MEN OF WAR 2 HANDS-OFF PREVIEW – UNTOLD STORIES, OLD SOLDIERS, NEW TRICKS
Today, Men of War 2 was announced by 1C Entertainment and Best Way as the full-fledged sequel of 2009’s real time strategy game. The title will return to the roots of the series, revisiting World War 2 while focusing on new battles as well as untold stories.
Men of War 2 now has a new coat of paint. Units and environments are more detailed than ever before. The game also includes a few gameplay updates, such as a dynamic frontline, which shifts with missions, along with modding tools and other additions. We were able to see this in action at a presentation by the publisher earlier in the month.
The Front Line, a new key addition to Men of War II’s gameplay and one of the most significant elements of its gameplay, has a significant effect on the course of its battles. It divides the map into two parts, one belonging to you and your allies and the other to your enemies.
You can only perform certain actions on your side of Front Line. This is why you will want to do everything in your power to make it happen. The Front Line is a limit on the distance that recruited troops can appear. Engineers are allowed to set up minefields or trenches on your side of a battlefield. Additionally, there is no fog in allied territory that allows you to see any trespassing enemy troops.
The Front Line cannot be moved by small guns or paratroopers. Although tanks can help push the line, they cannot do it by themselves. The enemy can be surrounded by players, which could spell doom for any opposing force.
Men of War II also has two important additions: Direct Vision and Direct Control. These features allow you to control any unit from a first-person viewpoint, including where it moves, targets and when it fires. The AI ensures that the secondary turret of a tank’s main guns doesn’t cease firing while you are controlling it.
Direct Control is unlimited in its use, but you cannot issue orders to troops using it.
The publisher states that players can field more than 300 vehicles and 45 battalions including tanks and artillery pieces. All models are based on historical blueprints and documents.
Men of War II will be launched with two cinematic single-player campaigns. One is dedicated to the Allies and the other to the Soviets. These campaigns explore battles on both the Western as Eastern fronts.
A work-in-progress model was shown to us, which focused on the Soviet campaign’s first mission. It required them to hold off the German forces. A makeshift trench network was constructed close to a small village. It provided defense against the Axis invaders.
The game’s sound was enhanced by the developer, who focused on details such as distance and made sure to highlight the differences between the weapons as much as possible.
According to Maxim Kamensky (Development Lead), there won’t be any “superweapons” in the game. Also, tanks aren’t able to destroy everything. While they can wipe out infantry on an open field, howitzers or anti-tank guns are capable of piercing armor, particularly if they are aimed at it from the right angle.
Men of War II tanks have “very complicated armor penetration rules” which aim to make the game as real as possible. The armor is thicker at the front and thinner at the sides. The most vulnerable area of armor is the back.
The UI design is still in progress, but the developer pointed out that the in-game targets indicators show the shells’ piercing power, chance and armor thickness. This helps players decide if retreating or staying in combat to try and find the weak points of their enemy.
The footage then switched to a mission in which the Soviets were to destroy three bridges to prevent German troops from moving forward. Although artillery can demolish bridges from far away, it takes some time. You can also move your troops closer to the bridges, eliminate any Germans who crossed, and destroy them with your tanks.
Camouflage can be used to disguise armor and sneakily get the drops on uninformed opponents if you are feeling especially sneaky. You can also get armor-piercing shells for tanks, which are effective against heavy armored targets and other tanks. Heavy explosive shells can be used to wreak havoc on infantry and lightly armored targets.
Men of War II will launch with multiplayer support. This includes both PvP (5v5) and co-op modes (upto 5 players). You can also choose to play as the Axis or team up with or fight players who select the Soviets and Allies. According to the publisher, most of the missions can be completed in cooperative play.
Multiplayer allows players to create a battalion from one of 45 presets (15 for each faction), each of which is focused on a specific playstyle. For early, middle, and late game, units are divided into echelons. Light tanks and infantry are the first to be attacked in battle. As they progress, stronger units such as Tiger tanks will take control.
There are many variations to each template that make it interesting. The mode is also unique in that players can modify presets. Multiplayer will also have fully customizable lobbies as well as customizable matchmaking for 5v5 battles.
