Scourge of War: Waterloo
- November 19, 2015
- NorbSoftDev
- 8h median play time
Get on Steam"Scourge of War: Waterloo" is a tactical strategy game that simulates the famous 1815 battle in detail. Command thousands of troops across a realistic battlefield, with historically accurate units, weaponry, and battle tactics. Experience the intensity of the battle and test your strategic skills in this immersive and challenging game. Fight for glory and historical accuracy in the ultimate wargame simulation of Waterloo.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers a highly immersive experience of Napoleonic warfare, allowing players to command large armies and feel like a true general.
- It features a unique courier system for issuing orders, enhancing the strategic depth and realism of the gameplay.
- The scale of battles is impressive, with the ability to command thousands of troops, providing a sense of historical accuracy and tactical challenge.
- The user interface is clunky and difficult to navigate, making it challenging for players to control their units effectively.
- The AI can be frustratingly unresponsive, often failing to follow orders or acting counterproductively during battles.
- Graphics and sound design are outdated, which detracts from the overall experience and may turn off players expecting modern visuals.
- graphics106 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely criticized as outdated and simplistic, often likened to visuals from the late 1990s, with many players noting poor optimization and basic 2D sprites. Despite these shortcomings, some appreciate the graphics for their ability to prioritize scale and historical accuracy, arguing that they do not detract significantly from the overall gameplay experience. Overall, while the visuals may not appeal to those seeking modern graphics, they are deemed sufficient for a tactical wargame focused on strategy rather than aesthetics.
“I am happy that somewhat simplistic (but still beautiful) graphics were chosen to allow for the simulation of such huge battles.”
“The graphics aren't state of the art (the soldiers are sprites, for example), but they are better than I expected for a game of this scale.”
“Graphics don't mean everything, but this game still looks pretty nice to me.”
“Awful graphics, awful optimization, mediocre gameplay.”
“The graphics are terrible but it's still a great game, even if you just want to get a feel for how the battlefields looked.”
“In terms of the game's cons, its most obvious issue are the very basic graphics.”
- gameplay30 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
Gameplay reviews highlight a mix of experiences, with some players enjoying the strategic elements and immersive battle atmosphere, while others criticize the camera mechanics, graphics, and overall optimization. Despite notable fun in sandbox modes and extensive gameplay hours, many feel that the game lacks sufficient playability relative to its price, suggesting that improvements in animation and mechanics could enhance the overall experience. Overall, while the gameplay has potential, it requires significant refinements to reach its full potential.
“I could go on for several more paragraphs of why this game is worth purchasing, as I have piled up quite a few notable experiences in my one hundred hours of gameplay so far, but I think it is best to learn and explore on one's own in such a massive game.”
“Gameplay wise, not many games give you the feeling of an actual battle taking place, artillery firing, bodies littering the ground and thousands of sprites firing away at each other.”
“Having said that, the gameplay itself is really really good.”
“Awful graphics, awful optimization, mediocre gameplay.”
“I didn't find the game's battle mechanics to be beyond so-so.”
“The game itself is interesting and fun, but the camera mechanics are awful.”
- story10 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is described as engaging, requiring strategic planning and foresight, particularly in the context of historical battles like the Waterloo campaign. However, some users express frustration with the user interface and technical issues, which detract from the overall experience.
“⚡ Let me tell you a better story:”
“Have to plot moves way in advance as troops need to march to the areas to fight like they did back then.”
“This story would continue, but I have a horrible computer, and I didn't enable auto-save.”
“⚡Let me tell you a better story:”
“I went through a couple of custom games as well as 2 missions from the Waterloo campaign, both at normal mode.”
- music6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, enhancing the immersive experience and contributing to the tactical atmosphere during battles. While some users note that the overall quality of the game may be lacking, the music compensates for this by creating a compelling environment. Additionally, specific references to classical pieces, like those from Ludwick van, indicate a positive reception towards the soundtrack.
“But it is all compensated through good music, making you feel like you are actually on the field by yourself and good tactical options presented with each battle scenario.”
“There is a very good sandbox for beginners like me, and I will be fossicking around in there for a while yet. The music is fine; I love a bit of Ludwig van. The manual and the tutorial are both helpful and needed. It is expensive, but I think it's value for money. No bugs, controls seem fine, and the options of what you can actually do with your troops and the game in general are pretty stunning.”
“The music is fine, but it lacks the depth and variety that would enhance the overall experience of the game.”
“While the game has potential, the music feels repetitive and doesn't contribute much to the atmosphere.”
“The soundtrack is underwhelming and fails to engage players, making the gameplay feel less immersive.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game offers exceptional replayability, featuring a sandbox mode that allows players to command armies of any size and engage in numerous challenging scenarios that can be played from multiple perspectives. This ensures a fresh experience with each playthrough, making it highly replayable.
“Endless replayability as you can use the sandbox mode.”
“There are lots of scenarios that are not easily winnable and are replayable for both sides as well (France/Allies).”
“There are lots of scenarios that are not easily winnable (replayable) and for both sides as well (France/Allies).”
“- endless replayability as you can use the sandbox mode.”
“Infinite replay value, in any size of army you want to command.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious and frustrating, primarily due to a poorly designed command control and movement interface. Additionally, tracking the status of commanders adds to the overall tedium, making the gameplay experience less enjoyable.
“A difficult and poorly designed command control and movement interface makes this a tedious and frustrating game to play.”
“Finding out which of your commanders was killed can be tedious.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with users reporting sluggish performance and poor graphics quality, leading to an overall unsatisfactory gameplay experience.
“My biggest gripe with the game is the rather sluggish performance at times.”
“Awful graphics, awful optimization, mediocre gameplay.”
- stability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, including a freeze in campaign map time when armies engage in battle, which can disrupt gameplay. Users have reported numerous bugs and poor AI performance, indicating that it may not be suitable for those seeking a polished experience. However, some players appreciate its historical elements despite these shortcomings.
“Time on the campaign map freezes once two armies meet, and will not move forward until you resolve the battle.”
“Don't buy this game if the only thing you look for in a game is good graphics and a well-run experience, because it's buggy and the AI can sometimes be incredibly stupid. I enjoy this for its historical purposes, rather than it being a well-run game, because it's not.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The reviews do not provide specific insights into the monetization aspect of the game, focusing instead on the graphics, which are criticized for their outdated appearance. As such, there is no clear consensus or information regarding the monetization strategy employed in the game.
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is significantly enhanced by the immersive sound design, particularly the sharp rhythm of musket fire and the booming cannons, which create a vivid and engaging experience, especially when viewed from ground level.
“The sharp rhythm of musket fire interrupted by the boom of a cannon, especially when zoomed to ground level, really adds to the atmosphere.”
