Graviteam Tactics: Operation Star

About

"Graviteam Tactics: Operation Star" is a war game set on the Eastern Front of WWII, allowing players to command Soviet, German, and British forces in the Battle of Kharkov. With 8 operations, over 60 detailed units, and huge realistic landscapes, the game offers a wide range of tactical options and high replayability. Its mod utility set and campaign editor provide additional customization.

Genres & Tags

Strategy

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Graviteam Tactics: Operation Star screenshot

+14

82%

Audience ScoreBased on 305 reviews

gameplay9 positive mentions

stability3 negative mentions

Incredibly detailed and realistic simulation of WWII tactics and combat.
Offers a deep and rewarding strategic experience with high replayability.
The game mechanics encourage thoughtful planning and execution, making each battle unique.

Steep learning curve with a confusing UI that can be overwhelming for new players.
Lack of a comprehensive tutorial, requiring players to seek external guides for understanding.
AI can be unpredictable and sometimes fails to follow orders effectively.

gameplay
51 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
76%
6%
The gameplay of this title is characterized by a steep learning curve due to its complex mechanics and non-intuitive UI, requiring significant time investment to master. While it offers a rewarding and realistic tactical experience for players who appreciate depth and authenticity, it may feel clunky and overwhelming for those seeking a more straightforward approach. Overall, the game is praised for its detailed mechanics and immersive combat simulation, appealing primarily to fans of realistic strategy games.
- “Unexpected enjoyable game, feels authentic and well made; gameplay is solid.”
- “Once learned, the gameplay loop is extremely rewarding, but would benefit from deeper attention to continuity.”
- “Highly detailed renders, an expansive selection of units, massively scaled engagements, and a well-developed campaign mechanic make Operation Star one of the most tactically realistic games out there.”
- “The gameplay sucks; maybe it is supposed to be a simulator?”
- “If you are looking for a simple game mechanic, this isn't it.”
- “The gameplay is hard; real tactics are necessary to achieve victory; my ordinary RTS 'more men into the fire' tactic is not working very well in this game.”
story
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
80%
7%
The game's story is deeply rooted in realistic military strategy and tactics, offering players a complex and immersive experience reminiscent of classic wargames like Combat Mission and Close Combat. Players appreciate the dynamic operational campaigns and the emphasis on command and control at the platoon level, though the steep learning curve and intricate setup can be challenging. Overall, it is seen as a significant evolution in the genre, appealing to fans of tactical warfare simulations.
- “Absolutely fantastic game, there is literally nothing comparable on the market out there, even behemoths of the real-time tactics/wargames/simulator such as Close Combat, Combat Mission, Theatre of War and newer yet far more simplified entries like Wargame and Men of War can't hold a candle to this unique game.”
- “This is better than Combat Mission, because while CM is one battle and it's over, this has whole operational campaigns which are dynamic and where you place your troops, tanks, AT guns, and commanders on a grand map that then translates into tactical combat.”
- “Not for the impatient, as it has a steep learning curve and a depth of realism not seen since Combat Mission (at a fraction of the price, I might add).”
- “Thus, as it can be seen in the Steam shop, the game is split into many 'new games' with some missions here and there, but mostly DLCs and splitting into many versions of the game.”
- “It just seems that it is a poor cousin to the Combat Mission series of games.”
- “This game is like an upgraded version of Theatre of War; the game consists of individual missions, there are different objectives in each mission, but apparently the true victory conditions are the domain of terrain and enemy casualties.”
graphics
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
39%
11%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising their quality and detail, especially in depicting large battlefields and realistic environments. However, some users report issues such as graphical glitches on newer hardware and outdated graphical engines. Overall, while the visuals are generally considered good and immersive, there are concerns about performance and the need for updates or enhancements.
- “The game's depth and visuals are pretty amazing.”
- “It’s an eastern front war game with solid graphics and sprawling battlefields that really emphasizes the scope of WWII tank combat.”
- “This is a very well-made game and the graphics are really good for its age; it can be mesmerizing to watch a night battle with starshells, flares, tracers, secondary ammo explosions, and smoke.”
- “I had this on my two older computers and loved it, but when I try to run it on my newest, the terrain graphics are totally messed up.”
- “Game will show everything black unless you can force anti-aliasing off in the graphics menu.”
- “Graphics are of the era this game was originally produced.”
replayability
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
20%
20%
The game boasts massive replayability, with users highlighting the ability to create custom battles and the variability of campaign missions, ensuring that no two playthroughs are alike. Despite a steep learning curve, the immersive experience and unpredictable narratives contribute to its high replay value, making it particularly appealing for fans of wargames and military history. Overall, players find the game infinitely replayable, with a strong emphasis on depth and strategic decision-making.
- “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.”
- “Nonetheless, I can only wholeheartedly recommend the entire Graviteam franchise to any wargame, RTT, or military-history aficionado. After the initial entry curve, you'll fall in love with the franchise and have a decent replay value given the mission editor and slightly randomized campaign missions.”
- “In other words, it is infinitely replayable and no two games are the same.”
- “Nonetheless, I can only wholeheartedly recommend the entire Graviteam franchise to any wargame, RTT, or merely military-history aficionado. After the initial entry curve, you'll fall in love with the franchise and have a somewhat decent replay value given the mission editor and slightly randomized campaign missions.”
- “The other reviews are right; there is endless replayability.”
- “It gives the game a fun, fluid, and unpredictable narrative that enhances replayability.”
atmosphere
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
22%
33%
The game's atmosphere is generally praised for its immersive and authentic depiction of battle, enhanced by stunning visuals of the terrain and effects like smoke and explosions. However, the audio elements, particularly the sound effects, are criticized for lacking impact, which detracts from the overall experience. Despite this, many players find the atmosphere compelling enough to keep them engaged.
- “Great atmosphere that keeps you playing and lets you feel with your soldiers, tanks, etc.”
- “The land, terrain, nature, forests, atmosphere, sky... oh my god, it looks stunning.”
- “Smoke, tracers, and explosion lighting give the game a real atmosphere.”
- “The ambient audio makes me want to throw my speakers across the room.”
- “Few words regarding the setting, atmosphere, and premise of this game.”
- “Atmosphere of war.”
optimization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Graviteam Tactics: Operation Star is praised for its smooth performance, even on older hardware, outperforming other titles like Tank Warfare: Tunisia 1943 and Graviteam Tactics: Mius Front. The game effectively models weather effects on unit performance, though some users desire improvements in AI behavior and command systems for enhanced tactical control. Overall, the optimization is considered good, contributing to a more enjoyable gameplay experience.
- “Optimization -- runs smoothly on any 5-year-old rig.”
- “Weather effects on unit performance are also modeled in a very detailed way.”
- “Good performance.”
- “Although Graviteam Tactics: Operation Star has a simpler artificial intelligence, smaller battlefield, and classic interface, it has a noticeably smoother performance than Tank Warfare: Tunisia 1943 and Graviteam Tactics: Mius Front.”
- “Their performance depends on a variety of factors like the quality of squad leaders (or lack of them), morale, and so on.”
- “I'd also like to see a more fleshed-out orders system with more control over unit frontages, support weapon usage, line of advance, etc., or the AI's performance in those regards be improved.”
stability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The game's stability is mixed, with some users reporting significant issues such as cursor misalignment, freezing when accessing guides, and occasional command glitches. However, others note that despite these bugs, the game runs well overall, especially on older hardware, and remains enjoyable with minimal impact on gameplay.
- “To anyone interested, the game runs great on Linux via Proton.”
- “Probably the best battle simulation game I have played in a long time. The DLCs are a must; there's so much to this game that I'm still learning things here and there. Even during one of the largest battles, the game slows down, but that is to be expected on my fairly old rig. It still plays pretty well with no glitches or bugs. I highly recommend this game!”
- “Downloaded it and the cursor is way off... can't access the DLC pack... and when I try to use the guide that's supposed to help me, it freezes every time I click on it... so all I can say about the game until they get it fixed is don't bother.”
- “Be warned that the game does sometimes have glitches with commands not happening like they should, but overall, they don't have a huge impact on gameplay.”
- “It is a little buggy.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game can be overwhelming and unapproachable, with some players finding it tedious and complex. While the learning curve isn't steep and micromanagement is minimal, the interface may require time to adjust to, leading to a frustrating experience for some.
- “I'm no stranger to clunky, complex, or even tediously entertaining games, but this one is just on another level of unapproachable.”
- “Perhaps they should stop farming DLCs and instead concentrate on making their game playable.”
- “The interface can be a bit tedious before you get used to it.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted as "funny" to watch, particularly due to the chaotic and often absurd nature of close quarters combat, where soldiers hilariously ignore nearby enemies and engage in comical melee encounters.
- “The only major flaw is that close quarters combat can get a bit wonky; soldiers often ignore enemies a few feet in front of them and rush into hilarious melee combat.”
- “It was funny to watch.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional response from users reflects frustration and disappointment, particularly regarding the inability of ATI cards to meet expectations, leading to a decision to seek refunds and abandon the brand.