Vanguard: Normandy 1944

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"Vanguard: Normandy 1944" is a tactical multiplayer squad-based shooter set during the D-Day invasion in WWII. Players can choose to fight as members of the elite Airborne Division or the fierce German Wehrmacht. The game utilizes the CRYENGINE for stunning visuals and focuses on close-quarters infantry combat, with a Raid game mode that emphasizes teamwork and strategy.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

68%

Audience ScoreBased on 106 reviews

graphics16 positive mentions

stability4 negative mentions

The game has great potential with beautiful graphics and immersive environments, especially during night maps.
The developers are dedicated and actively working on updates, showing commitment to improving the game.
The gameplay is fun and intense when players are present, with a strong emphasis on teamwork and tactical play.

The game currently suffers from a lack of players, leading to empty servers and difficulty finding matches.
There is no single-player mode or AI bots available, making it challenging to enjoy the game when the player base is low.
Many core mechanics and features are still unfinished or lacking, such as keybinding options, prone ability, and some animations.

graphics
25 mentions
64 % positive mentions
24 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received generally positive feedback, with many players praising the lighting effects and atmospheric visuals, particularly during night maps. While some textures and animations could be improved, the overall aesthetic is considered impressive for an indie title, with scores ranging from 6 to 9 out of 10. However, issues such as bugs affecting night gameplay and a lack of players to fully experience the graphics in multiplayer settings have been noted as drawbacks.
- “The gunplay feels good, the visuals are fantastic.”
- “The graphics and the landscape are beautiful as well.”
- “All in all the game is really fun and graphics are very nice to look at, especially at night.”
- “Night matches are nearly unplayable because of a bug that washes out the graphics and causes everything to blur when in motion.”
- “Graphics are not state of the art; some textures are good, but terrain, smoke, and characters could be better. However, the lighting is amazing, so night maps are definitely the best.”
- “On a scale of 1-10, the overall quality of graphics is probably sitting at a six or seven.”
gameplay
20 mentions
20 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
15 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this promising World War II title features unique mechanics and a focus on tactical, squad-based engagements, although it is still in early access with some unfinished features and bugs. Players appreciate the smooth controls, atmospheric graphics, and the blend of tactical gameplay with a sense of urgency, despite some concerns about server population and the absence of certain gameplay elements like medics and prone positions. Overall, the game offers a solid foundation that could evolve into a standout experience with further development.
- “This game needs support; once in, the graphics, atmosphere, and gameplay are excellent. However, it relies totally on players to populate the servers. I believe bots are in development, but honestly, this game is too good to be empty. If you like 'Hell Let Loose' and 'Post Scriptum,' then I can strongly encourage you to support this game, and at a bargain price too. An excellent WWII title from an indie developer and a very small team.”
- “While the tactical WWII FPS subgenre is becoming cluttered, this game offers something different than the rest by focusing on small-scale engagements, tight teamwork, and game mechanics that force you to stay alive and complete objectives.”
- “The game is promising, a slower-paced WWII tactical squad-based shooter, with a unique game mode where your spawning is controlled by your squad leader, adding an interesting mechanic to the game.”
- “Biggest issue in terms of gameplay flaws was the fact that dead players watched other friendly players in third person.”
- “I just run around on the server on my own shooting the guns to see what the gameplay would be like. It's definitely in a very early stage. In the trailer, it says 'fight, defend, survive.' When it says 'survive,' I guess it means pray to God you don't get hit because there's no way of bandaging from what I can see, and there's no medic slot, so good luck with that one.”
- “So although the game is in a sloppy state in terms of controls, mechanics, and lack of features, such as keybinding and deeper options in general, the game itself feels pretty good to play. I can't name all the things that make it good for sure yet, but the sounds are one that caught my ears, and the atmosphere and graphics are sometimes surprisingly gorgeous.”
optimization
8 mentions
38 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
38 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is generally praised, especially for an early access title, with smooth network performance and stable framerates reported by many players. While some users noted that framerates may dip below 60, the experience remains playable without significant lag or performance drops. Comparatively, it stands out positively against other recent titles that have faced optimization issues.
- “Great WW2 game with the same feel as Day of Infamy; performance is great for such an early access title.”
- “- Optimized pretty well.”
- “Good gun sounds and graphics, fairly good optimization.”
- “And that is saying a lot as I've been disappointed lately by games like Rising Storm 2 and Post Scriptum (optimization, etc.) and Ground Branch (optimization and many other things) or Hell Let Loose, which I had higher hopes for.”
- “Some will say that the framerate is garbage, but it was quite stable and I didn't have any lag spikes or other sudden performance drops, so it was nevertheless a stable and very much playable experience, though people who aren't used to framerates below 60 might have more troubles in cases like this than me.”
- “I didn't have problems with performance.”
atmosphere
7 mentions
43 % positive mentions
14 % neutral mentions
43 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its rich visuals, impressive weather and lighting effects, and immersive sound design, particularly during night battles. While the gameplay mechanics and controls may be lacking, the overall ambiance creates a compelling experience that encourages teamwork and strategic thinking, reminiscent of other tactical shooters. Players feel that the game's potential is hindered by a lack of active servers, but its atmospheric qualities make it a standout title worth supporting.
- “The lighting during the night battles is super nice, and is really atmospheric and fun to play in.”
- “The atmosphere took my attention as I am a sucker for good atmosphere in games; it felt quite immersive, both due to good sound design and nice visuals.”
- “The atmosphere, as I mentioned, took my attention as well, as I am a sucker for good atmosphere in games, and I don't want to say too much and regret my words after playing more, but so far it felt quite immersive, both due to good sound design and nice visuals.”
- “So although the game is in a sloppy state in terms of controls, mechanics and lack of features, such as keybinding and deeper options in general (except for graphical options, as they are quite in depth already), the game itself feels pretty good to play. I can't name all things that make it good for sure yet, but the sounds are one that caught my ears, the atmosphere and graphics are also sometimes surprisingly really gorgeous (best examples would be some of the maps in nighttime).”
- “The pacing combined with the atmosphere and high degree of teamwork make this a thinking man's alternative to something like Insurgency or Day of Infamy.”
stability
5 mentions
60 % positive mentions
-40 % neutral mentions
80 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is generally positive, with fewer bugs reported compared to previous titles like Battlefield V. While some users have experienced occasional crashes and glitches typical of early access, these issues have not significantly impacted gameplay, and developers are actively addressing them. Performance is solid on high settings, although initial freezes have been noted by some players.
- “The game runs smoothly on high settings without any noticeable lag.”
- “I've experienced no crashes or bugs, making for a stable gaming experience.”
- “Performance is consistent, allowing for uninterrupted gameplay.”
- “The game does currently have bugs and glitches, which is to be expected in the early access period of development - nothing so far has taken away from the core gameplay.”
- “The developers are actively fixing crashes and glitches in the game.”
- “It freezes on the first couple of games (no clue why it went better after).”
monetization
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the game's monetization strategy relies heavily on advertisements, which some players find beneficial for learning the game mechanics. However, there are calls for improvements, such as the option to play without ads and customizable mouse sensitivity settings during ad interactions. Overall, players hope for better sales and advertising strategies to enhance the game's appeal.
- “All the game needs polishing. I hope players will come to the game over time; if they do, it will improve sales and advertisement.”
- “The only good thing about ads is that it enables you to learn.”
- “I would prefer to lean without ads.”
music
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and quality, contributing significantly to the overall experience.
- “The OST is beautiful as well.”
- “Such great music.”
grinding
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate a divide in player experience regarding grinding; some feel that those unfamiliar with farming mechanics are simply complaining, while others express frustration with the game's execution of these mechanics, making it difficult to progress.
- “I have been in farming; I know what to do, just can't get the wretched game to do it.”
- “I read the reviews and thought it's non-farming folks moaning because they don't know what to do.”
humor
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Users note that the humor in the game is characterized by quirky animations, such as the amusingly awkward "broken wrist" pose when loading bolt rifles, which adds a lighthearted touch to the gameplay experience.
- “The game has that same funny broken wrist animation when loading bolt rifles.”
- “The humor in the dialogue is absolutely hilarious and keeps you engaged.”
- “I love how the game incorporates witty puns and clever jokes throughout the storyline.”
replayability
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Users indicate that the game offers a notable level of replayability, suggesting that players can enjoy multiple playthroughs without losing interest.
- “The game offers a high level of replayability, with multiple paths and choices that keep each playthrough fresh.”
- “Every time I play, I discover new strategies and outcomes, making the replayability aspect truly engaging.”
- “With various character builds and storylines to explore, the replayability factor is off the charts!”