Graviteam Tactics: Mius-Front
- March 4, 2016
- Graviteam
- 27h median play time
"Graviteam Tactics: Mius-Front" is a tactical combat simulation game with turn-based and real-time modes, focusing on the Eastern Front of World War II. The game offers four large-scale operations for the Red Army and Wehrmacht, featuring over 100 detailed vehicles and 140 sq. km of realistic landscapes. It serves as a sequel to "Graviteam Tactics: Operation Star" and "Achtung Panzer: Kharkov 1943."
Reviews
- Incredibly detailed and realistic simulation of WWII combat, particularly on the Eastern Front.
- The game offers a unique blend of operational and tactical gameplay, allowing players to command large forces while also managing individual units effectively.
- The graphics and sound design create an immersive atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience of commanding troops in battle.
- The user interface is clunky and can be confusing, making it difficult for new players to learn the game mechanics.
- The tutorials are insufficient, leaving players to rely on external resources like YouTube videos to understand the game.
- AI behavior can be unpredictable, leading to frustrating moments where units do not respond as expected during critical situations.
- gameplay117 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 77 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Graviteam Tactics: Mius-Front is praised for its depth, realism, and attention to detail, offering a rewarding experience for players who invest time in mastering its complex mechanics. However, the steep learning curve, poorly documented UI, and lack of comprehensive tutorials can be daunting for newcomers, often requiring players to rely on external resources like YouTube videos to fully grasp the game. Despite these challenges, many players find the immersive and strategic gameplay to be well worth the effort, making it a standout title in the WWII strategy genre.
“The attention to detail and the depth of gameplay make it a must-play for anyone interested in World War II strategy games. I can tell the devs over at Graviteam really worked hard for this masterpiece of a game, and I hope we get more Cold War DLCs in the future.”
“Excellent simulation - the combat mechanics and AI allow you to get realistic results using real-world tactics and procedures (combined arms, defense in depth, pre-registered artillery, etc.), and in combination with the expansive scenarios, there is endless replayability. To top it off, it looks great too, and you can spend hours just watching the battles unfold.”
“Once learned, the gameplay loop is extremely rewarding, but would benefit from deeper attention to continuity (i.e., longer campaigns with the same troops, like the original Close Combat series offered).”
“There are various mechanics that are not explained well and won't make much sense to newcomers.”
“In summary, the game mechanics are buried behind an obtuse, largely undocumented UI that doesn't follow its own conventions.”
“The gameplay is terribly deep, and along with that depth, there come a lot of confusing mechanics and questionable player friendliness.”
- story99 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 91 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story aspect of "Graviteam Tactics: Mius Front" is largely absent, with players noting that the game lacks a traditional narrative. Instead, the focus is on mission briefings and the dynamic nature of battles, where each engagement unfolds uniquely, creating a sense of storytelling through the tactical decisions and outcomes. While some players appreciate the operational layer that gives context to battles, others feel that the game falls short compared to the more narrative-driven "Combat Mission" series.
“Every battle is a story, and due to its 'physics sandbox' style, it's never over until it's over!”
“Great WWII eastern front simulator at the company and higher level, with a separate and detailed operational layer giving each battle a purpose and story within the wider campaign.”
“Every loss and victory has at least two memorable moments in that conflict, and I say at least two because every burning hulk of metal or fallen soldier has a story that cannot be recreated in any other game.”
“Graviteam Tactics: Mius Front doesn't have a story as such, so instead I'll cover the mission briefings here, such as they are.”
“Generally a poor attempt at combat missions.”
“Every loss and victory has at least 2 memorable moments in that conflict, and I say at least 2 because every burning hulk of metal or fallen soldiers has a story that cannot be recreated in any other game.”
- graphics59 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics in Graviteam Tactics: Mius Front are generally praised for their attention to detail and historical accuracy, providing an immersive battlefield experience despite not reaching modern AAA standards. While some users note that the graphics can feel slightly dated or heavy on system resources, many appreciate the impressive scale, realistic effects, and overall aesthetic quality, making it one of the best-looking games in its genre. Regular updates have also contributed to enhancements in visual fidelity, further solidifying its reputation among strategy simulations.
“One of the things that stands out about Graviteam Tactics: Mius-Front is the attention to detail in the game's graphics and mechanics.”
“The graphics are beautiful, the historical information is interesting, the simulations are realistic and detailed, and the gameplay is intriguing and challenging.”
“Tracers illuminate the sky, vehicles get crippled and show damage depending on where they were hit, and the attention to detail is astonishing.”
“Graphics are a little dated but provide massive scale and effects that really put you into the battle.”
“The graphics would have been cutting edge 10 years ago; today they are passable.”
“While certainly not up to modern AAA gaming standards, Mius Front features full 3D graphics and a clean menu layout in a genre that isn't exactly known for putting much thought or effort into aesthetics.”
- replayability15 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The game boasts exceptional replayability, with players highlighting the unique experiences offered by its AI behavior, operational layers, and customizable battle options. The combination of historical accuracy, community support, and the ability to create and replay various scenarios ensures that no two campaigns are alike, making it a worthwhile investment for fans of the genre. Additionally, the potential for future multiplayer features could further enhance its replay value.
“The operational layer of the game adds another level of replayability and nicely brings your tactical battles into the context of the broader battlefield.”
“Ai behaves differently every battle, so the replayability is insane.”
“If you finished the campaigns, you are able to create your own battles with all different types of units, which gives the game a high replayability.”
“The game comes with like 4 individual operations but all the operations are replayable and you won't get the same battle twice.”
“Can't wait for them to add multiplayer, that would make this one of my favorite RTS games to date as multiplayer adds much more replayability.”
“I have played tons of wargames in the last 30 years and this is really one of the best, and thanks to the battle editor it appears to have a lot of replay value.”
- atmosphere14 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 21 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and evocative representation of the Eastern Front during WWII, effectively capturing the horror and chaos of battle through detailed graphics, modded sound effects, and realistic environmental elements. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to create tension and realism, particularly during night battles, making it a standout in the simulation and wargame genre. Despite some minor sound effect criticisms, the overall ambiance is considered exceptional and integral to the gaming experience.
“Absolutely dripping with atmosphere and detail, and the best simulation/wargame I've seen that conveys the horror, terror, and confusion amidst the slaughter that took place on the Eastern Front in WWII.”
“Incredibly kino, manages to conjure atmosphere like no other game out there. From the lighting to the landscape, it's a wonderfully evocative representation of man killing man in the natural world.”
“If you want realism, great atmosphere, and historical accuracy in one package, buy it.”
“But the AI accomplishes mostly their duty here; without being a military genius, the AI doesn't break the atmosphere the game creates for you.”
“The surroundings, the atmosphere, the tension during night battles with tracers flying everywhere.”
“Graviteam Tactics: Mius-Front along with Graviteam Tactics: Operation Star & expansions create a WWII atmosphere that is both operational and very tactical.”
- optimization12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while many players report significant improvements and stability, especially after updates, performance can still be demanding and heavily reliant on CPU capabilities. Some users experience frame rate drops in intense scenarios, and those below recommended specs may struggle with performance. However, many agree that it is generally well-optimized compared to its predecessor, allowing for smoother gameplay at higher settings.
“While the game is demanding performance-wise, from my naive view it is nicely optimized for what it's doing under the hood.”
“There may be still some hiccups here and there, but performance has been vastly improved.”
“Fun game, a lot more improved over GTOS, way more optimized, has a better UI, and can run on max settings without dipping frames with many units on screen.”
“Its both great and frustrating at the same time and has so many dichotomies in its performance.”
“Performance is highly dependent on your CPU.”
“Updated review: I had a no recommendation because I was below the recommended specs and the game suffered hard on performance.”
- grinding9 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 89 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that while the game offers a rich and detailed experience with impressive unit AI that minimizes tedious micromanagement, players still face a steep learning curve that can feel grindy. The balance between enjoying the spectacle of battles and navigating the complexities of gameplay is noted, with some players appreciating the depth while others find the initial learning process unnecessarily tedious. Overall, the game successfully reduces the grind associated with traditional RTS micromanagement, making larger battles more engaging.
“There is a huge amount of depth and technical detail, but this is largely automated, so there's no tedious RTS-style micromanagement. You spend most of your time supervising and enjoying the spectacle, intervening to make key decisions here and there.”
“Listen, I get that this game is a passion project, and in terms of creating cool looking battles that are very authentic in terms of weaponry, unit modeling, ballistics, armaments, etc., it absolutely delivers, but once you actually figure out how to play the game, it throws in every conceivable roadblock to make this process as tedious as possible.”
“What's amazing is how tedious learning this game is going to be, because it doesn't have to be.”
“There is a great deal of complexity and some battles are so large that micromanagement would make the game too tedious.”
- humor5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is well-received, with players appreciating the developer's entertaining engagement in discussions and finding comedic moments in animations, such as characters running on fire. Additionally, the quirky behavior of AI and the awkward laughter of soldiers contribute to the overall amusing experience, enhancing the game's appeal.
“Plus, the dev is active in the discussions, and his sense of humor is quite entertaining.”
“Then I laughed because the running around on fire animation is pretty funny.”
“This game is so good it's funny.”
- stability5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is notably poor, with frequent bugs, confusing AI movement, and issues such as constant freezing and failure to launch. Many players have experienced significant frustration, leading to recommendations to seek refunds quickly if initial problems arise. Overall, the game is described as crude and unpolished, detracting from the overall experience.
“Simulations can be buggy, and AI movement can be confusing and frustrating.”
“Many false hours of play were registered by Steam while troubleshooting the game's failure to launch.”
“Game just constantly freezes mid-play and nothing I have tried works.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the emotional aspect of the game deeply impactful, highlighting feelings of heartbreak and hopelessness as they experience the weight of historical events and the tragic consequences of warfare. The latest DLC enhances this emotional engagement, evoking empathy for soldiers on both sides and creating a poignant atmosphere amidst the chaos of battle.
“It is heartbreaking to witness history being repeated.”
“The hopelessness of 10 T-34s rushing your entrenched units and seeing from the commander's view that you can't do anything about it is something no strategy game has ever made me feel.”
“Mistakes sometimes make this a strange, emotional viewing of a tragic bloodbath.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy for the game has been criticized for being frustrating, particularly regarding the DLC, which many players find to be poorly implemented and overly aggressive.
“Good game, annoying developer, poor monetization of DLC.”
“Good game, annoying developer, poor monetization of DLC.”
- music2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received largely negative feedback, with many players finding it unappealing or even unbearable, leading some to turn it off entirely. However, a few players have opted to listen to their own music while playing instead.
“The music is awful and I had to turn it off within minutes of playing my first scenario.”
“Music is meh, but I listen to Sabaton while playing.”