Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

First Battalion plunges you into the heart of World War II with 18 meticulously designed missions spread across three fronts: American, Russian, and German. Each side offers six unique scenarios, ensuring that you experience the conflict from multiple perspectives. Whether you’re behind the turret of a Sherman, T-34, or the German Panzer II Ausf. C, the gameplay loop remains engrossing, with mission objectives that frequently evolve, keeping you on your toes from start to finish.

Your primary arsenal consists of a powerful main cannon with limited ammunition and a machine gun with unlimited rounds. This balance forces you to think tactically: do you conserve your cannon shells for heavy enemy tanks, or do you lay down suppressive fire with the MG to thin out infantry? Objectives range from demolishing fuel depots to escorting convoys, and each mission’s dynamic events—such as reinforcements arriving or secondary targets appearing—add layers of strategic depth.

What sets First Battalion apart is its almost fully destructible environment. Trees, buildings, bunkers—everything can be obliterated under the roar of your 37mm or 45mm rounds. This gives every encounter a satisfying sense of impact, whether you’re blowing a house apart to flush out hidden infantry or leveling a roadside shack to clear your path. The physics feel weighty and authentic, amplifying the thrill of each shot you take.

In addition to direct tank control, you command a small squad of allied armor. With simple but effective orders like “flank that position” or “fall back for repairs,” you can coordinate multi-pronged assaults or tactical retreats. This AI squad system strikes a good balance: your wingmen are competent without overshadowing your own role as the lead tank operator, adding a cooperative feel even in single-player mode.

Graphics

First Battalion’s visual presentation is a standout for its era. The tanks are modeled with impressive attention to detail, from the rivets on the hull to the subtle wear and tear on the barrels. Cockpit interiors are functional and immersive, with gauges that respond to your actions and bullet impacts that crack viewports in a convincingly realistic manner.

The battlefields themselves are richly varied—snow-dusted forests, bombed-out villages, and rolling plains scarred by shell craters. Day and night missions further diversify the look and feel, with dynamic lighting casting long shadows across pockmarked roads. When your rounds strike the environment, you witness debris and dust erupting in a satisfying display of particle effects.

Texturing holds up well even in widescreen resolutions, with mud spatter and bullet pockmarks clearly visible at close range. Water reflections and smoke plumes add an atmospheric layer to rain-soaked or foggy settings, enhancing immersion. Even on older hardware, the game maintains a smooth framerate most of the time, though very dense explosions can cause occasional dips.

The mission briefings use original WWII film footage, seamlessly integrated with on-screen text and voice narration. This archival material not only sets the historical tone but enriches the graphical experience by grounding your in-game actions in real-world events, making the battles feel like living history rather than mere simulations.

Story

First Battalion opts for a series-driven narrative rather than a single overarching plot. Each tank crew has its own arc, introduced through mission briefings that combine rare archival footage with period-accurate commentary. This format allows you to develop an emotional connection with multiple crews without feeling railroaded into a single storyline.

The briefing videos do more than just set objectives; they offer context on the strategic importance of each mission. A narrator explains how your actions could turn the tide on the Eastern Front or secure vital supply lines in Normandy. The text scripts, read aloud in a crisp, evocative tone, flesh out the personalities of your tank commanders and gunners, making their eventual triumphs and losses more poignant.

While the game doesn’t delve into complex character studies, it does a commendable job of capturing the ethos of the era. Moments of camaraderie—such as your crew celebrating a successful flank—contrast sharply with the grim reality of trench warfare, where every fallen comrade is felt keenly. This balance keeps you invested even if you’re primarily here for the tank action.

Between missions, you catch glimpses of how different factions perceive the war. The German side briefing is tinged with the propagandistic fervor of the Reich, while the Soviet sequences emphasize resilience and sacrifice. The American missions, meanwhile, underscore liberation and support for allied forces. This varied narrative voice deepens the historical immersion and helps you understand each side’s motivations.

Overall Experience

First Battalion delivers a compelling blend of tactical tank combat, authentic visuals, and historical storytelling. Its mission variety ensures that gameplay rarely feels repetitive, and the destructible environments make every engagement uniquely satisfying. The addition of AI wingmen commands adds a layer of strategy without overwhelming new players.

Graphically, the game punches above its weight, with detailed tank models, atmospheric battlefields, and the smart use of archival footage for briefings. Performance is generally solid, though extremely chaos-filled battles may cause the occasional slowdown. Still, these minor hiccups are easily forgiven given the game’s visual fidelity and immersive sound design.

The narrative approach, using multiple short arcs tied together by authentic WWII footage, offers enough emotional engagement to keep you invested without overshadowing the core gameplay. You’ll emerge from each mission feeling like you’ve played a part in history, whether you’re breaking through German lines or holding back the Soviet advance.

For fans of armored warfare and WWII enthusiasts alike, First Battalion strikes a fine balance between accessibility and depth. Its diverse missions, robust command system, and richly detailed world make it a worthwhile addition to any collection. While it may not reinvent the wheel, it refines the classic tank-sim formula into a highly enjoyable package that’s easy to recommend.

Retro Replay Score

6.1/10