Attention all war gamers. An influential RTS franchise is returning after more than a decade with Men of War II. With roots dating back all the way to 2004, the series quickly became a strategy classic due to its deep and tactical combat system, and smart integration of more hands-on approach to command and the fact that a capable Commander can turn each individual soldier into a deadly weapon.
Unlike other RTS games, Men of War put players at the heart of the action. The game immersed players with its maps that truly made players steeped in the conflicts of World War II. Now, this beloved franchise is back for a new entry that builds on the storied legacy of this modern classic by adding incredible features including environment destructibility, fortification building, and dynamic cover.
The original developers at Best Way have returned to the franchise to build an RTS title with an unprecedented amount of content, making for a deeply immersive and strikingly beautiful gameplay experience. With massive improvements to the visuals using new underlying technologies such as Physically Based Rendering technology, Men of War II will display in-game objects more realistically by simulating the real-time flow of light.
Best Way held four public playtests/open betas with the explicit goal of gathering player feedback. Thanks to the unwavering interest of the Men of War community, a host of gameplay changes and balances have been made to address their comments, leading to Men of War II becoming a true player-first experience.
Single-player and co-op
Lead troops of the Western and Eastern fronts in an intense single-player campaign based on locales and units from history. The huge story mode has a level of content to match several games worth with three distinct narrative campaigns, each diving into a different, deeply personal story. There are also two historical campaigns, six standalone missions, and a Dynamic (Conquest) campaign mode.
Each campaign feels extremely realistic thanks to the advanced enemy AI, which will use every tool at its disposal to adapt and defeat you. Let’s take a look at those three narrative campaigns players can dive into:
Soviet campaign – Thwarted Blitzkrieg
As the Third Reich invaded the USSR, the Soviets mounted a desperate defense on the Eastern Front. A lesser-known period of World War II, this intense conflict was the site of the largest tank battle in history – the Battle of Dubno-Lutsk-Brody. The attention to detail will shine in these battles, with each vehicle rendered with stunning accuracy. Attempt to hold back the Wehrmacht as the Soviet forces fall into disarray in this chaotic campaign.
American campaign – The Falaise Pocket
The campaign from the perspective of the Western Forces takes place in Normandy, as American troops encounter desperate resistance from German troops. Players can experience the battle alongside seasoned soldier Randy Howard and his commanding officer, Carl Young as they fight side-by-side in this decisive battle.
German campaign – On Their Own Soil
See World War II from the unique perspective of German soldier Ludwig Mueller in the final days of the Third Reich. As a veteran of World War I who despises the Nazi regime, Ludwig has to wrestle with his sense of duty to defend his homeland, even though he knows he fights on behalf of an evil and defeated regime. This story campaign set amidst the closing acts of the war is sure to give you some food for thought.
In addition to the game’s story-driven campaigns, there are also two dynamic historical campaigns, dedicated to influential historical operations of the Second World War. Operation Bagration is a Soviet campaign dedicated to the Belarusian offensive. Lead battalions through forests and swamps as you fight off Nazi assaults on the way to liberate Minsk.
Operation Overlord is a campaign from the perspective of US troops as they fight for control of northern France and the subsequent liberation of Paris. Face challenging sabotage missions and a unique detective mission as you attempt to remove the German resistance from the region.
Each campaign boasts its own technology tree, unique missions, and more than six battalions. As you make your way through these campaigns, you’ll gain access to new battalions and units, which you can customize to suit your playstyle. If all that’s not enough, there are six standalone missions to enjoy Additional Missions to enjoy – Through the Snow, False Alarm, Ambush, Scorched Earth, Towards Freedom, and Thwarted Plans.
If all that is still not enough, there is also the Dynamic Campaign: Conquest, offering a much more free-form experience with endless replayability. Each play-through will offer players different maps with different objectives, and you choose your own progression through your chosen nation’s tech tree. Take turns selecting battles, capturing territory on a strategic map, and defending against the AI opponent who will try its best to push you back.
If you want to form bonds with your own brothers in arms, you’ll be pleased to know that all single-player content is also playable with up to five-player co-op. Team up and take on these epic battles alone, or with allies.
Enhancements have been made to gameplay to make the co-op experience superior to the previous games in the series. In Men of War II, co-op players will have their own reinforcements menu, rather than a shared one. Missions will scale in size depending on how many players are in the session, and the enhanced enemy AI can adapt to player behavior, leading to a richer strategic experience.
Multiplayer
Once you’ve found your feet in single-player, head online and prove your skills in PvP multiplayer battles. Head into battle across 25 diverse maps with unique terrains and biomes, as well as customized time of day and weather. Fight solo or team up via matchmaking with the Combined Arms and Classic modes offering options for 1v1, 2v2, or 3v3 battles. Custom lobbies of these modes and the Battalions mode opens the game up to 5v5, with larger-scale fights on dynamic maps.
Front Line is a strategic mode that sees players vying for territory in a constant tug-of-war skirmish. Assault Zones sees opposing sides face off to capture strategic points on the map and hold them to earn points. In Combat, participate in a straightforward deathmatch, where the winning side is the one who can eliminate the most enemy units while protecting their own high-value targets. These are just a few of the modes offered in Men of War II – there are plenty more ways to play for you to discover.
Based on feedback from the beta tests, single-player and multiplayer matches have two playstyle settings: Competitive and Realism. Competitive is the standard mode, designed for a broad audience, featuring a detailed combat interface and on-screen icons. Realism strips back the UI, limits each weapon’s effective range, affects vehicle’s armor penetration, and a host of other changes for a more immersive experience that will appeal to hardcore players.
Beyond all of the fantastic content stuffed into the base game, players can no doubt look forward to an active modding scene post-launch. Men of War has been a popular title for modders and we expect Men of War II to be no different, especially given how supportive the devs have been about content made by modders. In fact, Fulqrum Publishing and Best Way have cooperated with several members of the modding community throughout development, and one fan-made mod, Lost Eagles, will be available at launch.
Ready to begin your campaign, Commander? Men of War II is available to buy on PC via Steam right now.
Source: Wargamer
