Victory and Glory: Napoleon
- March 17, 2016
- Electric Games
- 10h median play time
Get on Steam"Victory and Glory: Napoleon" is a strategy game that puts you in the role of Napoleon Bonaparte, tasked with dominating Europe through military conquest. Move armies, fight battles, recruit new troops, and expand your empire, while the AI controls enemy forces. With detailed graphics, various unit types, and over 100 unique event cards, re-fight the entire Napoleonic Wars and try to change history.
Reviews
- The game captures the spirit of the Napoleonic Wars with engaging gameplay and a fun combat system that rewards strategic thinking.
- It features a charming visual style and a well-selected soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
- The card-driven mechanics add an interesting layer of unpredictability and historical flavor to the gameplay.
- The game suffers from balance issues, with certain factions having overwhelming advantages that can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.
- The user interface is clunky and lacks visibility on critical mechanics, such as combat rolls and unit statistics, making it difficult to strategize effectively.
- There is limited replayability due to the inability to play as multiple factions and the simplistic nature of the combat system, which can feel random and unfulfilling.
- gameplay16 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Victory & Glory: Napoleon" is characterized by its smooth mechanics, ease of learning, and high replayability, making it accessible for casual players while still offering strategic depth. However, some users noted the lack of complexity in mechanics and the absence of certain nations, which may limit the experience for those seeking deeper gameplay. Overall, the game is praised for its engaging systems and polished presentation, though it may become repetitive over time.
“Very impressed with the smooth mechanics and how easy it is to learn the game.”
“Smooth gameplay, easy to learn, difficult to master, lots of replayability.”
“The game's visual aspects are incredibly well polished, the selection of music for the soundtrack is well done, it fits the flavor of the Napoleonic period, the game mechanics are well designed, and overall it's just plain fun.”
“There is no rule book or explanation of any of the game mechanics anywhere.”
“Not recommended if you are looking for some deep diplomacy and complicated mechanics.”
“Every time I did it, it was the same thing - high price, not that deep gameplay, and very little post-release support.”
- replayability11 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 18 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the variety offered by extra campaigns and the unique experiences in each playthrough, others find it limited after several sessions. Many highlight its charm, strategic depth, and engaging mechanics, but note that certain aspects, like combat resolution, can become repetitive over time. Despite these concerns, the game is generally considered a good value with significant replay potential, especially for fans of the Napoleonic era.
“The game has very good replayability with the extra campaigns (1800, 1806, 1809, 1812, 1813) apart from the main campaign (1805).”
“If you like the Napoleonic era, beautiful games, simple mechanics, and 'no two games are the same' replay value, you'll like Victory & Glory: Napoleon!”
“Overall it is a good value for the price and there is a ton of replayability built in.”
“Don't think it has a whole lot more replayability, however, to be honest.”
“Doesn't seem to have a ton of replayability but got 9 hours out of it first session, fairly easy to learn.”
“How replayable it is currently for its price.”
- music9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 22 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its high quality and fitting selection, particularly the inclusion of classical pieces like Beethoven that enhance the immersive experience of the Napoleonic period. While most reviews highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, there are a few dissenting opinions regarding the sound effects and overall music quality. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's atmosphere and enjoyment.
“The game's visual aspects are incredibly well polished, the selection of music for the soundtrack is well done, it fits the flavor of the Napoleonic period, the game mechanics are well designed, and overall it's just plain fun.”
“A lot of fun, and best of all the soundtrack while you're contemplating moves on the strategic map is Beethoven!”
“It is colorful, has a great soundtrack; the music selections (classical) are perfect for the period being dramatized.”
“Sound effects and music are not very good.”
“No cheesy generic martial music (looking at you Paradox) but real honest to god Beethoven.”
- graphics7 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some users noting that they appear outdated, reminiscent of graphics from 20 years ago. However, others praise the artwork, particularly highlighting the contributions of renowned artist Keith Rocco, and appreciate the charming visuals that enhance the game's atmosphere. Technical issues, such as inability to adjust settings or launch the game, have also been reported, detracting from the overall experience.
“Absolutely gorgeous artwork by the internationally renowned artist, Kieth Rocco.”
“The graphic design is very good, but the gameplay seemed very simplistic compared to other games I've played of the same genre.”
“The game has a good replay value, charming visuals, and a lot of chrome that adds atmosphere and Napoleonic flair to the whole.”
“Well, I can't even start the game, so I can't review it, of course. I have tried everything, looking in forums, changing resolution in Windows. The game is so smart you can't even change graphics settings from the start menu. Another bad thing is that I'm only getting a black screen. I tried to verify file integrity, even changed the game to run as administrator, but nothing is helping. I just want to warn other customers to buy a game and not be able to play it no matter what you do. That is a very bad product. Slitherine, stay away is my recommendation to other Steam users.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The optimization aspect of the game is criticized for its lack of clarity regarding how commanders' ranks and unit levels affect battle performance, leaving players uncertain about the strategic value of rallying troops or maintaining high ranks. This ambiguity hinders effective decision-making, as the impact of these mechanics on overall troop strength is not well-defined.
“This becomes important when you're deciding to rally troops who fled their flanks, because rallying lowers your commander's rank for the next battle phase, which impacts your overall troops' performance. However, you never know what that impact really is, so you can't tell if it's worth rallying a unit or keeping the rank high.”
“Again, it's unclear what a commander ranked 12 versus a commander ranked 3 will actually do to your troops' battle performance.”
“Again, it's unclear what a commander ranked 12 vs a commander ranked 3 will actually do to your troops' battle performance.”
“This becomes important when you're deciding to rally troops who fled their flanks, because rallying lowers your commander's rank for the next battle phase, which impacts your overall troops' performance. But you never know what that impact really is, so you can't tell if it's worth rallying a unit or keeping the rank high.”
“Units have this weird level/rank number that somehow impacts their battle strength, and depending on their performance in a battle, they can rank up. In the board game, no such rule exists.”
- stability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Overall, user experiences with stability are mixed; while some report frequent crashes and ongoing troubleshooting, others find the game largely bug-free and well-structured in conveying its rules.
“The game seems bug-free and does a reasonable job of conveying the rules to this complex board game.”
“I appreciate how stable the game is; I haven't encountered any crashes or major glitches.”
“The smooth gameplay experience really enhances the overall enjoyment, making it feel polished and reliable.”
“I got the game on sale and have 10 hours put into it, but I experience annoying crashes to desktop often while constantly troubleshooting issues.”
“The game is riddled with stability problems; I can't play for more than 30 minutes without it crashing.”
“Despite the interesting gameplay, the frequent stability issues make it nearly unplayable.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious, particularly due to the repetitive nature of clicking on characters to manage movements and the combat resolution process, which can become monotonous after multiple playthroughs. However, the game is praised for its strategic depth, replay value, and engaging atmosphere, despite the grind.
“Clicking on everybody to see who has a leader for moving gets a bit tedious.”
“The gameplay (combat resolution) can get a bit grindy after repeated play, and the AI can be quite challenging as France will be at war on multiple fronts for much of the game.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by charming visuals and a distinctive Napoleonic flair, providing a captivating experience that emphasizes flavor over hardcore mechanics. Players appreciate the replay value and the nail-biting moments, although some note that the combat can become grindy and wish for more playable countries. Overall, the atmosphere effectively complements the strategic gameplay, making it an engaging choice for fans of the period.
“The game has charming visuals and a lot of chrome that adds atmosphere and Napoleonic flair to the whole.”
“It has good appeal and flavor for the period, emphasizing flavor and atmosphere over hardcore mechanics.”
“The atmosphere is enhanced by nail-biting moments and close calls, making it a solid strategic game.”
- story1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The story revolves around the conflict between France and England, highlighting France's military strength and victories, while England persistently seeks to form new coalitions to challenge French dominance.
“France's armies are great, and you will win battles, but England is always on a mission to build a new coalition to oppose you.”
