Unity of Command 2
- November 11, 2019
- 2x2 Games
- 35h median play time
Wargames don't see a lot of innovation, but Unity of Command 2 builds new things out of familiar parts.
Get on SteamUnity of Command II is a 3D strategy game set in WWII, where you command the Western Allies and manage army divisions, supply lines, and logistics. Experience a dynamic campaign with Fog of War, reconnaissance, and headquarter placement, in this sequel to the popular 2011 game. Your decisions directly impact the outcome of each playthrough, providing a unique experience each time.
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Reviews
- Great blend of tactical and strategic gameplay, focusing on supply lines and logistics.
- Beautiful graphics and a clean user interface enhance the gaming experience.
- Challenging AI that punishes mistakes, making each victory feel rewarding.
- Steep learning curve with insufficient tutorials and unclear mechanics.
- Strict turn limits can make scenarios feel like puzzles rather than strategic battles.
- Lack of a save feature during scenarios can lead to frustration after making mistakes.
- gameplay237 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Unity of Command II is characterized by its blend of accessible mechanics and strategic depth, making it engaging for both newcomers and seasoned wargamers. While the game introduces complex supply and HQ mechanics that enhance tactical decision-making, many players find the initial learning curve steep due to insufficient tutorials and the need for external resources to fully grasp the intricacies. Overall, the game is praised for its crisp, fast-paced gameplay and historical authenticity, though some players feel overwhelmed by the number of mechanics and the lack of clear explanations.
“The gameplay is usually very focused on keeping your units supplied while outmaneuvering your enemy and cutting their supply lines.”
“Unity of Command II is a masterful blending of minimalist storytelling in a historical context and elegant turn-based combat and supply mechanics.”
“The mechanics can seem complex to learn but I thought they were well implemented.”
“Bottom line: I did not continue to play because I could not accept the mechanics of the 'headquarters'.”
“While I managed to get through the basic tutorials and started my first campaign, this game isn't grabbing me. The mechanics around suppression and supply aren't presented in a clear manner, and I have found the game to be overall unapproachable.”
“I just can't find the enjoyment in feeling like I'm just guessing my every move with no know-how because of confusing game mechanics that aren't thoroughly explained.”
- story133 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 84 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The game's story is presented through a structured campaign of challenging missions, where players must navigate tight turn limits and resource management, often leading to a puzzle-like experience rather than traditional storytelling. While some players appreciate the historical context and the strategic depth, others find the lack of dynamic narrative and the reliance on RNG frustrating, as it can lead to repeated failures and a sense of linearity in objectives. Overall, the minimalist storytelling approach is seen as both a strength and a limitation, depending on player expectations for narrative engagement.
“Unity of Command 2 is a masterful blending of minimalist storytelling in a historical context and elegant turn-based combat and supply mechanics.”
“This game builds tension better than most story-based games.”
“The campaign isn't dynamic; rather it's a structured sequence of missions, but how well you do in previous missions determines the units you start with and their placement.”
“This game is just too frustrating: you can destroy your foe's units but lose the mission because you didn't take some town within the timeframe.”
“Storyline is inconsistent - you keep taking the same objectives over and over again (back to the past), the UX is horrible.”
- graphics111 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their aesthetic appeal, with many users highlighting the combination of a pleasant art style and functional user interface. While some players appreciate the modernized visuals and improved map designs, others express concerns about readability and the potential distraction of the cartoony style in a WWII setting. Overall, the graphics are considered a significant improvement over previous iterations, contributing positively to the game's immersive experience.
“The simple but aesthetically pleasing art style is a winner.”
“The graphics and aesthetics are very nice for a wargame, and the UI is highly functional and informative.”
“Combine this with the most beautiful graphics in a wargame, you have the recipe for the best wargame in the market.”
“At first, I didn't get it: few options to customize your army, at the beginning of a battle every unit has its predetermined place on the map, there's an unforgiving time limit to reach your objectives and the graphics could be much better.”
“The graphics, though admittedly pretty, make the maps really hard to read clearly.”
“However, the simple fact is, and I didn't expect this at all, I hate the new graphics.”
- replayability33 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
Overall, the game exhibits a mixed but generally positive reception regarding replayability. Many players appreciate the extensive content, branching campaign paths, and varying difficulty levels that encourage multiple playthroughs, while some note that the campaign can become repetitive towards the end, limiting long-term engagement. Despite these criticisms, several reviews highlight the potential for unique experiences through different strategies and scenarios, suggesting a solid replay value for those who enjoy exploring alternate routes and challenges.
“The main campaign it comes with is pretty meaty, and seems to have a good amount of replay value with optional branching paths and multiple difficulty levels.”
“The game also features alternate routes through the campaign if you do very well with bonus objectives, allowing you to experience some planned WWII operations that were never deployed as well as some fully ahistorical scenarios, adding replay value beyond the various difficulty levels.”
“It's a great turn-based tactics game with a surprising amount of depth and replayability.”
“The campaign gets a bit repetitive and boring towards the end, so replayability is low.”
“As such, there is almost zero replayability or, in my case, any incentive to keep playing past the few hours I've invested in it.”
“Okay if you are into that sort of thing, but disappointing if you actually wanted something with some strategy, depth, or replay value.”
- music24 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its atmospheric quality and strong composition, particularly highlighting the work of composer Bruno Brabić. While some players find the soundtrack engaging and a notable improvement over competitors, others criticize it for being overly dramatic or simplistic. Overall, the music is generally considered a positive aspect, enhancing the game's immersive experience despite some complaints about volume and complexity.
“Even the music, though simple, is strong and atmospheric.”
“I should mention the sound design as well - the soundtrack by Bruno Brabić is one of the best in the genre and leagues ahead of contemporaries like Panzer Corps 2 and Steel Division 2.”
“Great music and atmosphere, it really takes you back in time.”
“Overly complex, slow loading, useless sound effects, music that must have been added just to add the no music option.”
“The sound and music are generally inferior to the first game.”
“I wish there were more battle/background music.”
- grinding13 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 92 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, often requiring repetitive attempts to progress through scenarios due to challenging AI and complex mechanics. The lack of save points exacerbates this issue, making each scenario feel like a puzzle that relies on trial and error rather than strategic gameplay. While some appreciate the game's unique approach to historical warfare, many agree that the overall experience can become overly burdensome and monotonous.
“It's not tedious managing supply, but it's easy to forget about it during the heat of battle.”
“You will coast through some scenarios, then you'll get to one that you'll have to replay (and replay) until you can win it (assuming you can) -- it just gets tedious at that point, as you cannot progress in the campaign until you win.”
“This game has nothing to do with real tactics or strategy; each scenario is a puzzle that you must solve through tedious trial and error, and the AI is designed to stop you from reaching the objectives in time, not actually fight a war with a view to preserving their strength or salvaging their defensive positions.”
“Yeah, maybe this is more realistic to the drudgery of war... but it's tedious.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 83 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with strong and evocative music that enhances the experience, even for players who typically mute soundtracks in wargames. While the visuals are clean and functional, some players express a desire for more dynamic weather effects to further enrich the game's ambiance. Overall, the combination of music and sound design contributes significantly to the game's immersive atmosphere.
“Even the music, though simple, is strong and atmospheric.”
“Great music and atmosphere, it really takes you back in time.”
“Music is atmospheric; sound is punchy; graphics are functional and cleanly convey the necessary information.”
“While I think it's a good-looking game, I wish it had some actual weather effects (rather than just muddy-looking tiles), clouds, lightning, a little rain or snow over the tiles that are impacted. Maybe sound effects when you click on units on a tile... you know, some atmosphere.”
“The game feels lifeless; despite the graphics, there's a lack of immersive elements that make the world feel alive.”
“I expected a rich atmosphere, but the environments feel flat and uninspired, lacking any real depth or character.”
- optimization5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with users reporting mediocre performance, occasional crashes, and significant issues such as save file corruption. Additionally, the heavy GPU usage and poorly optimized shadows and shaders detract from the overall experience, despite the campaign's well-paced design and engaging alternate scenarios.
“The campaign is well-paced, offering alternate scenarios based on your performance, such as rushing for the Apennines in Italy.”
“The game provides clear explanations of what each icon means and how the different steps impact unit performance.”
“I experienced some mediocre performance, a few crashes, but the worst was when my save file corrupted at the very end of the invasion of Italy.”
“The game uses tons of GPU, and the shadows and shaders are poorly optimized.”
“The campaign is well-paced, but the optimization issues detract from the overall experience.”
- stability4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game demonstrates strong stability, with players reporting no glitches or crashes after extensive playtime. While some aspects, like the manual and tutorials, may lack polish, the game is considered complete and bug-free, providing a smooth gaming experience.
“No crashes, no glitches; you are not the beta tester, the game actually works when it is released.”
“While it lacks something in polish -- the manual is still in development and the tutorials leave out important game elements -- the game is complete, apparently bug-free, and a pleasure to play.”
“No glitches or other issues seen in almost 30 hours of play.”
“No crashes to desktop, no glitches; you are not the beta tester, the game actually works when it is released.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users express mixed emotional responses, with some feeling a sense of attachment to their units due to RPG elements and improved gameplay, while others find certain aspects, like tutorials, lacking in wholesomeness. Overall, the game evokes a range of emotions, from frustration to a deeper connection with the characters.
“Experienced units and RPG elements made me feel more attached to how my units are performing; this is a big improvement over the original UOC.”
- humor3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate a mixed reception regarding humor, with some finding certain elements unfunny, such as the portrayal of tactics, while others appreciate the whimsical aspects of the game, like the playful interactions with toy soldiers. Overall, the humor seems to resonate differently among players, with some enjoying the lightheartedness and others feeling it falls flat.
“I want to stick funny parts in a toaster.”
“He gladly explained to me the rules by which those funny toy soldiers fight each other, and soon I carried out my first 'operation' in the people's general game, capturing Khabarovsk with Chinese troops.”
“The humor in this game falls flat and often feels forced.”
“The jokes are stale and rely too heavily on clichés.”
“I found the attempts at humor to be more cringeworthy than funny.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The monetization model is considered straightforward, with a workaround that could be better promoted; however, it primarily serves as a basic tactical battle simulator rather than offering extensive depth or complexity.
“The monetization model feels exploitative, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
“I find the in-game purchases to be overpriced and not worth the value they provide.”
“The constant push for microtransactions detracts from the overall experience and enjoyment of the game.”
