Making History II: The War of the World

About

"Making History II: The War of the World" is a strategy game that simulates global military conflict during the World War II era. Players can control any nation that existed during this time, managing resources, technology, diplomacy, and military tactics to achieve their objectives. The game features a detailed economic model, historical events and scenarios, and a high level of customization, providing a rich and immersive experience for fans of historical strategy games.

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Making History II: The War of the World screenshot

80%

Audience ScoreBased on 266 reviews

gameplay5 positive mentions

music3 negative mentions

The game offers a deep and rewarding grand strategy experience with complex economic and military systems that appeal to hardcore fans of the genre.
Replayability is a strong suit, allowing players to control various nations and explore different strategies, making each playthrough unique.
The sandbox approach allows for creative gameplay, enabling players to rewrite history and engage in alternate scenarios.

The game suffers from technical issues, including frequent crashes and lag, especially in late-game scenarios, which can hinder the overall experience.
The user interface is clunky and unintuitive, making it difficult for new players to navigate and understand the game's mechanics.
The AI behavior can be unpredictable and unrealistic, leading to immersion-breaking moments and frustrating gameplay.

gameplay
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
74%
10%
Gameplay in this title is characterized by a complex blend of military, political, and economic management, earning a solid 8/10 for its intricate mechanics and replayability. However, the outdated interface and lack of tutorials can make it challenging for new players to grasp the depth of the game, leading to a steep learning curve. While fans of strategic planning may appreciate the depth and synergy of the mechanics, others may find the gameplay tedious and lacking in polish compared to other grand strategy titles.
- “The gameplay mechanics are a highlight, blending military, political, and economic management into a cohesive, if sometimes overwhelming, experience.”
- “This game achieved a level of synergy between game mechanics that I have only seen in games like the Civilization series, and you are in control of everything to do with your nation.”
- “Long gameplay with a lot of different aspects to manage for any fan of strategy.”
- “The interface can feel outdated and unintuitive, making it challenging for new players to quickly understand the depth of the mechanics.”
- “There is no tutorial, and although there is an in-game guide, it doesn’t fully prepare players for the game’s complex mechanics.”
- “Lacks naming units or armies and gameplay is tedious.”
graphics
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
65%
15%
The graphics of "Making History II: The War of the World" are generally considered functional but outdated, earning a score of 6/10. While some players appreciate the game's depth and gameplay over aesthetics, the visuals lack detail and sophistication compared to other grand strategy titles, which may detract from immersion for those who prioritize graphics. Overall, the game is seen as a solid choice for strategy enthusiasts who are less concerned with visual fidelity.
- “The graphics are a bit old, but the game is a gem of WWII strategy, definitely worth the money.”
- “System requirements are low, but the graphics are sharp and clear.”
- “Graphics and animations of the units are cool, although nothing spectacular.”
- “However, technical limitations, a steep learning curve, and dated visuals mean that it may not appeal to everyone.”
- “The game’s visuals and sound design also lag behind the standards set by other grand strategy titles.”
- “The graphics feel dated and lack the level of detail that some players may expect in portraying the historical setting.”
replayability
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
33%
25%
The game boasts strong replayability, scoring an impressive 8/10, thanks to its intricate mechanics and diverse historical scenarios that allow players to experience different outcomes. While some users note that the dated interface can hinder the experience, the unique challenges presented by various countries and the unpredictability of each campaign keep players engaged and coming back for more. Overall, the turn-based gameplay and strategic depth contribute to its enduring appeal.
- “Replayability is a strong suit.”
- “Endlessly replayable (look at my hours!) no two campaigns ever go the same.”
- “While its presentation and interface may feel dated, its intricate mechanics and replayability make it a worthwhile experience for fans of strategic planning and alternate history.”
- “The game’s focus on historical accuracy and global reach is commendable, and it includes a wide range of countries, each with unique challenges and opportunities, which adds to its replayability.”
- “When turns are taking me more than 5 minutes even once familiar with navigating the menus (to do what should take around 1 minute), it's a real turn off for replayability.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The music and sound design in the game are considered serviceable but generic, earning a score of 6/10. While they adequately set the tone, they lack the dynamism and variety needed to enhance the WWII atmosphere, resulting in a less immersive experience during intense moments.
- “The sound and music are serviceable, with generic tracks and simple sound effects that set the tone but fail to elevate the experience.”
- “While they do their job, they don’t stand out or immerse the player fully, earning sound and music a 6/10.”
- “The soundtrack, while serviceable, doesn’t offer the dynamic or varied experience that would bring the tense atmosphere of the WWII era to life, leaving some of the game’s most intense moments feeling a bit flat.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from significant stability issues, including low frame rates and frequent freezing, particularly after every third round, which severely hampers gameplay. Additionally, players report bugs that affect combat mechanics, making it difficult to issue commands to troops. Overall, these stability problems detract from the gaming experience.
- “It's buggy; the game moves very slowly (around 16 frames per second on a rig that gets me 60+ in most current games at the best settings running 1920x1080 resolution). The combat is horrendous, and half the time you can't order your troops to attack, only move.”
- “This game freezes after every third round, making it impossible to play.”
- “But it has its glitches.”
story
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The story aspect of the game is criticized for its lack of emergent storytelling and significant historical events, resulting in a world that feels static and less engaging. Additionally, the absence of a training mission complicates the learning curve for new players, making it necessary to rely on the previous game for guidance.
- “While this freedom is enjoyable, the lack of emergent storytelling or significant historical events leaves the world feeling less dynamic than it could be.”
- “Like I said, this game has no training mission while the first game does, so you might need to play the first game, learn it a bit, and then switch to this game.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is perceived as tedious and unnecessarily slow, with players expressing frustration over repetitive elements like the newspaper updates and a lack of meaningful engagement in gameplay. Overall, the experience is described as lacking excitement and innovation, leading to a sense of monotony.
- “I can only imagine a complete change of staff, plus the loss of the source code, to stop development of mh:i and instead 'revamp' everything to make it a slower, more tedious game, with not much to recommend.”
- “The newspaper thing at the beginning of every turn is tedious, and even after figuring out how to click the star in the top right of the newspaper to simply close all of them, by that point I knew that the turnly update was useless since all of the information is available on the quick links in the top right.”
- “Lacks naming units or armies, and gameplay is tedious.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by its absurd historical scenarios, such as the unexpected annexation of Denmark by Germany, which adds a comedic twist for players, especially history enthusiasts. Overall, the game is praised for its entertaining and humorous elements that create unlikely and amusing situations.
- “It's a great game with a lot of funny stuff for history buffs that would likely never happen.”
- “The fact that Germans annexed Denmark was funny to me because Germans were assisting the Danes at first in their fight against me, but halfway through, Germany was like 'forget that' and annexed them instead.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
150%
The optimization of the game is a mixed bag; while some players report no performance issues and a smooth experience, others find it severely lacking, with unbearable lag detracting from the overall enjoyment.
- “Fun, addicting, and no performance issues! Everything runs smoothly without any extra downloads.”
- “I liked the first one and I really wanted to like this one since the second one has more features, but the game is so badly optimized that the lag is unbearable.”
- “The optimization is a disaster; I frequently experience frame drops and stuttering that ruin the gameplay.”
- “Despite the potential of the game, the poor optimization makes it nearly unplayable on my system.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is hindered by a soundtrack that, while adequate, lacks the dynamism and variety needed to effectively convey the tension of the WWII era, resulting in some intense moments feeling underwhelming.
- “The soundtrack, while serviceable, doesn’t offer the dynamic or varied experience that would bring the tense atmosphere of the WWII era to life, leaving some of the game’s most intense moments feeling a bit flat.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users report that the emotional aspect of the game evokes strong feelings, particularly during pivotal moments like negotiating deals, which can create a sense of moral conflict and unease, akin to "making a deal with the devil."