Still a great gameplay

It's in many areas of life as follows: There is the market leader, the - often hyped - About product, what everyone wants, which is praised everywhere in the sky and topped with adjectives and superlatives that one can already dizzy and then often sold accordingly successful because the taste of the masses just as well served perfectly. In terms of real-time strategy games comes to mind when I look back on the past few years, most likely "Company of Heroes" one that was certainly good, but maybe not quite as beneficial as often depicted.

Such a work is "Men for War - Vietnam" certainly not, and shares this fate with all its predecessors. Basically, this review could therefore be quite short: Who "Soldiers - Heroes of World War II", "Faces of War", "Men of War" or "Men of War - Red Tide" might, can, with a few limitations that I follow even addresses the issue "Men of War - Vietnam" down safely. However, this helps those who do not know the mentioned games, not really, and therefore I would like one or two more sentences longer write this, but relating only to the single player mode; the multiplayer mode I will, as occasionally play with the predecessors, in the form of co-op matches with a friend, which so far always worked without any problems in the LAN and otherwise from the single player this time is no different, because you have the same missions plays.

While all previous as well as the somewhat battered from the way because "Men of War - Assault Squad" only through the Multiplayer Part halfway interesting in the context of the 2nd World War playing, puts us "Men of War - Vietnam" - as the name suspect leaves - in the Vietnam during the war of the same name. More obvious changes did not exist. Sure, there are new weapons and vehicles, but the gameplay and even the appearance of ammunition and grenades in the inventory of the soldiers or the command button has virtually nothing changed. Only the high density of plants of all kinds is not only visible, but also perceptible change as you. More time looking after their own people, but most of all spending by the enemies But that could be in this scenario probably can not be avoided.

There are two campaigns to play; On the one hand one must rush on the part of Russians support of Vietnamese into battle; on the other hand on the side of the Americans. Both campaigns are not exactly abundant long with five missions; especially since some missions are also advised relatively short. But this is in my view not as dramatic, because the principle of the game, which has already said as compared with their predecessors not changed, I still find fascinating and challenging, the aforementioned mass taste it is not true but apparently unfortunately.

Now what makes this principle? In short, the almost unlimited possibilities. Every single soldier, the controlling, can be equipped individually with the things that you find in each level so. You can specify whether he stands, sits, lies, if he shoots at everything he sees fire only replies or never shoots. (Important for ambushes or covert actions - in this respect, and not only in the games of this series the first "Commandos" games are very similar.) You can send his people targeted in coverage and already sees in issuing this command, which position and attitude they will take in the cover.

Although it has for each mission usually only a limited number of troops available, with which one has to make do. There are also - unlike its predecessors - a few different vehicles and many times you can not conquer it or it is pointless to go with them. And that in turn means that the missions actually have to be dealt primarily with the infantry. But one can also vary over the already mentioned providing the figures z. B. with objects of deceased soldiers, in baskets or of course in exchange among themselves almost indefinitely. In this way, the subordinate vassals can individually equip. One kills quietly with knives and silenced weapon, the other has a grenade launcher and a machine gun in his luggage, the third party may be a sniper rifle, etc.

This variety of options runs through the whole game. Each weapon can be load, unload and reload; only when it is empty shot, invites the respective user, so he has matching ammunition, independently after. When aiming the distance to the target and guns by the color in which it is displayed, the probability of a hit can be seen. Defective vehicles or guns can be - depending on the damage - repair and of course they have a limited supply of ammunition on board - different types of ammunition for different purposes should be understood - and if they go, they consume naturally fuel.

Even with the strategy the players are no restrictions imposed by the card limits. Of course there are predefined objectives and who are not satisfied, and the mission will not be able to complete successfully. But how one goes on, the game leaves a completely self Often you can also take your time. rarely attacks ward whose anticipated start then but often also displayed on a timer.
It is not uncommon even in the highest level of difficulty that you sit for several hours at individual missions and thereby the mentioned small number of missions into perspective then again.

The advantages of the game shown up here are also sure his weakness and the reason why there are only a relatively small circle of those interested in this game, because the level of micro-management that is required in this complexity, especially in the highest Of course the three difficulty levels to succeed is, above all else: enormously time consuming. Who is so not fun to spend several minutes trying to rob killed opponents or allies and look for usable weapons or ammunition, anyone who thinks the equipment of his men was basically care less, the main thing they have something to shoot it and who it is perhaps used to having killed units are replaced by new ones, just as there is often the case in the competition, which is little joy - have "Men of War Vietnam".
Here one must think with you and should not trust that a game is say what you where doing next. It really is one of the individual man as he comes, where he is and what he does when. Presumably, therefore, the term real-time tactics game would also be more accurate than real-time strategy.

But also for people who basically want to get used to the game itself, there are points that could have been better resolved. So z. B. are very stereotypical "characterization" of subordinate soldiers and the God sei`s thanked rare clichéd dialogues already partially disturbing bad.
Annoying also that there is no longer certain equipment from its predecessors, such as a working mine detector. . The tactical possibilities eg when infiltrating an enemy camp, which is protected by a minefield would have increased considerably; mines since found earlier not only recorded, but also themselves could be placed again.

From my perspective, there are two things that are really to complain about: Firstly, it is completely incomprehensible to me why you did not make it even in this game, again to correct the error, that the difficulty adjusts automatically to easy when you in the campaign progresses from one mission to the next. That can not be that hard!
On the other hand it would have been certainly not too much to offer at least a small tutorial. The controller is - considering the possibilities unsurprisingly - very complex; there a little explanation would be for newcomers, who often have to contend with the difficulty crisp, certainly helpful. This creates the impression that it did not need to make it easy for the customer; Let him read the manual, in which, however, then everything important is. Anyone who has played any of the previous, however, without any change accustomed; It has not changed even when the controller; Anyway, I noticed nothing.

In addition to the rather meager number of missions these are then also the only criticisms that have struck me, ultimately the fun of the game but could not spoil. Just as the image that is sure in 2012 no standards, but is still pretty to look at and still boasts impressive explosion effects and a reasonable physics engine.

And so I will finally only those who are looking for a mainstream strategy game, as well as the purchase dissuade those who suspect innovations compared to the earlier parts just because of the new settings; However, those who want not only consume, but also to think, who can live with the no longer fresh graphics and the added same old gameplay, I can only recommend: Buy, install, have difficulty in "difficult" fun.

Whether what is offered to a still fairly hefty price of just 40 euros worth, everyone must decide for themselves; I do not regret the purchase anyway.