  • Once the steep learning curve is overcome, players find the game rewarding and engaging, with a deep level of strategy and operational planning.
  • The air war mechanics are particularly praised, providing a unique and immersive experience that adds depth to the gameplay.
  • Many players experience technical issues, including crashes and problems with the game not loading, leading to frustration and dissatisfaction.
  • The game can feel unbalanced, especially when playing as the Axis, with limited options and a lack of control over key strategic elements.
  • The user interface is often criticized for being outdated and clunky, making navigation and gameplay more cumbersome than necessary.
  • gameplay8 mentions

    The gameplay is praised for its depth and complexity, requiring significant time investment to master its mechanics, which can be daunting for new players. While it offers a rewarding experience once understood, many recommend utilizing tutorials and the manual to navigate its intricacies effectively. Overall, it is seen as a solid entry in the strategy genre, particularly for fans of war gaming, though it may not capture the same level of engagement as other titles in the series.

    • “I come from playing the Hearts of Iron series, and I have to say this game surpasses them in terms of its size, detail, and immersive gameplay.”
    • “A great game when you figure out all of the necessary mechanics, and an even greater game if you need to put on stress-forming strategies to outperform more numerous enemies.”
    • “I've played 60+ hours so far, and even now I'm still figuring out some of the game's mechanics and intricacies.”
    • “Regardless of war gaming being my most played genre anymore, it took me about 10 hours of consecutive YouTube tutorials (I highly recommend Strategy Gaming Dodo and following along in-game) to feel comfortable playing an entire 4-phase turn without missing major mechanics or feeling lost 50% of the time.”
    • “I've played 60+ hours so far and even now I'm still figuring out some of the game's mechanics and intricacies.”
    • “I recommend reading the manual before you start playing; the manual clears up a lot of questions about the gameplay.”
  • story6 mentions

    The story aspect of the game emphasizes strategic planning and execution of air missions, allowing players to engage in detailed decision-making regarding squadron management and mission parameters. Players experience a sense of accomplishment as they successfully navigate complex air combat scenarios, reminiscent of larger historical conflicts but on a more focused scale. The narrative is enriched by the depth of customization and tactical choices available, enhancing the overall immersive experience.

    • “Nowhere else can you debate launching a superiority mission with hurricanes against a set of airfields stacked with Bf109s to clear a path to Hannover.”
    • “It is essentially 'War in the West' with simpler air mission mechanics, and a bit smaller scale (despite being the Eastern Front) as you don't have to worry about naval invasions or multiple fronts.”
    • “You can also go into much greater detail such as where a squadron is based, what type of aircraft they have, how many aircraft, how they are armed, what's their bomb load, will they have drop tanks, what type of missions they will fly, their targets, what days of the week they will fly, what altitude they will fly at, what weather conditions they will fly in, what priority they have for supplies, what is the minimum aircraft needed for a sortie, what level of training the pilots need to fly, and who their commanders are at their higher headquarters.”
    • “The story feels disjointed and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
    • “I found the narrative to be predictable and uninspired, failing to engage me throughout the game.”
    • “The plot twists were underwhelming and didn't add any real excitement to the overall experience.”
  • graphics2 mentions

    The graphics have been noted for their impressive quality, but users have expressed disappointment over the lack of graphics scaling options.

    • “The graphics are stunning and truly immersive.”
    • “The visual design is incredibly detailed and vibrant.”
    • “The art style is unique and adds a lot to the overall experience.”
    • “Graphics scaling: there isn't any.”
    • “The visuals feel outdated and lack detail.”
    • “The textures are low resolution and make the game look unpolished.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    While the game offers enjoyable elements that suggest high replayability, significant flaws detract from the overall experience, leading to a negative reception.

  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The atmosphere is enhanced by a visually appealing map and historical imagery, contributing to an immersive experience.

    • “The game features a beautifully crafted map and historical images that enhance the overall atmosphere.”
    • “The immersive environment draws you in, making every moment feel alive and engaging.”
    • “The atmospheric sound design and stunning visuals create a captivating experience that keeps you on the edge of your seat.”
    • “There remains the pretty map and the historical pictures for the atmosphere.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, with some expressing frustration over long load screens that disrupt the experience, leading to the need to forcefully close the game.

    • “Not only that, to get away from the tedious load screen, I had to end the task. For crying out loud!”
    • “The grinding feels endless and repetitive, making the game more of a chore than an enjoyable experience.”
    • “I spent hours grinding for resources, only to realize it was all for nothing. It completely killed my motivation to play.”
  • music1 mentions

    The music in the game has been criticized for being lackluster and insufficient, contributing to an overall feeling of anemic sound design. Additionally, some users noted that the interface issues detract from the experience, further diminishing the impact of the soundtrack.

    • “The soundtrack is terribly anemic, lacking the depth and variety needed to keep players engaged.”
    • “There are some clunky interface elements that need to be ironed out, which detracts from the overall experience.”
    • “The air resolution pause every turn is a real attention killer, interrupting the flow of the game.”
  • stability1 mentions

    The game exhibits some stability issues, with users noting that it remains somewhat buggy despite being released in 2015.

    • “The game is still a bit buggy for a title released in 2015.”
    • “I encountered frequent crashes that really disrupt the gameplay experience.”
    • “There are numerous glitches that make it hard to enjoy the game fully.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
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Negative mentions (%)Negative

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