Land of War: The Beginning
- June 10, 2021
- MS GAMES
- 1h median play time
Get on Steam"Land of War: The Beginning" is a World War II first-person shooter game set in Poland. Players take on the role of a young Polish soldier fighting against the German invasion. The game features historic battles, various weapons, and challenging missions across diverse environments.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Unique setting focusing on the Polish perspective during the early days of WWII, which is rarely covered in games.
- The game has a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic FPS titles like Medal of Honor and Call of Duty.
- Variety in gameplay with different mission types, including infantry, vehicle, and aerial combat.
- Poor optimization leading to performance issues, including stuttering and low frame rates even on decent hardware.
- Clunky controls and mechanics, including a lack of a prone option and frustrating hit detection.
- Voice acting is subpar, often feeling flat and detracting from the overall immersion of the game.
- story144 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 76 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game's story, centered on the Polish perspective during the German invasion of 1939, is praised for its unique setting and historical context, offering a fresh narrative in the WWII genre. However, many players criticize the execution, citing linear mission design, bugs, and a lack of emotional depth, which detracts from the overall experience. While some appreciate the mission variety and nostalgic gameplay reminiscent of classic FPS titles, others find the storytelling and gameplay mechanics lacking, leading to mixed reviews on its effectiveness.
“Well, finally someone heard my cries as MS Games gives us the story of Poland and the heroes who defended the country as it was being invaded by Germany at the start of the war in 1939.”
“The story for Land of War starts as you assume the role of Pvt. Kowalski and his squad as they make their way to Morka, site of one of the first fights of WWII.”
“I really like the ambition that MS Games had to help tell a story that no triple-A dev/publisher has done for a WWII FPS, that being the Polish perspective at the beginning of WWII.”
“Meme game cash grab with terrible execution... bad story, unrealistic, and unoptimized...”
“There were plenty of chances to make the player feel human emotion for these characters but instead, it felt rather plain... the missions were very linear, with barely any player choice, it was a simple do this, do that, follow this path.”
“The game story starts off simple with Poles holding off against a German offensive, long enough for the main protagonist to make a poetic note on the dehumanization of warfare, only to promptly forget about it and never preach philosophy ever again.”
- gameplay56 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing the controls and mechanics as janky and frustrating, often feeling poorly designed and unoptimized. While some appreciate the variety in gameplay elements, such as controlling vehicles and engaging in different combat styles, others find the experience marred by clunky movement and a lack of essential features like a prone mechanic. Overall, the game is seen as having potential but requires significant improvements to its gameplay systems to enhance player enjoyment.
“Throughout the campaign, you'll be controlling AA guns, anti-tank cannons, flying planes, and playing through rail shooter sections, sniper sections, etc. I felt it made the game feel organic, and I personally liked the pacing and mechanics of it.”
“Very nice game, graphics are nice, gameplay while difficult is excellent. The gunplay and gun models could certainly use a little work, but overall a nice game. I love how it touches on an aspect of WWII barely covered by video games.”
“Variety in gameplay: you'll engage in firefights on foot, take control of tanks, armored trains, and even pilot planes, keeping the action fresh.”
“Controls are jank, gameplay mechanics are frustrating and barely work; just poor design in general.”
“I have never in the last 20+ years of gaming seen so many horribly implemented mechanics in one product.”
“The gameplay is linear, the FPS at a certain point is very frustrating and there is quite a bit of random and unneeded sway.”
- graphics50 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players praising the visual design and realism, particularly in the context of a World War II shooter. However, numerous complaints highlight poor optimization, leading to performance issues even on high-end systems, and a lack of detailed polish in certain areas. Overall, while the graphics are considered decent or good by some, they are marred by technical problems and a need for further refinement.
“Very good game, due to the climate and very accurate realistic graphics and weaponry.”
“I love this WW1 game, gameplay is awesome, graphics are amazing.”
“The game itself looks great, graphics aren't over the top, but they look good nonetheless.”
“Graphics are not as shown in review.”
“Graphics on max settings are washed out and muddy.”
“The voice acting is bad, the graphics/performance/optimization are very poor.”
- optimization29 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 34 % neutral mentions
- 52 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with many players reporting severe performance issues such as stuttering, low frame rates, and lag, even on high-end hardware. While some users express hope for future patches to improve performance, the current state is described as unoptimized and reminiscent of early access titles. Overall, the game's graphics are noted as impressive, but the poor optimization significantly detracts from the overall experience.
“The only thing that holds this wonderful game back are the performance problems, but I'm sure the dev team is hard at work ironing out all the issues; therefore, I will update my review in the future.”
“06/19/2021 - patch update - performance issues were fixed and the game runs great for me.”
“At the moment, directly after release, it still needs some polishing and optimizations.”
“Poor optimization - probably averaging around 50 fps for the entire game.”
“The great graphics seemed like they were going to melt my RTX 3070 because of how poorly optimized they were, even at medium settings.”
“Awful performance. Poor optimization, woeful voice acting, lots of stuttering and lag are among many of its current problems; it feels very much like a game currently in early access.”
- stability18 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- -11 % neutral mentions
- 94 % negative mentions
The game's stability is frequently criticized, with many users reporting numerous bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay. While some players find the experience enjoyable despite these issues, others describe it as a "buggy abandonware mess." However, recent updates have improved performance for some, suggesting potential for a more stable experience in the future.
“The patch update on 06/19/2021 fixed performance issues, and now the game runs great for me.”
“The game has been incredibly stable since the last update, with no crashes or major bugs.”
“I've experienced smooth gameplay without any interruptions, making for a very enjoyable experience.”
“The terrain is buggy and glitches you through each level.”
“Buggy abandonware mess.”
“I bought the game even with the review warnings that the game is laggy, unstable and buggy.”
- music10 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to set the mood and enhance immersion, with a unique and excellent soundtrack that complements the gameplay. However, some reviews note that while the soundtrack is strong, other audio elements, such as dialogue and voice acting, fall short of expectations. Overall, the music is a highlight, contributing positively to the gaming experience despite some inconsistencies in other audio aspects.
“The soundtrack in this game is really good - always setting the proper mood for the mission.”
“The soundtrack is unique, and the sound design also applies well to the weapons.”
“Amazing music, interesting weapon selections, level variations, and immersion.”
“Oh, and I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the soundtrack.”
“The soundtrack is unique; the sound design also applies well to the weapons.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in these games is generally appreciated for its nostalgic and immersive qualities, with "Super Kowalski" offering a lighthearted experience, while "Land of War: The Beginning" provides a unique perspective on WWII through its Polish design, evoking a sense of desperation. "Afterfall" is also noted for its engaging story and lore, contributing to a compelling atmosphere reminiscent of classic WWII titles. Overall, players value the atmospheric depth and emotional resonance these games provide.
“Land of War: The Beginning could be one of the only early WWII games developed by a Polish design team, adding credibility and a sense of personal gratification. The project's atmosphere of desperation provides a player's perspective seldom talked about these days.”
“I really liked Afterfall; its story, lore, and entire atmosphere are captivating.”
“Since I have really enjoyed the first MOH and COD, I fully recommend the purchase for those who want to experience a bit of that old but gold WWII single-player game atmosphere.”
“Land of War: the beginning could be one of the only early WWII games developed by a Polish design team, adding credibility and a sense of personal gratification. However, the project's atmosphere of desperation feels overwhelming and may not resonate with all players.”
“Since I have really enjoyed the first Medal of Honor and Call of Duty, I fully recommend the purchase for those who want to experience a bit of that old but gold WWII single-player game atmosphere. However, the atmosphere can sometimes feel lacking in depth and immersion.”
“I really liked Afterfall; its story, lore, and entire atmosphere were engaging. However, the atmosphere sometimes felt inconsistent, detracting from the overall experience.”
- monetization3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game is criticized as a cash grab, with users highlighting poor execution and a frustrating experience due to intrusive ads and technical issues. Players report that the ad integration negatively impacts gameplay, making movement feel awkward and leading to graphical glitches.
“Meme game cash grab with terrible execution... bad story, unrealistic, and unoptimized.”
“Now to the part that needs a lot of improvement: the movement feels wonky, the ads with certain guns are slow, and when you stop watching ads, the graphics glitch right back into your face.”
“Ads?”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game is primarily enjoyed for its story rather than its gameplay, and it is noted to have limited replayability.
“Overall, you should play this game for the story, but it does lack a bit of replayability.”
“Once you finish the game, there's little incentive to go back and play it again.”
“The game feels like a one-time experience; I didn't find much to draw me back for a second playthrough.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the mission variety and the well-placed button prompts, which help alleviate the grind and prevent it from feeling tedious, providing a refreshing break from constant shooting.
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some moments being frustrating while the majority are genuinely hilarious, providing a varied comedic experience.
“Some of these moments are frustrating, but most are absolutely hilarious.”
“The humor in this game is top-notch, keeping me laughing throughout my playthrough.”
“I love how the game balances challenging gameplay with clever and witty humor.”
