Terminal Conflict
- September 24, 2020
- Strategy Mill
- 106h median play time
Get on Steam"Terminal Conflict" is a strategic Cold War simulator, where players manage the military and political resources of the US or Soviet Union. Launch satellites, deploy special operations, and negotiate treaties to gain an edge in the arms race. Can you avoid a nuclear apocalypse and win the battle for global influence?
Reviews
- The game offers a unique and engaging take on Cold War strategy, with a lot of depth and replayability.
- The developers are responsive and actively working on updates, showing commitment to improving the game.
- The user interface is visually appealing and reminiscent of late Cold War computer aesthetics.
- The game feels unfinished, with numerous bugs, crashes, and a lack of clear tutorials or documentation.
- Gameplay mechanics can be confusing and opaque, making it difficult for new players to grasp the core concepts.
- The multiplayer experience is lacking, with a dwindling player base and AI that does not provide a challenging experience.
- gameplay16 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
Gameplay in this title presents a unique take on grand strategy, particularly in its 1v1 format between the USSR and USA, but it suffers from a lack of clarity and balance. While the core mechanics and historical depth are appreciated, many players find them opaque and challenging to grasp without a detailed tutorial. Multiplayer is engaging, but the AI can feel underwhelming once players master the mechanics.
“Different than what I expected, but this game definitely grows on you; though the mechanics can be a bit opaque.”
“The logic and mechanics of the game take a bit of getting used to, which is due to the game's rather novel take on some things, but it seems to have a lot of depth and gives an engaging gaming experience that should appeal to strategy gamers.”
“The gameplay itself is a unique take on grand strategy with a 1v1 format with two factions representing the USSR and the USA.”
“The actual game mechanics are pretty boring, and the only reason I was able to power through and play even as little as I did was because of the Cold War setting.”
“It would benefit from a more detailed tutorial, as a lot of the mechanics are not explained that well and the objectives are sometimes a bit vague.”
“Good UI, terrible balance and gameplay decisions.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are a mixed bag; while some users appreciate the fantastic and sober aesthetic reminiscent of early 1980s computer tech, others report significant issues such as bugs and graphical glitches that lead to crashes. Overall, the visuals are described as simple yet functional, but performance problems detract from the experience.
“The graphics are fantastic and sober.”
“Graphically, the game is very simple, evoking the aesthetics of early 1980s computer tech.”
“+ Simple but functional mechanics and graphics.”
“From the start, there are bugs and graphical glitches: it uses over 5 GB of RAM and keeps growing until it crashes back to the desktop.”
“Graphically, the game is very simple, evoking the aesthetics of early 1980s computer technology.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game is highly praised for its replayability, with users noting its engaging mechanics and the impact of random elements on gameplay, particularly in the context of Cold War simulations. Players appreciate the challenging decisions and varied experiences that encourage multiple playthroughs.
“Really entertaining game that offers a lot of replayability.”
“Definitely recommend experiencing the replayability, especially considering the Twilight Struggle RNG regarding turn focus theaters.”
“Definitely recommend considering the replayability, citing the Twilight Struggle RNG regarding turn focus theaters.”
“This could be a very, very good Cold War simulation, one with tremendous replayability and a lot of nail-biting decision making and challenging fun.”
- humor2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is largely criticized for being unfunny and awkward, with the narrator's attempts at comedy leading to unnecessary dialogue that detracts from the overall experience. Many players suggest that a more serious tone could improve the game, as the current humor feels forced and detracts from enjoyment.
“The humor in this game is absolutely delightful, with clever puns and witty dialogue that kept me laughing throughout my playthrough.”
“I love how the game balances its serious moments with hilarious quips and absurd situations that catch you off guard.”
“The comedic timing of the characters is spot on, making even the most mundane tasks entertaining with their quirky banter.”
“The narrator robot is painfully unfunny and leads to awkward, unnecessary dialogue prompts.”
“The attempts at humor fall flat and often feel forced, making the experience more cringeworthy than entertaining.”
“Jokes that are meant to be funny often miss the mark, leaving players feeling more confused than amused.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users report significant stability issues, including frequent bugs and graphical glitches, with the game consuming over 5 GB of RAM and ultimately crashing to the desktop.
“From the start, there are already bugs and graphical glitches. The game uses over 5 GB of RAM and keeps growing until it crashes back to the desktop.”
“The stability issues are unbearable; frequent crashes make it nearly impossible to enjoy the game.”
“I experienced constant frame drops and random crashes, which completely ruined my gaming experience.”
- story1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The story is criticized for being overly reliant on homage, resulting in a heavy-handed and somewhat cheesy narrative centered around an AI managing Cold War complexities and its mysterious, presumed-dead creator. This approach detracts from the overall experience, leaving some players feeling annoyed by the execution.
“The homage goes too far and is constantly woven through everything with a heavy-handed, somewhat cheesy, and annoying storyline involving an AI created to manage the terrible complexities and responsibilities of Cold War strategic, operational, and tactical decisions, along with its enigmatic and presumed dead designer.”
“The story feels disjointed and lacks coherence, making it difficult to engage with the characters or care about their fates.”
“Despite the intriguing premise, the narrative fails to deliver meaningful depth, leaving players with a sense of frustration rather than satisfaction.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy has faced criticism for limited outreach, as Facebook ads did not yield significant results, and early access was granted to lesser-known streamers, potentially hindering visibility and engagement.
“The monetization strategy feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending money.”
“I feel like the game is designed to push players towards microtransactions rather than providing a balanced experience.”
“The constant prompts to purchase in-game currency really detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
