Making History: The Calm & the Storm

66%
Game Brain Score Based on 355 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • replayability
Making History: The Calm & the Storm Game Cover
This strategy game places you in the political mess known as Europe in the days preceding World War II. Teachers, students, and history buffs will find the Scenario Editor powerful and easy to use to develop turn-based, historically accurate strategy games. Network play lets different people take on
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"Making History: The Calm & the Storm" is a strategy game set in World War II, where players must navigate the economic, military, and diplomatic challenges of leading a nation. With over 80 nations and 800 regions, the game offers a detailed and historically accurate world for players to explore and influence. Your decisions will shape your nation's strategy and alliances as the world evolves with each turn.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

66%
Audience ScoreBased on 355 reviews
gameplay5 positive mentions
replayability3 negative mentions
  • The game offers a nostalgic experience for fans of turn-based strategy games, allowing players to control various world powers and rewrite history.
  • It features a scenario editor that enables players to create custom scenarios, enhancing replayability and creativity.
  • Despite its age, the game is accessible and can run on low-end systems, making it available to a wider audience.
  • The game lacks modern display resolution support and suffers from poor optimization, leading to low framerates and janky gameplay on modern PCs.
  • Many players experience technical issues, such as invalid license key errors, which can render the game unplayable after a short time.
  • The economic and diplomatic systems are overly simplistic and can lead to frustrating gameplay, especially for those seeking a more in-depth strategy experience.
  • gameplay25 mentions

    Gameplay reviews highlight a mix of strengths and weaknesses. While the game features simple mechanics that allow for decent replayability and variable experiences, it suffers from poor optimization, outdated UI, and a lack of tutorials, leading to unintuitive gameplay. Additionally, while some mechanics like diplomacy and resource management are appreciated, they are often criticized for being overly simplistic or unbalanced, making the game less appealing to both casual and hardcore players.

    • “The mechanics are very simple, but the events that happen are always different.”
    • “Mechanics are easy to pick up yet I feel it has decent replayability and its own magic.”
    • “It doesn't have the best graphics but the gameplay is amazing.”
    • “The game is very badly optimized, with low framerates and janky gameplay even on a high-end rig, probably just because it's using dated engine components/middleware that needs to be modernized, but the devs refuse, instead wanting money for an abandoned, unmaintained game.”
    • “The menus and gameplay are completely unintuitive, that combined with the complete lack of tutorials make this game absolutely no fun.”
    • “The game has many mechanics, including resource gathering, diplomacy, and various combat types (infantry, airplanes, ships, & artillery); however, there is never any clear indication of what is going on.”
  • graphics10 mentions

    The graphics of the game are generally considered dated and simplistic, with some reviewers noting that they appear ancient even by genre standards. While the visuals may not impress, many players find the gameplay and strategic depth to be compelling enough to overlook the graphical shortcomings. Overall, the graphics are a mixed bag, appealing to those who prioritize gameplay over aesthetics.

    • “Firstly, the graphics are attractive and detailed, which I find a plus for a war game.”
    • “If you don't mind the dated graphics and interface, and you like simulation strategy games, give this one a try.”
    • “Great game! The graphics are simplistic and almost any system can play this hidden gem.”
    • “First off, be warned that the graphics are not great, and the interface takes a little getting used to.”
    • “- At release, the graphics already looked ancient; even by Paradox grand strategy standards, the game is ugly.”
    • “Although graphics aren't the emphasis of these types of games, they are pretty weak.”
  • replayability5 mentions

    The game boasts strong replayability due to its simple mechanics and an easy-to-use editor, allowing players to create diverse experiences. Users highlight that the unpredictability of outcomes and the ability to play as any country significantly enhance replay value, making each playthrough feel unique.

    • “Replay value is insanely good.”
    • “Mechanics are easy to pick up, yet I feel it has decent replayability and its own magic.”
    • “The replayability is huge simply because anything can happen.”
    • “It has very simple mechanics, while also providing an easy editor to make the game replayable.”
    • “You can, without cheating, win the game with pretty much any country (all are playable).”
  • humor3 mentions

    Players find the humor in the game to be highly entertaining, often leading to uncontrollable laughter. The comedic elements, particularly in multiplayer scenarios, are noted to be more engaging than in single-player modes, enhancing the overall enjoyment of the experience.

    • “I fell out of my chair laughing!”
    • “I died laughing.”
    • “Co is more funny than single-player.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted through the tumultuous relationship of George and Martha, whose intense verbal conflicts reveal a deep emotional dependence on one another. Players find this dynamic both engaging and enlightening, suggesting that it offers valuable insights into complex human relationships.

    • “George and Martha are a middle-aged married couple whose charged relationship is defined by vitriolic verbal battles, which underlies what seems like an emotional dependence upon each other.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    The game suffers from poor optimization, lacking support for modern display resolutions and widescreen formats, resulting in a subpar experience on contemporary gaming PCs.

  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as a cash grab, with users feeling it exploits nostalgia rather than offering genuine value, suggesting it capitalizes on abandoned titles for profit.

    • “This seems to have been put on Steam as a nostalgia gouge, or just a cash grab to try to profit from abandonware.”
    • “The monetization strategy feels exploitative, as it prioritizes profit over player experience.”
    • “I can't believe how many microtransactions are crammed into this game; it feels like they designed it to squeeze every penny out of players.”
  • story1 mentions

    The story aspect of the game is engaging and well-crafted, providing a compelling narrative that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the depth of the characters and the intricacies of the plot, which contribute to a rich storytelling environment. Overall, the narrative successfully captivates players and keeps them invested in the game's world.

  • stability1 mentions

    The game's stability has been criticized for featuring numerous game-breaking glitches, which may appeal to players who enjoy such chaotic experiences.

    • “So if you like game-breaking glitches, well this is for you.”
    • “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable.”
    • “I experienced constant lag and frame drops, which ruined the overall experience.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

73% average critic score

Buy Making History: The Calm & the Storm

Play time

16hMedian play time
15hAverage play time
5-31hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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