Review GMR Taken by Silent Storm

[Sol Invictus]

Tags: Nival Interactive; Silent Storm

The boys at GMR have posted a <a href="http://www.gmrmagazine.com/article2/0,4364,1506015,00.asp">three paragraph review</a> of <a href="http://www.silentstorm-online.de/">Silent Storm</a> giving it heaps of praise and a score of <b>9/10</b>. Here's the review in its entirety:
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<blockquote>If you've ever played Jagged Alliance 2 and thought "Hot diggity, if this took place in World War II and was in 3D, it would rock," here is your dream game. For the rest of you who didn't understand that reference, just know that Silent Storm is a 3D turn-based tactical game taking place during World War II.
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The core game involves guiding six soldiers (either Axis or Allied) through missions ranging from simple "defeat the enemy" to complicated affairs like "assassinate the general" or "protect the scientist." Since the game is in totally destructible 3D, you can blow up walls, shoot through floorboards, or hurl guys through windows.
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Fact is, despite some minor points (long enemy turns, mediocre voice acting, semiwonky camera), this is simply the best turn-based game on PC right now. Whether you're old school or new school, it's not to be missed.</blockquote>
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It's also interesting to note that review mentions that the game is <b>better than</b> UFO: Aftermath and <b>not as good as</b> Jagged Alliance 2. I am inclined to agree.

 

[Voss]

Seriously? I think it whacks JA2 upside the head with an RPG-6.

Sure the PKs are a little dull, but there much better than giant bugs and rocket rifles...

 

[Azael]

I like Jagged Alliance 2 better because the mercs have more personality, the added strategy layer and more free form approach to beating the game. None of the soldiers in Silent Storm hold a candle to guys like Magic, Reaper and Shadow who all are super cool. Jagged Alliance 2 with Silent Storms engine would kick everything's ass.

 

[Otaku_Hanzo]

Jagged Alliance 2 with Silent Storms engine would kick everything's ass.

I will have to agree with you there. JA2 is definitely the king of TB strategy games, IMO. As far as the bugs thing goes, I tended to play in realistic mode so there were no bugs. Besides, beating the queen bug was so friggin' cheesy if you knew the proper way to do it. Unfinished Business was nice simply for the easiness of modding it. Plus it was nice to see Tex return. "Howdy, partner."

 

[EEVIAC]

The camera stuff can be fixed pretty easily, and the long turns weren't really a problem for me. But yes, more personality in the squad members, or the ability to roll you're own party would have been good.

 

[Azael]

I will have to agree with you there. JA2 is definitely the king of TB strategy games, IMO. As far as the bugs thing goes, I tended to play in realistic mode so there were no bugs. Besides, beating the queen bug was so friggin' cheesy if you knew the proper way to do it. Unfinished Business was nice simply for the easiness of modding it. Plus it was nice to see Tex return. "Howdy, partner."

Yep, having all my guys covered in elixir made the whole thing a piece of cake. I even gave weak guns to some of my not-so-good mercs just so that they could get a chance to target practice, not to mention a really cheap way to boost Agility (running in Stealth mode in front of the blind bugs).

I think Silent Storm has better combat though.

 

[Voss]

I found the 'strategy' layer in JA2 pretty annoying (and rather pointless)
'Oh man, I have to sleep again?' and 'Shit I have to run back and reinforce the worthless militia at the SAM sites (or retake them, because they almost always lose to the elite troops no matter how much you train them)'
Bleh.

As for personality... eh. The one-liners in both games get somewhat tiresome after the first time.

The combat in SS kicks the pants off of JA, and thats where it really counts for a tacitcal squad game.

 

[Saint_Proverbius]

JA2 is better than Silent Storm in several areas, the merc personality being a good one. JA2 also had the ability to revisit map locations you'd already done and do whatever there you needed to do. In Silent Storm, if you forget something like your solider's favorite weapon because he got knocked unconcious - you're screwed.

IIRC, JA2 also had dialogue trees, which I like.

 

[Voss]

trees? You clicked on them, they spouted dialogue until they hit their default statement.

SS doesn't leave much reason to go back- different design approach- every mission gives more clues, pushing you toward the end. Just don't forget your guns, and you'll be fine.

 

[Otaku_Hanzo]

Well, I must pipe in that the combat in SS is the shit, but I still like JA2 better.