The Troop
- December 20, 2021
- Giant Flame
- 175h median play time
Get on Steam"The Troop" is a turn-based tactical war game set in the brutal campaign of British and Canadian forces against German troops during the Normandy invasion in 1944. Command infantry, motorized, and armored units in challenging and unpredictable battles, with simple and complete control over your units' actions. Play through over 30 maps in three different modes as either British/Canadian or German forces.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game captures the essence of tabletop wargaming, providing a fun and engaging tactical experience.
- The graphics and sound effects are well done, enhancing the immersive gameplay.
- The AI presents a challenging opponent, requiring players to think strategically and adapt their tactics.
- The hit chances can feel heavily biased towards the AI, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.
- There is a lack of multiplayer options, which limits replayability and social interaction.
- Some mechanics, such as the line of sight and movement system, can be unintuitive and lead to confusion during gameplay.
- story250 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 84 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The game features a robust story mode with over 30 scripted single-player missions that can be played from both the Allied and Axis perspectives, offering significant replayability. Players appreciate the variety of mission types, including historically accurate scenarios and ongoing campaigns with persistent forces, although some missions can feel unbalanced, particularly between attacking and defending roles. Overall, the narrative structure is engaging, with a mix of tactical depth and strategic planning that keeps players invested in the gameplay.
“Thankfully, you can play any of the story missions in any order, and they're fun enough to replay anyway.”
“There are many scripted single-player missions (most playable on both sides), which is more single-player content than I've come to expect.”
“So far I've played the whole story (only Allies side) and that took me more than 50 hours (some hours in the demo).”
“I have played a few missions from the story and did the tutorial, and it seems like there is a lot that is not explained.”
“Certain missions will lay out objectives; however, achieving those objectives will cause a loss... what is actually required is to achieve the objectives and also kill the entirety of the enemy on the field.”
“This goes against the grain, but I do not recommend playing story mode or campaign first after the tutorial.”
- gameplay202 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this turn-based WWII strategy game has received praise for its blend of realism and arcade elements, offering a rich tactical experience that requires players to learn various mechanics, such as line of sight and unit positioning. While the AI can be challenging and some mechanics may feel clumsy or unintuitive, the game is noted for its engaging battles, impressive graphics, and a variety of well-designed maps that enhance replayability. Overall, players find the game addictive and rewarding, though it demands a significant investment of time to master its complexities.
“The battles are super fun with just the right mix of realism and arcade-style gameplay; the graphics are sharp, the AI is really impressive, and the maps and vehicle models are top-notch for historical accuracy.”
“Phenomenal turn-based tactical wargame that manages to be elegant and simple in its UI/mechanics but still also manages to offer plenty of depth, difficulty, and capacity for strategic applications.”
“This game delivers exactly what was never before delivered by any WWII tactical strategy game: a turn-based squad mechanics gameplay where you play inside the city terrain, not only in maps where the cities are represented as icons like the many other games of this genre.”
“Crappy graphics, sound, and gameplay.”
“The gameplay is a bit tedious.”
“The terrain types are not intuitively detected by the player, making gameplay difficult to understand, and there are no tooltips.”
- graphics136 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive a mixed reception, with many players praising the sharp visuals, attention to detail, and realistic tank models, contributing to an immersive experience. However, some critiques highlight dated elements and a lack of polish, suggesting that while the graphics are generally good, they could benefit from further optimization and refinement. Overall, the visuals are considered enjoyable and effective for gameplay, though opinions vary on their modernity and aesthetic fit.
“The battles are super fun with just the right mix of realism and arcade style gameplay, the graphics are sharp, the AI is really impressive and the maps and vehicle models are top notch for historical accuracy.”
“Outstanding graphics and atmosphere, many single-player missions to play.”
“The artwork and graphics are very good and the units look very authentic and the animations are superb.”
“The graphics could use some optimization and polish, but overall I find the game visually pleasing enough.”
“Visuals: I mean... it's 2023, this would have been great for a 2004 game.”
“The game graphics itself is quite plain too, no shaders, no lights, no reflections.”
- replayability24 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The game boasts exceptional replayability, primarily due to its diverse maps and the random force compositions available in skirmish mode, which offer a wealth of customizable scenarios. Players appreciate the engaging nature of the gameplay, with many noting the potential for endless replay through randomization and the desire for additional features like a map editor to enhance this aspect further. Overall, the combination of well-crafted scenarios and an active development team contributes to a highly replayable experience.
“The skirmish mode is what has really gripped me though, a ton of randomly generated scenarios to choose from (and customize) that offer seemingly endless replayability.”
“Unlimited replayability.”
“Great replayability and a very active dev.”
“A campaign system with unit rosters for each mission and a veterancy system would help replayability.”
“Short term solution for replayability can be that you randomly decide on a map and units in it, to make gameplay interesting and different every time.”
“It would be nice to see a custom battle or map editor, giving the player unlimited replay value.”
- music22 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its invigorating and atmospheric qualities, effectively setting the pace and enhancing the experience. However, several users noted that the soundtrack can be repetitive and lacks diversity, suggesting that it could benefit from a broader range of tracks. While some found the music to be subtle and non-intrusive, others criticized it as annoying or simplistic, indicating mixed feelings about its overall impact.
“The music in the game is invigorating, and I look forward to hearing it as I boot up the game.”
“- Music is subtle and slightly atmospheric, but never overwrought and invasive.”
“The vibe the music and ambience gives sets the pace beautifully.”
“Music tracks are a bit repetitive, and I noticed this after only a few hours.”
“The only feedback I have for the developer is that the game could benefit from a bit more diversity in the soundtrack.”
“Clunky interface, semi-realistic visibility model, primitive AI, annoying music - the game's really simplistic.”
- optimization14 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with players reporting significant performance issues, including micro stuttering, even on high-end gaming rigs. While the visuals are generally considered pleasing, there is a consensus that both graphics and sound require further optimization and polish to enhance the overall experience.
“It also factors into your performance score somewhat.”
“What I would like to see is if fighting experience/veterancy will also be considered in troops' performance.”
“However, the performance is very, very bad.”
“The game seemed poorly optimized; the sound effects were not consistent or even present in all situations.”
“Still needs optimization and more content.”
- atmosphere10 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its outstanding graphics and immersive atmosphere, enhanced by a cinematic camera that elevates the experience. The subtle and non-intrusive music contributes to the overall ambiance, while players express a desire for additional cut scenes to further enrich the atmosphere. Overall, the turn-based gameplay allows for thoughtful engagement with the game's compelling environment.
“Outstanding graphics and atmosphere, many single-player missions to play.”
“And that cinematic camera - oh my god, does it add to the atmosphere!”
“The music is subtle and slightly atmospheric, but never overwrought and invasive.”
- emotional8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the emotional experience of the game to be immersive and intense, particularly during combat scenarios that evoke feelings of fear and excitement. The AI's effectiveness enhances this emotional engagement, making players feel a genuine connection to their troops. Additionally, the presence of a skirmish mode adds to the game's replayability, further enriching the emotional journey.
“The thrill of taking out a squad of tiger tanks with a PIAT and anti-tank guns was immersive and emotionally draining.”
“(As a side note, the AI is fantastic and has made me feel actual fear as to what it was doing to my troops, so kudos for that!) Even after the story is over, there is the campaign mode that I have yet to sample, and it sounds like that will ensure constant replayability.”
“It made me feel like I was playing, initially, a miniature version of the excellent Combat Mission.”
- humor8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted as both clever and entertaining, particularly through elements like "wasp spam," which adds a comedic touch while also reflecting historical themes, such as the superiority of German tanks. Players appreciate the balance of humor with gameplay options, enhancing the overall experience.
“I thought it was great, hilarious even, and reflected the general superiority of German tanks at the time.”
“It was perfect: funny and with many options to decide the difficulty of the game.”
“Also, wasp spam is hilarious.”
- grinding8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, often requiring significant time investment to progress. The detailed gameplay is overshadowed by frustrations with the AI, which can make ambush strategies ineffective and further contribute to the grind. Overall, many feel that the experience demands excessive effort, suggesting that a second life might be necessary to endure it.
“The gameplay is a bit tedious.”
“The AI seems to be cheating; it's really good at avoiding your hidden troops, making ambushes on some maps tedious.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- stability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Overall, users report excellent stability, with minimal to no bugs encountered during gameplay.
“It runs great and I've encountered almost no bugs at all.”
“It runs great and I've encountered almost no bugs at all.”
