Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Soldiers at War picks up the baton from its predecessor, Wages of War, and thrusts players into the heart of World War II’s covert operations. The turn-based structure, reminiscent of the early X-COM titles, emphasizes careful planning and strategic positioning. Each mission unfolds on a meticulously designed isometric grid, challenging you to move your squad with patience and foresight rather than rushing headlong into battle.

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Your choice of squad members is critical. Out of a roster of thirty-two soldiers, you’ll select a handful for each engagement, balancing specialists such as sharpshooters, demolition experts, and scouts. Experience points earned in one mission translate into improved skills and new abilities, making each veteran more valuable—or more vulnerable—on the next assignment.

Permadeath looms over every firefight, lending real weight to each decision. An unlucky grenade toss or a misstep into enemy line of sight can send a seasoned soldier to the morgue, forcing you to adapt your tactics and cope with the loss of hard-earned expertise. It’s a system that rewards both meticulous play and emotional investment in your men.

Weapon customization and resource scavenging also play a notable role. From standard-issue Garands and Thompsons to captured MP40s and Panzerfausts, the game allows you to mix and match arsenals. This flexibility encourages experimentation: will you trust a rifled sniper weapon or the raw power of a submachine gun in close quarters? Each choice can turn the tide of a mission.

Graphics

While Soldiers at War doesn’t attempt to push the technological envelope, its graphics serve the tactical gameplay admirably. The isometric, tile-based maps feature crumbling buildings, twisting railway cars, and overturned tanks that not only look convincing but also offer meaningful cover mechanics. Trees, rubble, and barricades are more than eye candy—they’re vital elements in your tactical considerations.

The character and unit sprites are detailed enough to distinguish between riflemen, machine gunners, and officers at a glance. Subtle animations—like a soldier ducking behind a wall or reloading his weapon—add life to each skirmish. Explosions and bullet tracers, though simple by modern standards, still deliver satisfying feedback when you nail an enemy in the open.

Lighting effects help set the mood for nighttime raids and dawn assaults alike. Shadows lengthen as the sun dips, forcing you to rethink your line of sight and exposing your men to lurking sniper bullets. The muted color palette of bombed-out villages and muddy fields reinforces the harsh reality of the WWII setting without overwhelming the user interface.

Overall, the visual presentation is functional and thematically appropriate. It may not compete with contemporary 3D war games, but it doesn’t need to: clarity and tactical readability have always been its prime objectives.

Story

Soldiers at War forgoes a grandiose narrative in favor of mission-based storytelling, weaving context through briefings and post-mission debriefs. You’re not chasing secret superweapons or decoding alien artifacts; you’re leading a ragtag platoon of American GIs against the Nazi war machine, one village raid and train sabotage at a time.

Each mission has a clear objective—rescue prisoners, destroy supply depots, or gather intelligence—and the stakes feel real because your men can die. That emotional investment creates its own narrative momentum: you’ll remember the sergeant who saved your squad from a Panzer flank, and you’ll mourn the corporal who stepped on a booby trap during a night infiltration.

Short cutscenes and text briefings provide historical context and underscore the urgency of your covert operations. Though not particularly deep in characterization, these moments ground the game in the reality of WWII, reminding you that every soldier has a backstory and every mission carries consequences beyond points on a scoreboard.

By focusing on small-scale, high-risk operations rather than a sweeping theatre-wide conflict, Soldiers at War offers a more personal look at frontline tactics. It’s a story told through your choices and the lives you save—or fail to save—rather than through cinematic set pieces.

Overall Experience

Soldiers at War succeeds as a challenging, tactically rich successor to Wages of War. Its emphasis on turn-based strategy, squad management, and permadeath creates a thrilling tension that keeps you engaged from the first covert insertion to the final mission. Victory never feels cheap when lives hang in the balance and one missed shot can turn triumph into tragedy.

The learning curve can be steep, especially for newcomers to isometric war games. Early missions may feel punishing, but as your veterans grow in skill and your tactical instincts sharpen, the sense of accomplishment is immense. The game strikes a fine balance between accessibility and depth, rewarding both careful planning and adaptive improvisation.

Replay value is strong, thanks to the variety of mission types, the randomness of soldier injuries and deaths, and the ability to scavenge or customize your loadout. No two playthroughs will unfold exactly alike, encouraging you to revisit the front lines with fresh strategies and renewed determination.

In the realm of turn-based WWII tactics, Soldiers at War may lack blockbuster polish, but it more than makes up for it with heart, challenge, and authenticity. If you’re seeking a game that respects your intellect and puts you in charge of the tactical realities of war, this is a battle worth fighting.

Retro Replay Score

6.2/10