Steel Armor: Blaze of War
- March 5, 2015
- Graviteam
- 7h median play time
Get on SteamKeep your head cool for this brand new and sizzling hot game from the makers of renowned hardcore-strategy masterpieces like “Steel Fury” and “Achtung Panzer!” With highly versatile strategies and tactics it´s only fair to call their impressive new game “Steel Armor – Blaze of War” one of the most interesting and tactically advanced tank simulations of all time! Plan, command and fight in this exc…
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Highly immersive and detailed tank simulation that offers a realistic experience.
- Dynamic campaigns with varied AI behavior provide replayability and strategic depth.
- Ability to control different crew positions within the tank enhances the gameplay experience.
- Steep learning curve and unintuitive controls can be frustrating for new players.
- Limited customization options for tanks and only two playable vehicles reduce variety.
- AI behavior can be inconsistent, leading to frustrating gameplay moments.
- graphics42 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are generally described as dated and basic, with many users noting that they lack the polish of more modern titles. However, some players appreciate the attention to detail in specific areas, such as tank interiors and environmental elements, which contribute to the overall immersion despite the visuals not being the main focus. While the graphics may not impress, the gameplay experience is often highlighted as compensating for these shortcomings.
“The graphics are amazing, the details will blow your mind, and the historical accuracy is spot on.”
“Nice graphics and animations, superb sound and ambience!”
“The graphics for the environment are spectacular.”
“The graphics are very basic and the controls and gameplay are extremely unintuitive.”
“The overall graphics are a bit dated, and it can be hard to see at times. In the campaign, you really need to be careful as you can often find yourself facing off against superior enemy numbers, both against infantry and armored vehicles.”
“In addition, graphically the 3D interior models and land environment seem a bit dated to today's standards.”
- story40 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 85 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's story is primarily conveyed through dynamic missions that simulate historical battles, particularly focusing on tank warfare in Afghanistan. While the missions serve as advanced tutorials, they lack a cohesive narrative, often feeling disjointed and frustrating due to limited campaign options and AI issues. Players appreciate the realistic scenarios and training missions, but many express a desire for better mission variety and mod support to enhance the storytelling experience.
“In one mission, you play as the Soviets invading Afghanistan, and you are a crew member of a Soviet T-62.”
“These missions teach parts of the game to you one at a time in scripted missions.”
“For $30, you get an authentic tank simulation with fully modeled interiors, 4 dynamic campaigns, and a quick mission builder.”
“The awful interface: you can accidentally delete an entire campaign by clicking an unlabeled button on a scoreboard, you can end an entire mission and lose all your progress by hitting the wrong button one time.”
“The game comes with ~10 premade missions, but they play more like advanced tutorials.”
“There are only 2 tutorials in which a novice to the game doesn't find himself under fire from very live enemies within minutes of starting the mission.”
- gameplay25 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
Gameplay in this tank simulation is a mixed bag; while it offers detailed mechanics and rewarding experiences for those willing to invest time in mastering its complexities, many players find the controls unintuitive and the overall experience marred by bugs and frustrating AI behavior. The game excels in its realistic modeling and damage systems, particularly for multi-crew scenarios, but suffers from clunky menus and a lack of dynamic features that could enhance engagement. Overall, it appeals to fans of historical war simulations, though it demands patience and a willingness to navigate its steep learning curve.
“If you can put in the work and decipher the mechanics behind it, you will find an excellent tank simulation.”
“Gameplay is generally excellent and the interiors/systems modeling of the T-62, which I use near exclusively, is actually superior to Steel Beasts as it stands right now.”
“On the upside, the devs put excellent effort into modeling the tanks; you can look around the inside and interact with buttons, switches, dials, etc. The tank gameplay is challenging and a blast at the same time.”
“The graphics are very basic and the controls and gameplay are extremely unintuitive.”
“The most damning of all things is that this game has a wonky line of sight mechanic.”
“AI tends to be hyper aware of you, resulting in frustrating gameplay where you can't move with a tank because it will fire through all the vegetation where it can't possibly see you and hit you.”
- replayability8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game offers very high replayability due to its dynamic campaigns set in various locations, ensuring that no two missions are alike. However, the limited selection of playable tanks (only the M60A1 and T-62 OBR1972) may restrict some players' experiences. Overall, the battle creator and dynamic campaign features significantly enhance the game's replay value.
“Very high replay value with the battle creator.”
“You have unlimited replayability too with dynamic campaigns in Iran, Angola, and Afghanistan!”
“The only minus is that only 2 tanks are playable.”
“Only the M60A1 and T-62 OBR1972 tanks are playable.”
“With a dynamic campaign, no game is the same; replayability is very strong.”
- optimization6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been noted as a slight issue, particularly with graphics that are not well-optimized, leading to occasional frame rate drops. However, these performance dips are not game-breaking, as they do not significantly hinder gameplay mechanics like aiming during combat scenarios. Additionally, players feel a lack of clarity regarding crew identities and abilities, which detracts from the immersive experience expected in a realistic simulator.
“Not very well optimized graphics.”
“This is not a game-breaking performance failure though; you simply can't see and shoot through that dust and smoke anyway, so the lowered fps doesn't impair your aiming, it just slightly annoys you for a few seconds until the dust settles.”
“You have no clue who your crew is, or who else is in your squad - their individual names, abilities, etc., which would normally be a decisive factor in the performance of a tank squad in a realistic simulator.”
“Even more than that, the performance of this ammunition is wildly different from what is available in public sources.”
“Optimization seems to be a slight issue.”
- stability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has been criticized for its buggy controls and gameplay, leading to a frustrating experience for players. Many reviewers feel that the numerous issues significantly detract from the overall enjoyment, resulting in a low value for the price.
“Buggy controls and gameplay.”
“And buggy... two stars, not worth the price.”
“For everything that generates a positive experience, there will be a dozen equally large factors that result in nothing else than an unrealistic, buggy, badly designed, awful gameplay experience.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive war-like environment and realistic physics, contributing to a visually impressive experience. Players appreciate the strong graphical quality that enhances the overall ambiance.
“Extremely rewarding if you are into a real war atmosphere and realistic physics.”
“Visually, the game is really impressive and the atmosphere is great.”
“Good graphics and atmosphere.”
“Extremely rewarding if you are into a realistic war atmosphere and real physics.”
- music2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game's music features a lo-fi Middle Eastern soundtrack that enhances the atmosphere and boosts crew morale, contributing to an engaging gameplay experience. Players appreciate the combination of catchy tunes and unique aesthetics, such as cool hats, which add to the overall enjoyment.
“Get into the commander's cupola, play some lo-fi Middle Eastern music coming from a shoddy tape recorder to help boost the morale of your crew, and bring the fight to the enemy.”
“I play for the bumpin' music and cool hats.”
“The music is repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged during gameplay.”
“The soundtrack feels out of place and doesn't match the game's atmosphere, which detracts from the overall experience.”
“The audio quality of the music is poor, sounding like it was recorded on a low-quality device, which is disappointing.”
