Heroes of Normandie
- October 1, 2015
- Cat Rabbit
- 7h median play time
"Heroes of Normandie" is a steam game adaptation of a popular board game, known for its humor, tactical depth, and engaging strategy. Players command small squads in D-Day campaigns, with numerous units, equipment, and abilities to utilize. The game offers single-player campaigns, skirmishes, a rogue-like mode, and multiplayer, promising tons of content and future updates.
Reviews
- The game is a faithful adaptation of the original board game, providing a fun and engaging tactical experience.
- Graphics and art style are appealing, with humorous elements that enhance the overall enjoyment.
- The game offers a variety of gameplay modes, including a hot seat local mode for multiplayer fun.
- The game suffers from numerous bugs and technical issues, including problems with the interface and unresponsive buttons.
- Many players report that the dice mechanics are heavily skewed in favor of the AI, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.
- The lack of content and expansions compared to the physical board game leaves players feeling that the digital version is incomplete.
- story33 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 79 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as simple and uninteresting, with 36 missions that often feel repetitive after the initial stages. While the campaign offers a variety of objectives and modes, including a mission editor and humorous elements, many players find the gameplay lacks depth and innovation, leading to a sense of monotony. Additionally, technical issues and a desire for more engaging narrative elements detract from the overall experience.
“There are a lot of funny moments in the campaign mission briefings, playing on WWII movie characters and stereotypes.”
“The tutorial missions work well to teach players the concepts, and the single-player missions provide a good deal of tactical training and hours of play.”
“Content is plenty: 6 story campaigns (one is a tutorial), 2 hardcore-mode campaigns, skirmish scenarios, and multiplayer.”
“After 10 missions, you feel the same gameplay over and over again; I doubt you have the passion to finish 36 missions.”
“The missions guide the player through a simple and uninteresting story.”
“What is worse, a lot of the missions can be beaten by simply moving a unit across the map and grabbing the objective, does it matter that it's still guarded by two MG42 nests and a Panzer VI?”
- gameplay26 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
Gameplay reviews highlight a mix of experiences, with some players enjoying the tactical depth and engaging mechanics reminiscent of classic board games, while others find the gameplay repetitive and certain mechanics poorly explained or unbalanced. The game offers a solid tabletop experience with visually appealing art, but some users express frustration over the lack of comprehensive tutorials and the reliance on dice rolls, which can feel unfair. Overall, while the gameplay has its strengths, including strategic elements and a variety of units, it may not sustain interest over the long term for all players.
“Great tactical board wargame - superb art and visuals and engaging gameplay.”
“The gameplay is exactly what I've been looking for to scratch the 'Advance Wars' and 'European Battlefield' itch from my childhood.”
“Gameplay is pretty tight and there are enough units and builds to keep things interesting until the expanded content starts to appear.”
“After 10 missions, you feel the same gameplay over and over again; I doubt you have the passion to finish 36 missions.”
“Kind of underwhelming; some of the mechanics are kind of useless, others are poorly explained, and after a while, the art style loses its novelty.”
“Poor game mechanics, results based on dice, totally unbalanced scenarios...”
- graphics23 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the impressive artwork and faithful representation of the board game, while others find them underwhelming and lacking in technical polish. Many appreciate the charming comic style and solid visuals, though some note that the graphics do not stand out significantly in a digital format. Overall, the visuals are generally considered pleasant and fitting for the game's light-hearted tone, but they may not impress those seeking high-end graphical fidelity.
“Great tactical board wargame - superb art and visuals and engaging gameplay.”
“Graphically impressive.”
“Graphics are amazing, capturing the tabletop look perfectly with square chits covered in unit stats and great looking artwork of the many different unit types.”
“Kind of underwhelming, some of the mechanics are kind of useless, others are poorly explained, and after a while the art style loses its novelty.”
“This is a digital board game, so don't expect flashy graphics and mind-blowing effects.”
“There is no way to control graphics or sound through the use of a settings or options menu.”
- humor9 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of lowbrow and clever comedic elements, with entertaining cartoon graphics and funny moments in campaign briefings that play on WWII stereotypes. While some players appreciate the lighthearted atmosphere and personality infused into the gameplay, others feel it lacks respect for historical accuracy and depth. Overall, the humor adds a colorful and engaging layer to the tactical wargame experience.
“The cartoons between maps are pretty lowbrow humor, but it is entertaining.”
“There are a lot of funny moments in the campaign mission briefings, playing on WWII movie characters and stereotypes.”
“It's presented in a colorful way and with a lot of humor, but don't be fooled - it's a legit and challenging tactical wargame.”
- stability8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 88 % negative mentions
The game's stability is frequently criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and freezing issues that hinder gameplay. While some players note that it runs well on specific systems, the overall experience is marred by a lack of polish and unresolved technical problems, leading to a perception of abandonment by the developers. However, there is some optimism as the developers are reportedly engaged with the community and working on improvements.
“Runs great on Windows 8 with an NVIDIA card at 1920 x 1080.”
“The game maintains a steady frame rate, providing a smooth experience.”
“I haven't encountered any crashes or bugs, which makes for a stable gameplay.”
“However, it's just too buggy.”
“In this game, there are a few instances where the game just won't let you continue or it freezes.”
“A very casual game that does not live up to the original, with poor content, many annoying bugs and glitches, unpolished, and as it seems abandoned by its developers.”
- music3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally considered generic, with some tracks lacking uniqueness. However, it effectively complements the sound effects, creating an immersive audio experience that enhances the intensity of battlefield action.
“Sound effects and music come together as an explosive union of audio majesty, with thundering tank fire from cannons shaking the battlefield and infantry rifle fire zigging across tree lines to hit their targets.”
“The music is a bit generic.”
“Music is put together by a couple of generic tracks.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is enhanced by a dynamic map featuring varied terrain that influences unit performance, alongside a diverse range of unit types with unique stats and abilities. Players can strategically build their armies and improve performance through battles, which rewards them with gold for further development.
“A map with varying terrain that affects unit performance, including unit types from simple infantry to specialized infantry, as well as light, medium, and heavy armor, each with different stats, traits, and abilities.”
“After each battle, you gain more gold based on your performance, allowing you to continuously build and optimize your army.”
“The optimization of unit performance based on varying terrain is poorly implemented, leading to frustrating gameplay.”
“The game lacks proper balancing in unit stats and traits, making some units feel overpowered while others are nearly useless.”
“The system for gaining gold after battles does not adequately reward strategic play, which undermines the overall optimization of army building.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The introduction of a battle editor has significantly enhanced the game's replayability, allowing players to create their own battles and engage with those crafted by others, thereby expanding the variety of gameplay experiences.
“Now that they have released the editor, the game has even more replay value with the ability to create my own battles and play those created by others.”
“The variety of choices and paths in the game makes each playthrough feel unique, encouraging me to dive back in for a different experience.”
“With multiple endings and character builds, I find myself coming back to explore every possible outcome.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a lighthearted and humorous tone, creating an enjoyable experience that doesn't take itself too seriously.
“The atmosphere is slightly humorous and doesn't take itself too seriously.”
“The game creates a captivating atmosphere that draws you in and keeps you engaged.”
“The immersive atmosphere makes you feel like you're truly part of the world.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is not directly addressed in the provided text, which focuses more on nostalgic imagery and gameplay mechanics rather than financial elements or in-game purchases. Therefore, no specific insights on monetization can be drawn from this review.