Soldiers: Heroes of World War II Single Player Demo

[ChewyLSB]

I know what you're all thinking. "Another World War II game? There's already enough of those!", but quite frankly, I love this game. It's a fairly obscure game, I wouldn't be surprised if no one else has heard of it. It's fairly unique because you can't put it into one genre. It's not a classic RTS, where you make a base and whatnot, but it's not like Commando's 3 where you have to check enemy movements and move your units as stealth.

The game is defined as a "Third Person Tactical" game, but there's plenty of action. The actual game comes on June 29, and never before have I anticapted a game release so much, since Return to Castle Wolfenstein.

This demo contains one level, and it is extremely difficult. I've been playing a lot since yesterday, and so far I've only been able to beat it twice.

This game is so detailed and realistic, it's ridiculous. Tanks, for example, can be hit in several spots, ranging from the treads (which prevent movement) to the "main frame" (which doesn't allow the turret to swivel anymore) or the Engine, which causes it to swerve and crash. Then, you can repair tanks using repair kits, and you can take fuel from enemy tanks using fuel tanks. Infantry pretty much have to take cover behind things so they aren't mincemeat. Also, you can do cool things like take MG-42's from tanks and give them to your infantry.

There's also a neat "direct control" system, in which you take control of a unit and control where it shoots and moves. A whole lotta fun. Also, more strategy comes from this, as with this mode, you can aim for certain parts of a vehicle, or go for headshots (although if you hit the helmet, it doesn't do a lot of damage).

There are some complaints I have. The fuel system is fairly clumsy, as you have to actually give an infantry a fuel can, make him go to an enemy tank, fill it with fuel, and then go back to the first tank, and put it back in. Also, the interface seems kind of clumsy, and moving things from inventory to inventory is fairly hard.

This demo's a WHOLE lotta fun. June 29 can't come soon enough.

GameSpot Download (need to have at least a GameSpot basic membership and the Gamespot Kontikni Download Manager) (http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/outfront/downloads.html)

CodeMasters Download (requires a Code M membership) (http://www.codemasters.co.uk/downloads/displayfiles.php?showdetails=13913)

FilePlanet Download (prepare for LONG waits if you're not a FilePlanet member) (http://www.fileplanet.com/download.aspx?f=141060)

I would suggest the CodeMasters download site, it's the least tedious.

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Minimum Specification:
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- Windows 98SE/ME/2000/XP
- DirectX 9.0b
- Pentium III or Athlon at 1GHz
- 256mb RAM
- Supported 32Mb Graphics card
- DirectX 9 Compatible Sound Card
- 300Mb Hard Disk space
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Recommended Specification:
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- Windows XP/2000
- DirectX 9.0b
- Pentium 4 at 2GHz or AthlonXP 2000+
- 512Mb RAM
- Graphics card: GeForce FX 5xxx or Radeon 9xxx
- DirectX 9 Compatible Sound Card
- 300Mb Hard Disk space

[snowwolfe]

It looks, interesting.

[Setari]

its hard as hell too.

[Octavian]

I can't even get it to load. :(

[Dharkbayne]

HOOOOOOOOOORIBLE interface, I shot my own troops too many times tocount. If the contorl system didn't suck, I'd get it.

[Lartnev]

I have to agree with Dharkbayne. I was really excited about this game, it was pitched as Commandos but without the tedium. The trailers and in game videos looked awesome. But when I came to play the demo, the interface was a little... unforgiving. They probably could have made the tutorial available, or an easier level.

I went back to playing the Ground Control 2 demo again :D

[Hamma]

I loaded it, got pissed and uninstalled.

[1024]

You guys have no patience. The only thing im wondering is how to put the fuel into the tank. I guess the fuel that i had was empty or something, cause there was a little drop symbol over it, but it never filled the tank.

The only thing i wish they would include was a control key.

[1024]

am i the only one really enjoying this demo?

[Lartnev]

Well they do say at the beginning of the mission that they're low on fuel and ammo. I tried to pick up some fuel from a dead panzer but it didn't work. Just end up using the anti-tank gun :)

[Setari]

I enjoy it. It's just really hard. You can move the tank. You can move up to the little field or whatever and then it runs out of gas. But you can still fire the gun. Am I the only one getting pwned by the tanks?

[1024]

i can beat it on easy, but im workin on normal. its quite challenging. Oh, and you can move the camera angle by holding down mouse 3

[Everay]

i installed it i think, but havent played it yet, i will.

[1024]

normal isnt that bad, but hard is. hard is seriously, hard.

Ev, you'll like this. It's extremly realistic.

[Everay]

its cool, but im having a lil trouble getting the game controls down, like i got this guy to go pick up a bozooka, and he also had a tompson, but he wouldnt stop shooting the bazooka like i wanted and instead use a tompson. shit like that, small stuff, but it still gets all the lil troopers killed.

[ChewyLSB]

The way a fuel can works is, you take a jerry can from one tank, and it'll start out empty. You go to either a friendly or enemy tank that still has fuel in it, and fill it up with fuel. Then you go back to your tank and put the fuel in. Think of it as stealing fuel.

The control system is my main gripe, but about everything else I like about this game.

[1024]

the control system just takes some thinkin about. like if you want this guy to switch weps but he wont, take direct control, switch it, then let him free.

and fuck i cant get past the first wave of tanks on hard. its fucking, well, hard.

[Everay]

i got the fuel can out of the shereman, but couldnt get anyone to pick it up.

and i cant get past the second or third wave of tanks on easy, i get that gun up front shooting at them, but sometimes it just doesnt kill them. oh and how do i deploy mines?

[1024]

deploy mines with U. and to get the fuel, you have to get the canister, go to the tank, and when you put your mouse over the tank you want to get the fuel from, a little circle with a drop will appear. This means you're telling your soldier to fill up the canister. The little rotating oil thing means you want to put the fuel inside it.

[Glaynor]

The interface SUCKS.

It is impossible to control the guys when you have waves of enemies coming at you. The graphics are great, but controlling the game is F'n IMPOSSIBLE.

[1024]

hit backspace.

[Lartnev]

Yeah it needs a context sensitive interface like commandos 2/3 because when the bullets start flying you really need a quick way to do stuff.

[1024]

dude, HIT BACKSPACE.

[Setari]

i still cant beat easy.

[1024]

it takes some strategy. Its actually and RTS where you cant just mass units. Remember, flanking, can be your best friend.

PS.remember, you can take out certain parts of tanks, knock out their treads before they even get to you.

[Setari]

it takes some strategy. Its actually and RTS where you cant just mass units. Remember, flanking, can be your best friend.

PS.remember, you can take out certain parts of tanks, knock out their treads before they even get to you.
yea that might help :p This game is really fun. I'm just not too good at it.

[1024]

takes some practice with getting good with the controls. after that everything comes easier.

[oddfish]

yeah.. i noticed right off the bat that you can't just C&C it. You've got to do maneuvers n' shizzle. I beat it on easy, but it was the biggest bitch ever. Well, since my day has been eaten by this game, i'm not going to bother trying to salvage it. Back to computer games, yay..


p.s. interface is none too kind. yes yes.

[1024]

"demo is 80% complete. Does not represent final quality of the game."

[Everay]

how do you target certain parts of the tank?