Men of War
- May 6, 2009
- Best Way
- 19h median play time
Get on Steam"Men of War" is a Real-Time Strategy game set in World War II, where players can command Soviet, Allied, or German forces across 19 single-player missions. The Direct Control feature allows for command of individual units, with the ability to change, upgrade, and repair equipment. The game features realistic models of armament and military vehicles, with highly detailed WWII environments and characters. Online multiplayer is also available.
PC
Reviews
- The game offers a deep and engaging strategy experience with realistic mechanics and detailed unit management.
- The destructible environments and variety of units provide a unique gameplay experience that keeps players engaged.
- The GEM editor allows for extensive customization and creativity, enabling players to create their own scenarios and battles.
- The AI can be frustratingly incompetent, often requiring players to micromanage every unit to succeed.
- The voice acting is poorly executed, detracting from the overall immersion of the game.
- The steep learning curve and difficulty spikes can be overwhelming for new players, making it hard to progress in the campaign.
- story248 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 74 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The story in "Men of War" is generally well-received, featuring a variety of campaigns that explore the perspectives of Soviet, German, and Allied forces through diverse and challenging missions. While some players appreciate the depth of character backstories and the immersive gameplay, others find the narrative lacking in coherence and the voice acting subpar. Overall, the game offers a mix of intense tactical scenarios and a solid storyline, though the difficulty of missions can be frustrating for some players.
“The story and lore are quite good, with each set of characters having their own backstory and unique features, making it enjoyable for lore enthusiasts.”
“This game is still very solid for its time and contains a great story, particularly in the Soviet campaign.”
“Men of War doesn't provide much in terms of a 'quality' story through cutscenes, but what it does offer is a quality story through gameplay.”
“The Soviet campaign was okay for the most part, but after it ended, the game became so boring for me that it took me months to finish the campaign for the Allies, and I finally gave up on the game after finishing the first mission of the German campaign - I just couldn't bear its nonsense anymore, not a second longer.”
“The game has straight-up cheap moments, and the fact it gives you only a few men in a lot of the missions is pure garbage and makes the game extremely difficult to beat.”
“The stealth parts of some of the missions were tedious and honestly felt like they didn't belong in the game.”
- gameplay94 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this game is praised for its depth and complexity, offering a mix of tactical strategy and intense micromanagement that appeals to fans of the RTS genre. Players appreciate the variety of mechanics, destructible environments, and the ability to control individual units, although some find the steep learning curve and lack of tutorials frustrating. Overall, while the graphics may be dated, the engaging and immersive gameplay experience is highly regarded, making it a solid recommendation for strategy enthusiasts.
“Excellent and tactical gameplay that holds up well into the 2020s!”
“The sheer variety of mechanics that allow you to approach any mission however you wish make it a goddamned treat to play.”
“Excellent strategy game with innovative mechanics like real-world physics and fully destructible environments; troops can take cover almost anywhere, and the tank-on-tank combat is very detailed—one of the best I have seen in a game.”
“The mechanics are garbage.”
“But the fact that the game's ambient difficulty is compounded by the clunky and convoluted gameplay control and lack of in-game tutorials coalesces to form a game that often feels unfair, and this combined with slow pacing in long missions was just too much for me to bear.”
“The gameplay is not really tactical even though it tries desperately to look like it is.”
- graphics85 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally considered dated, with many reviewers noting that they were impressive at launch but have since been surpassed by newer titles. While some players appreciate the aesthetic and detail, particularly in destructible environments, others find the visuals lackluster compared to contemporary standards. Overall, the graphics do not significantly detract from the gameplay experience, making it a worthwhile choice for fans of the genre.
“The graphics are still good and acceptable, so don't worry about the release date; it's very similar to the new releases of newer games.”
“Best WWII RTS ever, no other RTS comes close to the detail and accuracy that I have ever seen. The graphics and sounds are great, and the detail is amazing.”
“Because of the high difficulty and the dated graphics, Men of War can only be recommended to hardcore strategy gamers.”
“The outdated graphics and mechanics of this game really affect the experience.”
“For a title that was released in 2009, it left something to be desired; if you get this game for the graphics, then you'll be disappointed.”
- humor15 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is primarily derived from its "hilariously bad" voice acting, which many players find amusing and entertaining, often enhancing their overall experience. While the graphics and voice work may not be top-notch, the comedic elements, including witty dialogue and funny character movements, contribute to a fun and engaging atmosphere, making it a standout in the genre. Overall, the humor adds a unique charm that resonates well with players, despite its flaws.
“Hilariously bad voice acting.”
“The voice acting is so bad, it's funny.”
“Hilarious voice acting but deep gameplay and loads of stuff to shoot once you master the controls.”
- music14 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its epic soundtrack that enhances the atmosphere and complements gameplay, while others find it basic and uninspiring. Many players appreciate the variety and quality of the audio, including sound effects, but some feel it lacks innovation compared to newer titles. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a strong point for those who enjoy immersive audio experiences in gaming.
“A true jewel in the RTS genre, with an excellent soundtrack for every battle.”
“The soundtrack is epic, and it is a great game for lower-end PCs.”
“The music fits the game atmosphere; taking a tank and using the game-enhanced control mode so you can aim and drive is good fun and adds extra enjoyment to the game.”
“The same graphics, interface (simplified a bit) and even some of the music is from FOW.”
“I mean it's not too bad...graphics are potato and music is very basic.”
“I am muting all games so I can listen to music.”
- stability8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The stability of the game is frequently criticized, with users reporting numerous glitches and bugs that hinder gameplay, particularly in movement and AI behavior. While some players still find enjoyment despite these issues, the overall consensus indicates that the game suffers from significant stability problems that detract from the experience.
“Of course I can rotate, but I can't move my camera from point A to B anymore. If there was a simple way of fixing that, nobody helped me with that information. I've just decided I was not going to bother with this game if 'movement' was going to be a buggy problem with zero info on.”
“AIs are stupid and the game is buggy as hell.”
“It consistently crashed and was extremely buggy.”
- replayability8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the sense of accomplishment and the variety of content available, particularly in multiplayer and sandbox modes, others find it limited. Many enjoy the campaign missions and the potential for multiple playthroughs, but some feel that replay value is minimal.
“There are quirks to this game, as expected with a dated game such as this, however the replayability and sense of accomplishment is there (especially with those challenging stealth missions).”
“I finished the game in about 2 days, but there is enough space for more playthroughs; a lot of replayable content.”
“So much fun and replayability, in single player and in multiplayer too, especially with friends (LAN).”
“This game offers minimal replayability.”
“I cannot say much about replayability.”
“Finished the game in about 2 days, but there is enough space for more plays; a lot of replayable content.”
- optimization7 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is mixed; while it performs well on lower-end PCs and features a well-optimized user interface and smooth multiplayer modes, some users report significant FPS drops during intense moments, such as explosions.
“Performance is also very good on my potato PC.”
“The user interface is well-optimized, with no bugs and well-synthesized information.”
“The mechanics are sophisticated, being pretty nice and everything moves well-optimized.”
“Cons: unoptimized (huge FPS drops on certain explosions)”
- grinding7 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 71 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and frustrating, often requiring a significant time investment to progress. While there is depth and realism to be appreciated, the micromanagement of numerous soldiers and challenging campaign missions can detract from the overall enjoyment.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“If you can look past this, there is depth and realism to be found, but it's difficult to appreciate when playing the game is an often tedious and frustrating experience.”
“When you have dozens of soldiers at your disposal (most of whom have moronic AI), it becomes tedious and frustrating to have to drag the camera all over the battlefield and micromanage them all.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly immersive, featuring diverse environments such as open fields, villages, and forests, which enhance the realistic WWII battles. While the graphics may feel dated compared to newer titles, the music, voice acting, and attention to detail contribute significantly to its legendary status within the franchise. Overall, players appreciate the engaging atmosphere that complements the gameplay experience.
“The campaigns are mechanically different and feature different atmospheres and environments.”
“The music, atmosphere, voice acting, scripted events, and attention to detail do more than enough to make this game a masterpiece and a legend among the franchise.”
“The atmosphere mostly happens in open fields, villages, cities, forests, and even other environments.”
“The game is old, and the graphics are slightly weird compared to the newer releases, but the music, atmosphere, voice acting, scripted events, and attention to detail do more than enough to make this game a masterpiece and a legend among the franchise.”
“Really realistic battles with a World War II atmosphere.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the cinematic experience of the Call of Duty WWII games but often feel that the emotional connection to the war is lacking. While the gameplay is engaging, it tends to focus more on action than on conveying the true emotional weight of being in a wartime scenario.
“The emotional depth of the characters really drew me in, making me feel their struggles and triumphs throughout the game.”
“I was genuinely moved by the story; it resonated with me on a personal level and left a lasting impact.”
“The game masterfully captures the emotional weight of its narrative, making every decision feel significant and heartfelt.”
