Order of War
- September 17, 2009
- Wargaming.net
"Order of War" is a real-time strategy game set in the European theater of World War II. Command either the Western Allies or the Axis Powers in large-scale battles, controlling armies of infantry, tanks, and artillery. The game features realistic tactical combat and destructible environments, providing an immersive and challenging experience for fans of the strategy genre.
Reviews
- Order of War offers large-scale battles with a focus on strategic troop deployment, making it easy to learn and enjoyable for fans of WWII strategy games.
- The game features a good variety of units and historical scenarios, providing an immersive experience with decent graphics and sound effects.
- Despite its flaws, many players find the game fun and nostalgic, especially for those who appreciate the simplicity of RTS without micromanagement.
- The game suffers from frequent crashes and memory issues, making it frustrating to play, especially on modern systems.
- There is a lack of depth in strategy, with many players feeling that the gameplay devolves into unit spam rather than tactical decision-making.
- Multiplayer support is virtually non-existent, and the campaign missions can feel repetitive and linear, detracting from the overall experience.
- story95 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 86 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The game's story is centered around the D-Day invasion and subsequent missions, featuring a mix of historical cutscenes and in-game objectives that aim to immerse players in World War II tactics. However, many players find the narrative lacking depth, with some missions feeling linear and more like tutorials than engaging storytelling. Additionally, technical issues, such as frequent crashes and a lack of meaningful progression, detract from the overall experience, leaving the story feeling underdeveloped and frustrating.
“So Order of War is an RTS/strategy game; it's got a very good story of everything from the airborne drop before the initial invasion of Normandy.”
“Each mission comes with a movie composed of retro footage mixed with 3D presentations, followed by in-game footage and explanation of mission objectives.”
“American campaign gets interesting starting halfway through mission 6 (Road to Paris) up to the end, mission 9 (Breaking the Wall), as you will have more freedom to take on the battles.”
“Ow also has a pair of campaigns, one Axis and one American, but they don’t really have a story, feeling more like a glorified tutorial to introduce you to tactics and ideas over time.”
“The D-Day mission had so much potential, and they barely put time into it.”
“No proper ending cinematic, and pointless WWII scenes before each mission don't make any sense anyway.”
- graphics46 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally considered dated, with mixed opinions on their quality; some players find them acceptable for the gameplay experience, while others note issues like crashing and poor visual clarity. Despite the nostalgic appeal and decent detail in certain aspects, many reviewers feel that the visuals do not stand out compared to more modern titles. Overall, while the graphics may not impress everyone, they serve their purpose in delivering a WWII-themed experience.
“The graphics detail is excellent; it is very easy to play, and all actions require you to use a mouse; you don't really need your keyboard.”
“The graphics and sounds are fantastic, and you really do get immersed in the full armchair experience of a war on many fronts.”
“Great game! The graphics are really good, and the terrain on the battlefield gets all torn up; one of the better strategy games I've played.”
“The graphics are dated; nothing special in the game.”
“Graphics, sound effects, and special effects quality are pretty bad (5/10).”
“The units have a solid WWII feel, if not a little aged in graphical quality.”
- gameplay22 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its simplified mechanics, making it accessible for new players, while still offering some depth through unit combinations, terrain use, and tactical considerations. However, some users find it unengaging and repetitive, often resorting to frontal assaults, and there are concerns about game stability and balance issues. Overall, it is seen as a fun war strategy game with historical elements, though it may not satisfy those seeking a more complex tactical experience.
“Very simplified mechanics make it really easy to pick up and understand, but there is some depth with unit combos and counters mattering, use of terrain and call-ins being helpful, and line of sight and building occupancy mattering.”
“Fun war strategy game, great historic research, simple to learn, mechanics work well.”
“Amazing game with wonderful gameplay.”
“I've had this game for years. In the past, it would crash because of lack of memory. Now, a few years later, and still no fix for this game-breaking bug. I played in safe mode on the lowest graphics, and it still crashes. Overall, I liked the gameplay, but this 2GB issue that I'm sure will never be addressed is a true game killer.”
“Other than the imbalance between sides (which was really nerfed in skirmishes, by the way), the only real complaint I've seen from people about Order of War is that in terms of gameplay, you just have to send your troops straight on a frontal assault every time.”
“Gameplay feels brainless, but isn’t always.”
- music14 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The music in the game is described as patriotic and immersive, effectively enhancing the overall experience, though opinions vary widely. While some players appreciate the soundtrack, likening it to the work of Jeremy Soule, others find it repetitive or annoying, leading them to turn it off entirely. Overall, the sound effects receive praise, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere.
“The music, although patriotic, does a good job of making you feel like you're there, and the sound effects are done very well. Overall, the game is a good game, and any fan of WWII will love it if you can get past the dated graphics. It's definitely one I recommend getting.”
“The units look nice, I suppose, and the music is excellent.”
“I'm pretty sure the soundtrack is done by Jeremy Soule because it sounds almost exactly like Supreme Commander music to me.”
“After mission 5, I turned the music off to prevent ear trauma.”
“Stupid music.”
“In fact, I'm pretty sure the soundtrack is done by Jeremy Soule, because it sounds almost exactly like Supreme Commander music to me.”
- stability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is generally well-received by war game enthusiasts, but users report frequent glitches and bugs that affect stability. Despite these issues, many still recommend it for its overall gameplay experience.
“Very buggy.”
“There are glitches sometimes, which can be frustrating.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from poor optimization, particularly for AMD systems, leading to frequent random crashes. Additionally, the absence of a Russian campaign has been noted by users.
“No Russian campaign and very poorly optimized for AMD, resulting in numerous random game crashes.”
“No Russian campaign and very poorly optimized for AMD, resulting in numerous random game crashes.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game offers some enjoyable elements for fans of WWII RTS games, but overall, it lacks significant replayability and may serve only as a temporary distraction compared to other titles in the genre.
“If you like WWII RTS games, you will still have some fun with elements of this game, but it will only be a temporary distraction from games with more replayability.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a sense of disappointment regarding the emotional impact of the game, particularly due to the absence of multiplayer maps, which detracts from the overall experience despite the enjoyment of large-scale tank battles.