Men of War: Vietnam
- September 8, 2011
- Fulqrum Publishing
- 9h median play time
Get on Steam"Men of War: Vietnam" is a tactical real-time strategy game set during the Vietnam War. Players can command either American or Vietnamese forces in two campaigs with unique units, weapons, and equipment. The game features intense battles in jungles, urban environments, and rice fields, with a focus on historical accuracy and attention to detail.
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- The game offers a unique and challenging experience, requiring players to use tactical decision-making and guerrilla warfare strategies.
- The graphics and sound design are well-executed, creating an immersive atmosphere that captures the Vietnam War setting.
- The G.E.M. editor allows for creative gameplay, enabling players to design their own battles and scenarios.
- The game is plagued by numerous bugs and crashes, making it frustrating and often unplayable.
- The difficulty level is excessively high, with missions that feel unfair and punishing, leading to a steep learning curve.
- The controls are clunky and unintuitive, making unit management and navigation cumbersome.
- story134 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 83 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The game's story is minimal and lacks depth, primarily consisting of two short campaigns—one for the American side and one for the Vietnamese—with a total of ten missions and a few bonus levels available through DLC. Players have criticized the mission design for being overly difficult and heavily reliant on stealth, often leading to frustration due to bugs and crashes, particularly in key missions. Overall, the narrative feels underdeveloped, with little character or plot engagement, making it less appealing for those seeking a rich story experience.
“Unlike the other standalone expansions, it has one campaign for each side, though both of them are only about 5 missions long, not including a few bonus levels if you get the special edition.”
“The story is basically: the first campaign shows the American side, the second campaign shows the Vietnam side, and the third one (which is available only if you buy the DLC) includes some bonus missions on both sides.”
“Packed with friendly and enemy campaigns, crammed with missions that will soon keep you busy as you lead your ragtag team across harsh jungles and marshy swamps where you will face fierce resistance with no extra firepower other than your own.”
“The game is more tactical instead of strategic; the campaign is more likely non-existent, there is no storyline nor characters, just a setting.”
“The missions are tedious and frustrating; there is a supreme lack of voice acting or set-up.”
“This game is a piece of shit and the missions are impossible on any difficulty.”
- gameplay47 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Men of War" is characterized by its tactical decision-making and resource management, set against the challenging backdrop of the Vietnam War. While veterans of the series may appreciate its complexity and the depth of mechanics, newcomers might find it overly punishing and buggy, with frustrating controls and limited vehicle use. Overall, the game offers a mix of enjoyable and challenging moments, but suffers from design flaws that can detract from the experience.
“The gameplay involves tactical decision-making, resource management, and strategic planning as players navigate the challenging terrain of the Vietnam War.”
“It features fully destructible environments, the ability to directly control units, tons of weapons and vehicles, and chaotic and tactical gameplay.”
“This game is a test of skill for those who are familiar with the Men of War series and its mechanics.”
“The gameplay of Men of War is not adapted to the Vietnam War.”
“In terms of gameplay, it's possibly the worst RTS I've ever played. Units die far too quickly, and you have to constantly babysit them, as they will stand out in the open when taking fire and not react, leading to quick deaths. Grenades are worthless, and it's easy to lose track of your units due to the lack of real unit markers.”
“I warn you, this is a stay-away game. I bought this thinking it would be good, but the gameplay feels like an unfinished mod with barely any units. The single-player is boring, and I couldn't get through two missions before I got so bored I couldn't play anymore.”
- graphics17 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
Overall, the graphics have received mixed reviews, with many praising the detailed visuals and immersive atmosphere, particularly in the jungle environments. However, some users noted issues with bugs and crashes, especially when running on higher settings, which detracted from the overall experience. While the graphics are considered relatively good for the game's age, there are still criticisms regarding their quality and consistency.
“The detailed graphics and authentic sound effects contribute to the immersive experience, capturing the atmosphere of the era.”
“The graphics are surprisingly good, despite its age.”
“The jungle environment is quite impressive and offers new strategies, with good graphics that enhance the complex gameplay well known in the Men of War games.”
“The graphics are better but the gameplay does not allow us to enjoy it.”
“It's also buggy; the second Vietnamese mission crashes constantly unless you run the game on the lowest graphical settings possible (and just occasionally crashes then, so you'll need to still save constantly).”
“The multiplayer doesn't work though and the graphics are a bit dated but there's still merit.”
- stability17 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 94 % negative mentions
The stability of the game is widely criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, crashes, and performance issues that significantly hinder gameplay. Many players recommend avoiding this title, especially for newcomers, due to its unfinished feel and frequent technical problems, including mission crashes and framerate drops. Overall, the game's stability issues overshadow its potential, leading to a frustrating experience.
“Could've been good but it's a buggy mess that'll end in an experience that's mostly annoying.”
“Buggy mess, framerate problems and stuttering (worse than in the other mow games I've played), and worst of all, all the game crashes, to the point where one of the campaigns can't even be finished.”
“It is a (never thought I'd say this) a buggy mess beyond all comprehension, to a point where it's blocking the progress to be made.”
- music13 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 15 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its dynamic and enjoyable soundtracks that enhance the in-game experience, particularly in evoking the Vietnam War atmosphere. However, some players criticize the music for being repetitive and lacking professional quality, suggesting that it detracts from the overall presentation and storyline. Overall, while the soundtrack has its highlights, it is not universally well-received.
“The music is stunning and dynamic.”
“Enjoyable, relaxing, and great theme music sounds are perfect. I would like to see a modern age remake of this game one day, just not the Call to Arms style, more like Men of War: Assault Squad 2. All around, two thumbs up.”
“Buy if you want to experience the Vietnam War a little bit, plus you get a nice soundtrack!”
“Poor presentation, storyline, and dull music.”
“It is poorly put together missions, with quickly gathered music.”
“The music is very repetitive (like just 3 guitar chords constantly repeating) and the 'cut scenes' do nothing to draw you into the story.”
- optimization5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is largely criticized, with users reporting frequent crashes, stuttering, and framerate issues that hinder gameplay. However, the user interface and game mechanics are noted to be well-optimized, functioning smoothly without bugs. Overall, the negative aspects of optimization overshadow the positive elements.
“The mechanics are sophisticated, being pretty nice and everything moves well-optimized.”
“If you want to play this game without the constant crashing and stuttering of a poorly modified Men of War game, go and install the Vietnam mod for Men of War: Assault Squad 2.”
“Buggy mess, framerate problems, and stuttering (worse than in the other Men of War games I've played), and worst of all, all the game crashes, to the point where one of the campaigns can't even be finished.”
“The user interface is well-optimized, with no bugs and well-synthesized information.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is richly immersive, enhanced by detailed graphics and authentic sound effects that effectively capture the essence of the Vietnam era. Set primarily in lush jungles, it also features diverse environments such as military bases, rivers, and bamboo houses, contributing to a vibrant and engaging experience.
“The detailed graphics and authentic sound effects contribute to the immersive experience, capturing the atmosphere of the era.”
“Some missions also have other types of atmosphere besides jungles, such as military bases, rivers, and bamboo houses.”
“The actual game is atmospheric and green.”
“The atmosphere mostly takes place in jungles, which is expected since this game is set in Vietnam, as the title suggests.”
“Some missions feature different types of atmospheres beyond jungles, such as military bases, rivers, and bamboo houses.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and frustrating, with some describing it as requiring a "second life" to endure. The lack of skirmish options and the repetitive nature of the missions contribute to a sense of worthlessness, making the gameplay feel unplayable for many.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“There is no skirmish, so unless you feel like grinding away at the first mission to beat it, this game is literally worthless. The first mission for both sides is a 'Rambo' style mission where you get 6 men and have to kill platoons of entrenched enemies. Literally unplayable.”
“The missions are tedious and frustrating; there is a supreme lack of voice acting or setup.”
