Holdfast: Nations At War
- March 4, 2020
- Anvil Game Studios
- 34h median play time
Get on Steam"Holdfast: Nations At War" is a multiplayer first- and third-person shooter set in the Napoleonic era. Join intense large-scale battles with up to 150 players, featuring infantry, cavalry, and naval warfare. Choose your role, work as a team, and master the historical weapons and tactics of the time. Immerse yourself in a realistic and immersive experience.
Reviews
- humor1,039 mentions
- 99 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The humor in "Holdfast: Nations at War" is a standout feature, with players frequently praising the game's vibrant and hilarious community. The proximity voice chat enhances the experience, leading to countless funny moments, chaotic interactions, and memorable role-playing scenarios. While the gameplay mechanics can be clunky, the absurdity and camaraderie fostered by the player base create a uniquely entertaining atmosphere that keeps players coming back for more laughs.
“The community has embraced the game's humor, creating an atmosphere that is both competitive and downright entertaining.”
“Whether it's witty banter, hilarious role-playing, or just the sheer absurdity of in-game conversations, Holdfast's chat is a delightful experience in itself.”
“The community is hilarious and the gameplay makes it even funnier.”
“Expect a lot of unfunny mic spam instead.”
“The only thing wrong is people mic spamming dead, unfunny memes every minute of the game.”
“Not funny like it is on YouTube.”
- gameplay1,002 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Holdfast: Nations at War" is characterized by a mix of fun and frustration, with many players enjoying the chaotic, community-driven experience while also expressing dissatisfaction with the mechanics, particularly in shooting and melee combat. While the game offers a unique historical setting and engaging multiplayer battles, issues such as clunky mechanics, random bullet accuracy, and a steep learning curve can detract from the overall experience. Despite these drawbacks, the vibrant community and humorous interactions often keep players coming back for more.
“Holdfast offers a unique blend of hilarity and intense gameplay that keeps you hooked from the first musket shot to the final bayonet charge.”
“The gameplay is a fail if you wanted to play a war game.”
“The gameplay is fun and simply.”
“The melee and the shooting are the worst in the industry; even Concord has better gameplay than this.”
“Game sucks, local proximity chat is a great feature, but the overall gameplay is bogged down by terrible combat mechanics such as random bullet deviation and ineffective melee combat.”
“The actual worst part of this game, other than the ancient graphics and gameplay pulled straight out of Mount and Blade, is the bayonet.”
- music787 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 79 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The music aspect of the game is characterized by a chaotic and humorous environment where players frequently blast a wide variety of songs through their microphones, ranging from classical pieces to modern pop and meme music. While this can enhance the fun and camaraderie among players, it often leads to overwhelming noise that can detract from gameplay, prompting many to mute disruptive players. The inclusion of a musician class adds a unique dynamic, allowing players to provide buffs to their teammates while contributing to the game's lively atmosphere.
“There's something unique about playing a game set in the Napoleonic era, with muskets and cannons and swords, while having Lt. McNugget blast the Mii music over mic and a surgeon runs around stating 'medical support'.”
“Get immersed as you charge the enemy with classic 1806 songs such as the USSR national anthem, the YMCA, and of course the classic Britney Spears - Toxic.”
“The atmosphere with flag bearers, officers, and musicians is also fantastic and if you can get some friends together to play with you will have an even greater time.”
“The public servers are shit, constantly full of kids just playing garbage meme music trying to be funny but it's just annoying and obnoxious.”
“You'll probably want to press 'p' and mute music spammers at the start of each game.”
“The atmosphere of the musicians playing period piece music would be great, to match the buffs to players that they confer, but this is always drowned out by modern pop music being played through players' microphones.”
- graphics465 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Holdfast: Nations at War" have received mixed reviews, with many players noting significant improvements over its predecessor, "Mount & Blade: Napoleonic Wars." While some praise the game's visual fidelity, detailing, and immersive atmosphere, others criticize the performance issues and outdated animations, suggesting that the graphics may not meet the expectations of players seeking cutting-edge visuals. Overall, the game is seen as visually appealing but may require a powerful PC to run smoothly, and its graphics are often described as decent rather than groundbreaking.
“The graphics overhaul makes first person look great, and the learning curve is completely bearable.”
“The maps are meticulously designed to recreate the battlefields of the 18th century, and the graphics and sound effects are stunningly realistic.”
“The graphics are beautiful, the gameplay enjoyable and the vision for the future exciting.”
“The graphics are bad and the game feels decent.”
“Graphics and optimization: while the historical accuracy is commendable, the graphics engine may benefit from refinement and better optimization for smoother gameplay.”
“The character models are to contemporary graphics what TES III: Morrowind’s character models were to its contemporaries, ugly; however, TES III was actually an enjoyable game whereas Holdfast: Nations at War is not.”
- optimization174 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players reporting significant performance issues such as frame drops, lag, and inconsistent FPS even on high-end systems. While some updates have aimed to improve performance, many users still find the game poorly optimized, leading to frustration during gameplay. Overall, there is a consensus that the game requires substantial optimization work to enhance stability and performance for a smoother experience.
“The gameplay isn't even all that good, but the engine is impressive to handle so many players and all the voice chatting, especially after this latest update which shrunk the game, improved performance, and improved visuals.”
“Very fun, they also just optimized it for low-end PCs, so all my potato PC brothers out there can also enjoy the satisfaction of mic spam and Napoleonic chaos.”
“The game has had a huge boost to performance.”
“The game on its own could be described as, and I quote, "the biggest piece of dogshit." For a game of less than 50 GB, its optimization is nonexistent, meaning that a decent PC will not give you 60 FPS on high settings.”
“Performance is quite bad, with frame drops everywhere and sound clipping in some maps.”
“The biggest problem with the game as of now is the absolute dogshit servers and terrible optimization.”
- stability99 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 88 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with players reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and performance issues that detract from the overall experience. While some find the comedic nature of the glitches adds charm, many express frustration over unreliable mechanics, particularly in melee combat and hit detection. Overall, the game is seen as a fun but flawed experience, heavily reliant on player camaraderie to mitigate its technical shortcomings.
“Very funny especially when you play with friends. 10/10 for graphics and the gameplay is smooth and bug free.”
“I liked everything, the game is perfect, no bugs, no glitches so far.”
“The game feels very polished, it runs great, looks good, and the firefights can get intense.”
“This game is going to my uninstalled list till the devs wake up and deal with the hacks and glitch abusers and patch the maps up to prevent glitches.”
“Today, Holdfast has regressed into a buggy, bloated, unoptimized mess.”
“The game will be buggy because of the delay, and even if you shoot point-blank, the enemy won't take a hit.”
- story83 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 81 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The reviews reflect a mixed perception of the game's story aspect, with many users noting a lack of a traditional narrative or storyline. Some players appreciate the organic storytelling that emerges from gameplay interactions, while others highlight humorous or absurd anecdotes shared by characters, suggesting that the game's focus is more on fun and player-driven experiences rather than a structured plot. Overall, the consensus leans towards the absence of a significant story, with players encouraged to enjoy the game for its mechanics and social interactions instead.
“With an amazing plot, great characters, and a compelling storyline, I can say that this game is the best Steam game I've ever played.”
“The game's amazing; you'll load in and music is being blasted into your ears as someone tells a story with cannonballs flying over your head.”
“It's one of the few games to tell an organic story that is completely told by its players.”
“Very historically accurate from the deep-fried mic spam to the guy sitting by the fire literally telling a story of how he date-raped a girl in college, got away with it, and now has an addiction to it 16 years later and has done it to numerous girls since.”
“No leveling up, storyline, or much else.”
“Support the game and join us - just don't expect a storyline or any type of campaign!”
- atmosphere71 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 37 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its authenticity and immersive qualities, effectively capturing the essence of the Napoleonic era through detailed graphics, sound design, and community engagement. Players appreciate the blend of humor and competitive spirit, which fosters a fun and inclusive environment, while the chaotic yet vibrant interactions enhance the overall experience. Despite some criticisms regarding gameplay mechanics, the game's atmosphere remains a standout feature that draws players in and keeps them engaged.
“The thunderous roar of muskets, the clash of steel, the frantic commands of officers - it all combines to create a battlefield atmosphere unlike any other.”
“Authentic atmosphere: Holdfast captures the essence of the Napoleonic era with meticulous attention to detail, from environments to uniforms, creating a rich and immersive experience.”
“The atmosphere is captivating and you will really get a sense of fighting in the Napoleonic era, whether it's on land, the sea, or a combination of both.”
“Even the most innocuous of usernames can lead to punitive actions, creating an atmosphere of fear and self-censorship.”
“The atmosphere of the musicians playing period piece music would be great, to match the buffs to players that they confer, but this is always drowned out by modern pop music being played through players' microphones, let alone ISIS anthems.”
“Only negative is the people that seem to have to play really loud music over their microphone, spoiling the atmosphere.”
- grinding52 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 48 % negative mentions
Overall, players express that grinding in this game can be excessively tedious and often feels like it requires a "second life" to endure. While some appreciate the absence of traditional grinding mechanics, others find the gameplay repetitive and lacking in tactical depth, leading to boredom, especially when playing solo. However, there are also positive notes about the game's casual nature and enjoyment when played with friends, highlighting a mix of fun and frustration in the grinding experience.
“Fun team game to play, no grinding for gear/items.”
“No grinding or unlocking, no insane learning curve, no pay to win. I was able to hold my own and do well even with less than 10 hours in the game against players with hundreds of hours. That, to me, is how a game should be.”
“There are no goals, no grinding yet, and some of the roleplay is the funniest I've seen.”
“It makes melee awful and tediously boring.”
“Rounds seem grindy and not tactical at all.”
“The result are tedious, boring matches that all play out exactly the same.”
- replayability23 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Overall, the game exhibits high replayability due to its diverse maps, game modes, and balanced gameplay, which provide fresh experiences in each match. While many players find it infinitely replayable and enjoyable, some suggest that additional content, such as more factions and persistent progression systems, could enhance its longevity. The community aspect also plays a significant role in maintaining player engagement, despite occasional bugs and content limitations.
“The diverse range of maps and game modes further adds to the replayability, ensuring that each match brings a fresh and unique experience.”
“Genuinely the most fun I've had in a game for a while; it's infinitely replayable and hilarious.”
“For the price, even in early access, it's great value for money, and it has excellent replayability.”
“More maps, game modes, and historical periods would add much-needed variety and replayability.”
“This is the successor of Mount & Blade: Napoleonic War; it needs more persistent progression, like experience points, levels, loadouts, and character customization to offer real replayability and keep the interest at its maximum.”
“It's in alpha, so it does lack content, but it's surprisingly polished for an alpha (no game-breaking bugs!) with a lot of replayability.”
- emotional19 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a strong sense of community and wholesome interactions among players, often leading to heartfelt moments and laughter. Many users highlight the game's ability to evoke deep emotions, ranging from joy to nostalgia, while also appreciating the supportive environment fostered by its community. Overall, players find the experience both entertaining and emotionally resonant, making it a memorable part of their gaming journey.
“10/10 emotional ride, sadder than the Titanic.”
“It feels more like a deep emotional exhibition to the fullest extent.”
“Play Holdfast... because just like childhood friends, at the end of the day you can commit war crimes without consequences and shed a tear as you watch the empire fall to a lone bagpiper.”
- monetization18 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 6 % neutral mentions
- 89 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as a cash grab, with players noting a lack of microtransactions but an overwhelming presence of clan recruitment advertisements that detract from the gameplay experience. While some enjoy the simple matchmaking and fun with friends, many feel misled by the game's promotional materials, leading to frustration over the disparity between expectations and reality. Overall, the monetization approach appears to prioritize player retention through clan dynamics rather than delivering on the advertised gameplay features.
“This game has a monetization scheme that is comparable to Roblox, which is both engaging and accessible.”
“As far as I'm concerned, this came out of nowhere and just seems like a cash grab to increase player base.”
“It blows, another early release cash grab piece of crap that started as a bar-fueled fever dream and ended as a limp stillbirth on Steam.”
“Legit, it's a cash grab.”
