Unity of Command

78%
Game Brain Score Based on 684 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • graphics
Unity of Command Game Cover
Doesnt overdo unit counts and under-engineer AI, unlike most East Front wargames. Wargame of the Year material.
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Unity of Command is a turn-based strategy wargame set on the Eastern Front during the Stalingrad Campaign in World War II. Players can command either Axis or Soviet forces in operational-level battles, focusing on maneuver, logistics, and weather conditions. The game aims to recreate the strategic challenges and tension of this critical period in the war.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

78%
Audience ScoreBased on 684 reviews
gameplay39 positive mentions
grinding10 negative mentions
  • Unity of Command offers a unique blend of strategy and puzzle elements, focusing on supply lines and logistics, which adds depth to the gameplay.
  • The game features a clean and intuitive user interface, making it accessible for newcomers while still providing a challenge for experienced players.
  • The AI is challenging and adapts to player strategies, ensuring that each scenario feels dynamic and engaging.
  • The strict turn limits can be frustrating, often requiring players to restart scenarios multiple times to achieve the desired victory conditions.
  • The game lacks a true campaign mode, as players cannot carry over units or progress through a series of interconnected missions.
  • Random elements, such as weather and combat outcomes, can lead to unpredictable results that may undermine strategic planning.
  • gameplay134 mentions

    The gameplay of this wargame is characterized by its simple yet engaging mechanics, focusing heavily on supply lines and strategic maneuvering, which can create a satisfying challenge for players. However, many reviewers noted significant issues, such as a reliance on luck, frustrating campaign design, and a lack of flexibility in mission objectives, which can detract from the overall experience. While the game is accessible to newcomers, it often feels more like a puzzle than a traditional strategy game, leading to mixed feelings about its depth and replayability.

    • “The gameplay mechanics are simple but elegant, and the AI is solid but with a few quirks.”
    • “Unity of Command is a fantastic turn-based wargame that features a simple interface with a deep gameplay system underneath.”
    • “The supply system is probably the defining game mechanic: you advance and take territory but if the enemy manages to surround you or cut off road/rail links, those advancing units will eventually be stopped in their tracks.”
    • “The problem with this game is the gameplay that is absolutely atrocious and unrealistic.”
    • “Unfortunately, due to the luck mechanics, the only real way of capturing every single objective is pure luck.”
    • “There are specific moves that you have to make in order to have any effectiveness, which really dumbs down the gameplay to the point where you just have to look up or remember what those moves are for each mission.”
  • story91 mentions

    The game's story is presented through a series of independent missions that lack continuity, often feeling more like isolated puzzles than a cohesive campaign. Players frequently express frustration with strict time limits and the necessity for "decisive" victories to progress, which can lead to repetitive gameplay and a sense of being punished for not adhering to predetermined strategies. While the missions are well-designed and historically grounded, the overall experience is marred by a lack of flexibility and excessive reliance on trial-and-error tactics.

    • “The mechanics are interesting and innovative, the missions are all very well made, and victory is extremely satisfying.”
    • “Replaying missions allows you to try pushing through at different points which may lead to breaking through and encircling enemy forces and cutting them off from supplies, or could lead to you trying to charge forward with armor and mobile infantry to reach further into enemy territory.”
    • “Apparently, full attention had been paid to the smaller details as well: helpful popups provide bits of useful information, mission briefings depict the historical situation in a compact yet accurate manner, etc. Together with both DLCs, you'll get a chance to try your luck in all major operations on the Eastern Front between 1941-45.”
    • “The bottom line is you might find yourself playing the same few missions until you figure them out; in a way, an extended stint of advanced tutorializing that deals with higher-level concepts.”
    • “But the campaign is kind of annoying; to fully complete it, you must beat missions quickly, otherwise some missions won't show up. This limits your strategic options and makes the game more of a puzzle rather than a strategy game sometimes.”
    • “Unfortunately, its good ideas in UI and mechanics are wasted by level design that disallows flexibility; you get the given forces each mission, you do not build your own force; turn limits are harsh; your rate of advance is heavily affected by randomness.”
  • graphics55 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the minimalist and aesthetically pleasing design that enhances gameplay, while others criticize the simplistic visuals and outdated appearance reminiscent of the 1990s. Many players appreciate the clarity and functionality of the graphics, which contribute to an engaging user interface, though some find them too basic or cluttered in certain aspects. Overall, the visuals are generally considered decent for the genre, balancing simplicity with effective presentation.

    • “The graphics look wonderful.”
    • “Beautiful art and graphics, quick and fun gameplay that is deceptively complex.”
    • “The general presentation of the game is astounding – all the menus, unit icons, map graphics are lovely and up to a very high standard.”
    • “Hideous visuals combined with some of the most underwhelming sound effects possible.”
    • “The graphics, sound, and gameplay are circa 1990's and not in a good way.”
    • “I can't say much about the gameplay, because the tiny graphics (which can't be adjusted in scale or zoomed) make the game unplayable.”
  • music25 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its ability to create atmosphere and enhance the gameplay experience, while others note its limited variety and repetitiveness. Many appreciate the quality of the soundtrack, describing it as beautiful and fitting for the game's themes, though some find it generic or dull. Overall, while the music may not be extensive, it effectively contributes to the game's mood and can be enjoyed alongside personal playlists.

    • “Awesome music, engaging graphics, and a smooth interface that allows a typical gamer to get up to speed quickly.”
    • “Love the sound design, and even though the music is just three tracks, I find them to create the atmosphere this game needs.”
    • “The rules set complements the narrative so well, the music gives it a depressing, crushing aura; it's truly excellent.”
    • “It's really dull with its presentation visually (including UI), in its sound design, and with the music.”
    • “Music can get repetitive and the graphics are not the selling point of the game.”
    • “Also, there is little variety in terms of music, but the music that is there is really nice.”
  • replayability20 mentions

    Replayability in this game is a mixed bag; while some players find it offers substantial value through varied strategies and challenges, others feel it lacks depth and becomes repetitive after initial completion. The presence of different campaign levels and side objectives can enhance replayability, but for some, the game feels more like a solvable puzzle with limited long-term engagement. Overall, the experience varies significantly based on player expectations and play style.

    • “Its systems are simple to understand yet challenging to master, so I have found plenty of replay value.”
    • “There are different levels of challenges for each campaign which add a lot of replayability.”
    • “Unity of Command has great replay value - there is just the right mix of randomness in rolls to make it interesting while maintaining substantial reward for good strategy.”
    • “Once you wish to move into more realism (or if that's what you were looking for in the first place), this has limited replayability.”
    • “Without one, each mission is a quick one-off puzzle without much replayability.”
    • “Its much more a puzzle rather than a military game, with scenarios that simply need to be 'solved' - once you've done that (and it's fairly easy) there's little or no replayability.”
  • grinding10 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and unengaging, often leading to frustration as supplies run out quickly, halting progress. While the game offers strategic depth and complexity, many feel it devolves into a puzzle-like experience rather than a satisfying tactical challenge, with an emphasis on capturing objectives rather than grinding down enemies. Overall, the grinding mechanics detract from enjoyment, making the gameplay feel repetitive and unrealistic.

    • “This game became too tedious to enjoy way too fast.”
    • “It's not a strategy game, more like a tedious tactical puzzle of how to hastily rush your troops to capture victory points in the minimum amount of turns.”
    • “This game basically boils down to the hugely unrealistic strategy of luring your enemy away from their supply lines and then slowly grinding them down (hugely unrealistic) and not very satisfying.”
  • optimization6 mentions

    The game is praised for its stability and smooth performance, even on low-end hardware, making it accessible for a wide range of players. However, some users feel that the performance ranking system could be improved by incorporating additional factors, such as troop loss, alongside timely objective completion.

    • “As a program, the game is very stable and runs smoothly on a potato.”
    • “Every few months, I come back to it; I try to improve my performance in the campaign or on the tougher maps.”
    • “I enjoy it very much and it seems to run smoothly.”
    • “If I had to criticize gameplay, I would say it's mainly this: your performance is solely ranked based on how timely you take objectives and nothing else.”
    • “Troop loss should have been included in your performance rating.”
  • stability3 mentions

    The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with users reporting persistent bugs and issues even after extensive troubleshooting efforts. Many feel that, despite the time since its release, the game remains unstable and problematic.

    • “Unfortunately, this option is very buggy.”
    • “Yes, I've gone through all the standard troubleshooting, looking for conflicting software, verifying the game files and cache, etc. It just does not work now.”
    • “So long after release and the client is still buggy as hell.”
  • atmosphere3 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is described as addictive, with some users appreciating its overall ambiance, while others criticize the music as generic and lacking in depth.

    • “Addictive and atmospheric.”
    • “Good atmosphere.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization system is perceived as largely harmless, with users suggesting that it was intended to be a microtransactions model but ultimately does not detract from the overall experience.

    • “I feel that the microtransaction system is actually harmless.”
    • “The monetization system feels overly aggressive, pushing players to spend money to enjoy the game fully.”
    • “I find the in-game purchases to be exploitative, making it difficult to progress without shelling out cash.”
    • “The constant prompts to buy premium currency ruin the immersion and enjoyment of the game.”
  • humor1 mentions

    The humor in the game is highlighted by the amusing name "Maykop," which resonates with players and adds a lighthearted touch to the experience.

    • “I still think Maykop is a funny name.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

86% average critic score

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