RecommendedSteam player
This is a story about how not to release a game. It's also a story about a financier and publisher (PlayWay) who ended their partnership literally overnight, demanding that the developers reimburse them for said funding. A story about a small team of five developers from Poland working with minimal funding and a strict budget decided to stick with their game instead of abandoning it, something that has become all to common these days. I picked up Tank Squad when it initially launched in early May and refunded it in under 45 minutes, as did many others, that alone should speak volumes. The dev's were very open and frank about the state of the game and the issues the title was facing upon release, but I took a chance on it. Albeit it a 45 minute one. Broken and buggy doesn't begin to describe Tank Squad when in dropped in May. Given the games complexity it featured a highly necessary tutorial that was difficult if not impossible to follow and or complete, buggy vehicle physics, broken enemy and AI pathfinding, buggy infantry support options and command, bug riddled anims, you name a system or component and it had problems or room for a great deal of improvement. To say that Tank Squad was rough was putting it lightly. I repurchased Tank Squad in mid-November after seeing the updates and positive player feedback. I haven't been disappointed, whatsoever. The dev's have fixed countless bugs and released dozens of QoL patches since launch. They've added new features, new vehicles, continued to refine a highly accurate penetration and spall model, and are in the process of creating a dynamic campaign that will completely change how you play TS with regards to the tactical and strategic decision making processes. The dev's have consistently listened to feedback from the player-base, implementing requested features and fixes, continued to improve the GUI and game-play components, and are actively engaged with the community on every level. If you have a question, observation or complaint, no matter what it might be, they'll listen to and address it. While it is true that the game has a ways to go before they get it to where they really want it to be, it is by no means in the state it was at launch. And moreover, it's actually fun and engaging. The Good Stuff: • Great overall sound design. • Engaging and difficult linear campaign. • Ability to call in IDF and fixed-wing CAS. • Excellent penetration/spall ballistics model. • Battalion level logistical management systems. • Large variety of camo patterns and numbering schemes. • Great combined-arms representation between dismounted infantry and armor. • Highly customizable between simulation and a more streamlined experience. (user pref) • Great representation of platoon level operations for a German heavy tank battalion. (S.Panzer-Abteilung). The Needs Work Stuff: • Still some jank and bugs here and there. • Battalion/Company management (Squad) GUI is unintuitive. • User camo patterns rarely matchup between hull/turret/skirts etc. • Skybox needs to be redone from the ground up, IMHO. It's jarring. • Foliage models need an upgrade from their current destruction systems. • Friendly and enemy pathfinding while greatly improved can still lead to AFV's getting stuck. • AI sees through most foliage though this is a priority for the team. (temp fix by disabling grass in settings) • Some models are distinctly low-poly with low-res/blurry textures, model clipping issues, and LoD pop. Upscaling fixes this but it should be a go-to for the devs. • The RKKA gunner AI can be overly spot-on which is historically speaking, inaccurate. Most Soviet crews/replacements were lucky to receive three hours (41-45) of familiarization before being thrown into combat. (ref. I. Konev's Year of Victory, Pritt Buttar's Meat Grinder/Rzhev & Battleground Prussia) Conclusion: They continue to fix bugs, redesign systems, add vehicles, and expand the game well beyond its initial scope. To say that the developers are passionate about their game and the community they've cultivated would be an understatement. DeGenerals could've easily moved on from the game but they didn't, which I think is a testament to who they are and the dedication they exhibit, especially in this modern development climate. If you're a track-head and are looking for a WWII tank sim who is willing to put up with some jank here and there, an expanding development cycle, then this is probably the game for you. Review System: • R7 9800X3D OC'd • ROG Strix B850F • 64GB RAM 6000MT's • Sapphire Pure 9070XT OC'd • Samsung 990Pro w/HS • Antec Flux ProShow moreShow less
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