*In progress review. Will update as I play more and learn more!*

Graviteam Tactics: Mius-Front is a one of a kind game. My friend introduced me to the Graviteam games as I wasn't familiar with them before. I will be sinking many many hours into this game over the coming weeks and months, and I want to tell you what I find so great about this game.

My favorite thing about Mius-Front that I think the game nails and gets so right is the tank and armored combat. Maybe it's just me, but many other games that portray tank combat are extremely arcadey or outright gimmicky. The combat just doesn't feel real. That is not the case with Mius-Front. Let me give an example: the Tiger Tank was an incredible piece of German engineering that had an impressive 100mm of frontal armor. Other tanks such as T-34s or Shermans just don't have the kind of penetrating power to get through that armor, they could hit the Tiger many many times and it would essentially bounce off of that armor.. just as it does in this game. However, if these other tanks get hit directly by the Tiger's 8.8cm cannon, they're almost always left a smoldering ruin.

Another small detail but one I appreciate very much is the sound of the tanks tracks as they traverse the terrain. I have to (again) use the Tiger as an example. These tanks are hulks and the tracks leave a very distinct sound, one that I've heard on historical documentaries about the tanks. I'd say the developers got the sound of the tracks as close as you could hope for. All of the other equipment of an army can be used too; artillery, close air support, motorized infantry, and so on. But the tanks are the most satisfying in my opinion.

The battlefields are another important element of the game. Based on where you're battling, you may find plenty of places to lay an ambush or get ambushed yourself. The battlefield will change as the battle progresses. Things that are destroyed will stay on the battlefield for the whole battle. None of that disappearing after a minute or two nonsense. Tanks and other vehicles may blow up and catch on fire based on how they're hit. They might get stuck or malfunction and be out of action. All sorts of these things can happen, and it gives you the real visceral feeling of a battlefield. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing the destruction and burned out husks of vehicles littering the landscape after the battle's conclusion.

So far in-game most of my time has been spent in Skirmish and the Battle Editor. These are very fun modes to play around with to try out different strategies, units, equipment, etc. I haven't even gotten into the main meat of the game which is the Operations. Operations are basically a turn-based operational part (moving your units around on the map) followed by battles that actually take place once your and the enemy army engage. Definitely looking forward to those once I learn the game a bit better!

I think the aspect about the game that would be the most difficult to adjust or make sense of for most people would be the UI. There are a lot of buttons, each with their various functions and uses. But don't panic! That's what the battle editor and skirmish are for. A place for you to test everything out and see what works, and what doesn't. Honestly, you won't even be using all these buttons all the time. So don't sweat it. If you make mistakes, simply try a new tactic or do something differently until you figure it out. That's part of the fun! Don't give up on the UI and you'll be in for a real treat.

I recommend Mius-Front to anyone with an interest in WW2 simulations and battles, history, and TANKS!

*In progress review. Will update as I play more and learn more!* Graviteam Tactics: Mius-Front is a one of a kind game. My friend introduced me to the Graviteam games as I wasn't familiar with them before. I will be sinking many many hours into this game over the coming weeks and months, and I want to tell you what I find so great about this game. My favorite thing about Mius-Front that I think the game nails and gets so right is the tank and armored combat. Maybe it's just me, but many other games that portray tank combat are extremely arcadey or outright gimmicky. The combat just doesn't feel real. That is not the case with Mius-Front. Let me give an example: the Tiger Tank was an incredible piece of German engineering that had an impressive 100mm of frontal armor. Other tanks such as T-34s or Shermans just don't have the kind of penetrating power to get through that armor, they could hit the Tiger many many times and it would essentially bounce off of that armor.. just as it does in this game. However, if these other tanks get hit directly by the Tiger's 8.8cm cannon, they're almost always left a smoldering ruin. Another small detail but one I appreciate very much is the sound of the tanks tracks as they traverse the terrain. I have to (again) use the Tiger as an example. These tanks are hulks and the tracks leave a very distinct sound, one that I've heard on historical documentaries about the tanks. I'd say the developers got the sound of the tracks as close as you could hope for. All of the other equipment of an army can be used too; artillery, close air support, motorized infantry, and so on. But the tanks are the most satisfying in my opinion. The battlefields are another important element of the game. Based on where you're battling, you may find plenty of places to lay an ambush or get ambushed yourself. The battlefield will change as the battle progresses. Things that are destroyed will stay on the battlefield for the whole battle. None of that disappearing after a minute or two nonsense. Tanks and other vehicles may blow up and catch on fire based on how they're hit. They might get stuck or malfunction and be out of action. All sorts of these things can happen, and it gives you the real visceral feeling of a battlefield. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing the destruction and burned out husks of vehicles littering the landscape after the battle's conclusion. So far in-game most of my time has been spent in Skirmish and the Battle Editor. These are very fun modes to play around with to try out different strategies, units, equipment, etc. I haven't even gotten into the main meat of the game which is the Operations. Operations are basically a turn-based operational part (moving your units around on the map) followed by battles that actually take place once your and the enemy army engage. Definitely looking forward to those once I learn the game a bit better! I think the aspect about the game that would be the most difficult to adjust or make sense of for most people would be the UI. There are a lot of buttons, each with their various functions and uses. But don't panic! That's what the battle editor and skirmish are for. A place for you to test everything out and see what works, and what doesn't. Honestly, you won't even be using all these buttons all the time. So don't sweat it. If you make mistakes, simply try a new tactic or do something differently until you figure it out. That's part of the fun! Don't give up on the UI and you'll be in for a real treat. I recommend Mius-Front to anyone with an interest in WW2 simulations and battles, history, and TANKS!