Bretg80 first impressions

[bretg80]

Game installed quickly, no issues.


Nice title screen, registration was straight forward and works well. Opened the library before starting the game to take a look at the contents. Very nice, the best I've seen in a wargame so far.

Some thoughts about menus when playing:

1. The campaign menu is obvious and easy to use. However, the scenario menu is not clear. The map is nice, but I tried to click on the flags as I thought they might be individual scenarios. After a few moments
I discovered that this is a suite of scenarios. Might want to add something to assist the user with how to use this (i.e. not intuitive).


2. Started Western Front. Maps are gorgeous, units are beautifully rendered and the combat animation is fun to watch. The sound effects so far are well done as well. Very nice intro to the game so far and the music is subtle yet interesting to listen too.

3. Not sure if I missed it, but what are my objectives? I'll have to go back and look at this as maybe I missed it.

Those are my initial thoughts. So far I like what I see. More to come.

Bret

[IainMcNeil]

Thanks for the feedback - we'll be adding a way to remind you of your objectives

[bretg80]

I'm running on a Q6600 quad-core with 8GB memory and a GTX-460 graphics card. Performance is good except for scrolling. Playing on a 26" monitor and the game looks great.


1. Game plays well
2. Combat results are not intuitive, need better way to reflect them, maybe different colors, top and bottom in same hex is difficult to digest.
3. Strategic map should be a zoom out with the mouse wheel, not a separate button (See Supreme Commander game for example). I would like to be able to move units in the strategic view.
4. When clicking the next turn button, interface does not indicate button was pushed and if the next turn is progressing. Should provide more visual indication.
5. Scrolling can be very choppy. I like the mouse drag interface for the map too. Nice !!!
6. Can units entrench? Didn't see that option.
7. Combat results extension screen (ie. ctrl+click) is difficult to interpret. This could be reworked a bit in my opinion.
8. In a campaign, once you've lost the victory conditions, the scenario should end. I had to keep clicking the turn button to finish. Boring !!
9. Black turn end indication should be a pop-up over the map. Same for when the player switches his turn, but maybe in this case it fades away without another click.

Things I like.
Movement arrows and distance indicators for moves. Well done !!!
Tempo of gameplay
Game stability so far
Graphics, sound, and music are well done
Interface for the most part
combat interface
surprise attacks and ambushes

Opportunities for improvement (IMHO)
Next turn button is lame - don't like the hour glass
zoom in and out should include the strategic view and it should be part of the game and not just a visual - at least for movement, combat could zoom in for the graphics and sound effects
scrolling graphics and speed
combat results visuals
Objectives and Victory hexes are not well integrated in the game yet
When one side wins, game should end
Units in same hex hide unit strength, need to display strength side by side

Ok, well so far so good guys. Keep up the good work. I'll be playing more this weekend.

Bret