Men of War

Men of War is a real-time tactics video game franchise, based mainly in World War II.^[1]

Main series

Soldiers: Heroes of World War II

Soldiers: Heroes of World War II is the original game of the 'Men of War' series, and uses an early GEM engine. The player can control German, British, American or Soviet soldiers in single and multiplayer. As with many of the Men of War games, the missions are based on leading a small amount of forces into battle against a larger enemy. The goal is to use military tactics in the simulation to overcome the enemy with minimal losses.

Faces of War

Faces of War is the sequel to Soldiers: Heroes of World War II, with new features added onto the GEM engine. The player can now freely move the camera with a now fully 3D engine, and can destroy virtually anything in the environment. Although the player still controls a smaller group of units, the missions are usually on a more massive scale, rather than small special operations. This aspect includes AI units allied to the player, more enemy units and more vehicles. The multiplayer also has been expanded, with more options, modes and larger battles.

Men of War

Men of War was the first to be put under the Men of War name. At the time of release, it had the largest single player campaign. The game includes enhanced graphics compared to Faces of War, and a more expansive single and multiplayer. Part of the single player game reverts back to the Soldiers: Heroes of World War II style of battles, with control of a small squad being put in the hands of the player against a larger enemy. Other single player missions require the player to control larger forces in defense of an area, although even those missions provide the player with an outnumbered force. Larger battles usually require the player to eventually assault the enemy rather than defend, if the latter had been given. The multiplayer expanded beyond the standard of Faces of War, with a larger amount of maps of bigger size. Also included were four factions (Germany, the UK, America and the Soviet Union), which eventually was increased to five with the introduction of Japan in a patch (only in multiplayer).

Men of War: Red Tide

Men of War: Red Tide is the first of the standalone 'expansions' to Men of War. The game is slightly enhanced from Men of War via its minor bug fixes and tweaks. The game includes the largest single player campaign in the Men of War series, with 28 missions across 6 campaigns. The game does not, however, include any multiplayer features which became a major criticism. The single player is based on the feats of the Naval Infantry of the Black Sea Fleet in World War II. The missions are generally longer and extensively brutal compared to the other games.

Men of War: Assault Squad

Men of War: Assault Squad was the first game in the Men of War series to not have a story based campaign. Assault Squad is instead geared more towards massive scale multiplayer battles, and is the first in the series to be based mainly on multiplayer. The game also builds on a more massive scale battle system. The game is also geared more towards large amounts of infantry, which works hand in hand with the ability to select a larger squad of troops. Infantry are less valuable than in previous titles, and can sometimes be considered cannon fodder. The game also has more multiplayer maps, enhanced graphics, more vehicles and infantry and more. A large array of vehicles and infantry are available, with stats according to the unit price. For example, a group of riflemen would have only basic rifles, grenades, and occasionally only field caps. On the other hand, the elite unit would have an upgraded health, anti-tank grenades, helmets and better weaponry. The game includes Germany, Great Britain, the United States, the Soviet Union and Japan as playable factions, each with a large array of tanks, guns, vehicles and infantry. The game also has skirmish missions, which are on a similar scale and somewhat similar style as multiplayer, but are faced off against a large defending AI force and can be played online. Multiple DLC were released, adding skirmishes and multiplayer maps. A Game Of The Year edition was released after all the DLC was released.

Men of War: Vietnam

Men of War: Vietnam is the first and only official Men of War game to not be set in World War II, instead set in the Vietnam War. The game contains two single player campaigns. One of the campaigns is based on the story of two Soviet military consultants and two North Vietnamese soldiers caught stranded in enemy territory after being ambushed. The squad finds themselves caught up in the Tet Offensive on their long escape back to North Vietnamese territory. The other campaign is based on the story of five American elite special operations soldiers in North Vietnam in special operations and full scale battles accompanied occasionally by friendly American and South Vietnamese soldiers. The game contains multiplayer, however it is not a focus. The campaign is also relatively short, however it is somewhat brutal. The game is based mostly on the assets of the World War II games, with only a small group of tanks, vehicles, weapons, and troops being new. A deluxe edition was released.

Men of War: Condemned Heroes

Men of War: Condemned Heroes is based on the stories of the penal military units of the Soviet Union during World War II. Much like the more successful Red Tide, the game contains a more historical basis, with an encyclopedia accompanying the player through the campaign. The encyclopedia tells about the true stories of the penal units. The missions in the game are specifically brutal, much like Red Tide and Vietnam. The player controls sections of a large amount of penal unit troops on the Eastern Front. The player will lead the troops in anywhere from base assaults, to trench assaults, to sabotage, to full battles and more. Most are on a grand scale and are usually filled with AI controlled allied forces that support the player. Multiplayer is included, unlike Red Tide, however it is not a focus of the game.

Men of War: Assault Squad 2

Men of War: Assault Squad 2 is one of the latest titles in the Men of War series. The game is a grand remaster of the original Assault Squad, however it contains a heavily modified and enhanced GEM engine. Beyond the major graphical improvements, the game also includes Steam workshop (which is full of a massive amount of modifications, sometimes total conversions), more maps and skirmish missions, and enhanced engine capabilities (such as AI and environment). The multiplayer is on a much larger and extensive scale, with more modes and units. Steam matchmaking integration is also presented on a much more dedicated scale. The game is considered the most popular and successful of the Men of War series.

Assault Squad 2: Men of War Origins

Assault Squad 2: Men of War Origins is a remaster of the original Men of War based on the modified and enhanced Assault Squad 2 GEM engine. The game is a standalone title of Assault Squad 2. Along with the release of Men of War Origins, a large free update with enhanced models from Men of War Origins was released for Assault Squad 2. The original campaign of Men of War is included, although enhanced and modified for modernization. Multiplayer is included in the style of Men of War.

Soldiers: Arena

Soldiers: Arena is an upcoming title from the original developers of Soldiers: Heroes of World War II, Faces of War and Men of War. The game is set in World War II yet again, however the game is based mainly on large scale strategic multiplayer battles instead of single player. Single player missions may be included later, and will likely be included in the workshop. The game is on an independently developed and enhanced GEM engine, created by the original makers of the engine. The game is under the Soldiers name instead of the Men of War name, as the result of copyrights.

Other games

Battle of Empires: 1914-1918

Battle of Empires: 1914-1918 is an independently developed title based on the original Men of War GEM engine. It is created by Great War Team, and published by Best Way Soft. It was originally a modification for Men of War until it eventually became a full game. It was in early access until a full release. Set in World War I, the game was meant to somewhat realistically portray the war in a gritty tone. Unfortunately, due to the developers and the constraints of the early GEM engine, the game was met with mostly mixed and negative reviews.

Call to Arms

Call to Arms is an early access game based on the Men of War GEM engine. It is developed by the Assault Squad 2 developers and is set in the modern era, making it the first official Men of War affiliated game set in modern times. It is set in a fictional conflict between the United States Army and the fictional Global Revolutionary Movement. The game is mostly focused on multiplayer battles.

Gates of Hell

Gates of Hell is an independently developed upcoming title related to the Men of War series. It is developed by Barbed Wire Studios and published by Best Way Soft. It could be considered a partner title to Soldiers: Arena, because it is based mainly on single player campaigns instead of multiplayer. It is set in various theaters of World War II, from North Africa to Russia.

References

Further reading

• Robinson, Joe (23 September 2016). "Impedimenta: Divide and Conquer". Wargamer. 

External links

• Official website