Soldiers: Heroes of World War II Review

While the missions in the campaigns (U.S., British, German and Russian make for 30 single player missions) are varied, sometimes what I had to do to win the mission was not entirely clear, even though I was briefed on the primary and secondary goals. It very well could be that I have gotten used to the straight forward mission style of C&C Generals and I need to hone my strategic skills a bit, but I would like see some additional cues on what I am supposed to do in some missions. Also, on some missions, load time is bit long. This may be the laptop I am currently playing or it could be that I get impatient to try the mission again after failing, but it seems too long.

So much for the Nazi railway system.

Load and unload... load and unload... that's what we do all day!

Sound is done well enough with distinct and realistic effects for all weapons be they small arms or artillery shells. The voice overs range from good to so-so depending on which faction you are currently playing. The only thing I did not like was the background music. It could have been from my mounting frustration on some levels as I watched my troops get mowed over, but the background music began to grate on me as it played over and over again. After I turned the background music down, I still was an effective a battlefield commander as Rosie O'Donnell, but at least I did not have the same ditty playing over and over again.

Other than those items, I have to say I am very impressed with the polish and depth that Soldiers: Heroes of World War II offers. Also, the game offers Multiplayer via GameSpy or LAN for up to 16 players for co-op or head to head battles. Since I am writing this review from the road and playing the game on my laptop, I have not yet had a chance to play against another human opponent. I cannot wait to get back to the office so I can kick some co worker butt.

While some RTS fans may not be happy that it does not follow the same Build & Overwhelm pattern of many other RTS titles, the depth and strategy it offers is a welcome change. If you are unsure and want to satisfy your curiosity, download the demo and give it a shot. Even though the market is getting cluttered with titles set during World War II titles, Soldiers: Heroes of World War II is a pleasant surprise and time well spent.