Call to Arms - Gates of Hell: Ostfront
" Realistic WWII RTS with deep tactical gameplay and immersive control but poor optimization "
Call to Arms - Gates of Hell: Ostfront Review
Call to Arms - Gates of Hell: Ostfront is widely praised for its deep tactical gameplay and detailed World War II setting, standing out as a spiritual successor to the Men of War series. Players appreciate the combination of RTS and third-person shooter elements, allowing direct control over infantry and vehicles, which adds a unique layer of immersion and micromanagement. The game features extensive unit customization, realistic weapon and vehicle mechanics, and a dynamic campaign that offers substantial replayability. The map editor and modding community further extend its longevity, enabling players to create custom battles and units.
However, the game suffers from significant performance and optimization issues, including crashes and poor GPU utilization even on high-end systems. The AI, while improved, can feel inconsistent, and some players find the campaign too linear. Multiplayer is also criticized due to high ping issues and lack of dedicated servers. Despite these flaws, the game's depth and realism make it a rewarding experience for dedicated WWII RTS fans.
Highlights
Players highly praise the intense tactical gameplay and the ability to micromanage individual units in great detail. The combination of RTS and third-person shooter mechanics is considered innovative and engaging.
The game's graphics and sound design receive commendations for enhancing immersion, with improved animations and particle effects. The dynamic campaign and conquest mode provide varied and replayable content. Additionally, the extensive modding support and map editor are celebrated for adding creativity and longevity to the game.
Criticisms
Common criticisms revolve around poor performance and optimization, with frequent crashes and inefficient use of hardware resources, even on powerful PCs. The AI, while somewhat smarter, still lacks advanced tactics and can behave unrealistically.
The campaign is viewed as too linear and lacks skirmish missions, reducing single-player variety. Multiplayer suffers from high ping and no dedicated servers, leading to a subpar experience for some regions. Some players also find the micromanagement overwhelming and the UI clunky.
Pros
- • Deep tactical gameplay with rewarding micromanagement of individual units.
- • Unique blend of RTS and third-person shooter mechanics.
- • High level of unit customization and detailed WWII equipment.
- • Dynamic campaign and conquest modes offer extensive replayability.
- • Excellent map editor and strong modding community support.
- • Improved graphics, animations, and sound design enhance immersion.
- • Realistic vehicle and weapon mechanics with immersive direct control.
Cons
- • Significant performance issues and poor optimization on many systems.
- • Frequent crashes and stability problems reported by players.
- • AI lacks advanced tactics and can behave inconsistently.
- • Campaign is linear and lacks skirmish mode variety.
- • Multiplayer suffers from high ping and absence of dedicated servers.
- • Micromanagement can be overwhelming and UI somewhat clunky.
- • Some bugs remain unfixed despite long-standing issues.
Rating Criteria
About This Game
Call to Arms - Gates of Hell: Ostfront features the Eastern Front and its “Great Patriotic War” fought between the USSR and Germany. This RTS will take you from June 1941 until the end of the war in May 1945.
Call to Arms - Gates of Hell: Ostfront offers a choice of game modes including Singleplayer, dynamic campaign, PvE, PvP and co-op.
With its instantly switchable views, there’s something for every type of player. First person gunner views for all vehicles, third person views for vehicles and infantry, classic top-down direct control of a single unit or classic RTS top-down; they are all available and instantly switchable.
Conquest (dynamic campaign) mode offers singleplayer and co-op modes to play with your friends. Both modes allow you to compose your own army group, research new units and strategically advance in different paths to dominate the battlefield. The dynamic campaign can range from short to unlimited campaign lengths.
PvP/PvE offers a wide variety of maps from 1v1 to 4v4, and the use of “Doctrines”. These allow you to choose your own special units that fit your individual playstyle. The stage of the war (Early/Mid/Late) can be selected, to experience the evolution of equipment and vehicles as the conflict progressed.
Single player campaigns take place at historical locations, painstakingly recreated and immersive as hell.
Call to Arms - Gates of Hell: Ostfront offers:
12 historical singleplayer missions that can also be played in co-op with friends.
30 PvE and PvP maps
PvE Dynamic campaigns in which you develop your own army and fight an ever- changing war across a big collection of maps
PvP multiplayer offers doctrines to specialize your armies
Instantly switchable 3rd person/ direct control view mode for infantry
Instantly switchable 1st person/ 3rd person / direct control view mode for vehicles
Over 250 vehicles and 100 heavy weapons at your disposal
Air support mechanics and off-map artillery support
Realistically armored vehicles with accurate armor layouts, historical ammo loadouts and fully modeled internal components
The most realistic armor penetration and ammunition mechanics of any RTS out there
Land mines, magnetic mines, obstacle-laying, foxhole-building, bayonets, smokescreens, medics and countless other game mechanics
Authentic sound design and visuals
A full in- game editor plus modding/ workshop support
Call to Arms - Gates of Hell is a realistic RTS/ RTT game that offers endless replay value. Command all types of troops in historical singleplayer, dynamic campaign, PvP and PvE battles. Are you ready for some serious immersion in World War 2?