US and THEM

29%
Game Brain Score Based on 69 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • replayability
US and THEM Game Cover
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"Us and Them" is a turn-based strategy game set during the Cold War, where players can choose to be CIA or KGB. The goal is to expand territorially and destabilize the enemy's countries through espionage, sabotage, and manipulation of resources like money, oil, and technology. Players must strategically place units and gather intelligence to carry out attacks and achieve their objective.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

29%
Audience ScoreBased on 69 reviews
humor2 positive mentions
gameplay4 negative mentions
  • The game offers an interesting concept centered around Cold War espionage and strategy, allowing players to engage in covert operations and political maneuvering.
  • It features a variety of historical figures and events, adding depth and context to the gameplay, which can be appealing to history buffs.
  • Once players learn the mechanics, the game can provide hours of entertainment and strategic challenges.
  • The user interface is poorly designed, making navigation and gameplay cumbersome, with issues like fixed low resolution and difficulty clicking on smaller countries.
  • The game lacks a proper tutorial and clear instructions, leaving players confused about mechanics and objectives.
  • It is plagued by bugs and stability issues, including frequent crashes and unresponsive elements, making it frustrating to play.
  • gameplay19 mentions

    The gameplay of the game offers a unique blend of historical detail and strategic depth, appealing to both history enthusiasts and strategy fans. However, many players find the mechanics lacking, with a steep learning curve and a frustrating interface that detracts from the overall experience. While the game features engaging elements like random events and political maneuvering, the execution often leaves players feeling overwhelmed and dissatisfied.

    • “Ensures hours of addictive gameplay, whether you're maneuvering diplomatic relations, engaging in covert operations, or navigating delicate balances of power.”
    • “I really like this game because it has a simple design and a depth in the gameplay as you need strategy in order to win.”
    • “In any case, the game features a unique and original gameplay that I have never seen in any other game; it is also the only serious PC strategy game about the Cold War.”
    • “The gameplay is deeply unpleasant, the graphics are ugly to the point of hurting my eyes, the forced resolution is absurdly low and makes everything fiddly and awkward, and the interface is possibly the worst ever conceived.”
    • “The gameplay and game mechanics are difficult to grasp, and the amount of number crunching involved is enough to give Spock a headache.”
    • “Horrible interface, tedious gameplay.”
  • graphics16 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received largely negative feedback, with many users citing issues such as poor UI, low resolution, and graphical bugs that hinder gameplay. While some appreciate the understated visuals that allow for a focus on gameplay, the overall consensus is that the graphics are outdated and unpolished, making the game difficult to enjoy for those seeking a visually appealing experience. Additionally, the lack of customization options and stability further detracts from the overall graphical experience.

    • “This game is amazing, very understated graphics that allow you to focus more on the fading voice of the tutorial speaker.”
    • “Games like Civilization V have comparatively advanced graphics including waving flags, hammering workers, and wavy oceans, so it’s okay if it doesn’t scroll as quickly as you’d hope.”
    • “Complaining about graphics in this is like yelling at the sun for setting.”
    • “Horrible UI & graphics, game not stable.”
    • “Though it looks extremely fun, the fact that it doesn't adjust to fit screens, and you have no graphics adjustment controls... this game is altogether unplayable.”
    • “The gameplay is deeply unpleasant, the graphics are ugly to the point of hurting my eyes, the forced resolution is absurdly low and makes everything fiddly and awkward, and the interface is possibly the worst ever conceived.”
  • replayability3 mentions

    The game's replayability is generally rated as moderate, with some users noting its simple gameplay and alternate history elements as appealing factors. However, others find it somewhat short and lacking in depth, leading to mixed feelings about its long-term replay value. Overall, it offers a reasonable price-to-fun ratio for casual play.

    • “Overall, simple gameplay, with a replayability factor of B+/B. It's short for casual play and offers an alternate history at a budget price.”
    • “The price-to-fun ratio of the game is reasonable, making it worth considering for its replayability.”
    • “A bit short and not that much replayability.”
    • “Overall, simple gameplay, replayability factor of a B+/B, short for casual play, and alternate history at a budget price.”
  • stability3 mentions

    The game suffers from significant stability issues, including frequent freezes and a buggy interface that restricts resolution options. While the concept is promising, these technical problems detract from the overall experience.

    • “I experienced freezes during some of my turns.”
    • “As much as I'd like to recommend this game, the concept is great, but the game is buggy as hell.”
    • “The interface is buggy and locked to non-widescreen tiny resolutions, and the way the game plays does not feel very well thought out.”
  • humor2 mentions

    The game is praised for its humor, particularly highlighting the comedic elements found in the spy gadgets research, which adds an enjoyable and entertaining layer to the gameplay.

    • “For me, another huge plus of the game is that it has a lot of humor.”
    • “All the spy gadgets research part is hilarious!”
  • optimization1 mentions

    The reviews highlight that the character's loyalty significantly impacts their performance, suggesting that optimization in gameplay is closely tied to moral choices, such as resisting bribes.

  • story1 mentions

    The story emphasizes the importance of realistic mission assignments and the impact of environmental conditions on character well-being, suggesting that players should avoid sending characters on impossible missions or placing them in low-resource settings for extended periods.

    • “The story feels disjointed and lacks a coherent narrative, making it hard to stay engaged.”
    • “Character development is shallow, leaving players feeling disconnected from the protagonists.”
    • “The plot twists are predictable and fail to deliver any real surprises or emotional impact.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is enhanced by a well-crafted tech tree and the inclusion of grainy Cold War-era propaganda videos, which serve as both an introduction and a reward for players. This nostalgic aesthetic effectively immerses players in the themes of the space race and nuclear arms development, despite the absence of direct nuclear gameplay.

    • “The game features grainy Cold War-era propaganda videos that enhance the atmosphere, serving as both an introduction to the game and a reward for playing well.”
    • “The atmosphere is immersive, with a well-crafted tech tree that makes your agents more effective while capturing the essence of the space race and nuclear arms development.”
    • “The combination of the game's visuals and audio creates a captivating atmosphere that draws you into the Cold War setting.”
    • “The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth needed to immerse players in the game world.”
    • “Despite the interesting premise, the overall ambiance is dull and fails to evoke any real sense of tension or excitement.”
    • “The game tries to create a tense atmosphere, but the execution falls short, leaving players feeling disconnected from the experience.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, often citing a poor interface that exacerbates the experience.

    • “Horrible interface, tedious gameplay.”
    • “The grinding feels endless and monotonous.”
    • “It's frustrating how much time you have to spend grinding for minimal rewards.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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