Burden of Command™

Damn. I really wanted to like this game. I really really really wanted too. I mean I'm a big WW2 buff and love movies, games tv shows about this time frame. Just recently finished watching "The Pacific" and then watched "Band of Brothers". Loved the idea of this.. HOWEVER This game has probably one of the worst tutorials ever and the devs had to make it far more complicated than it had any right to be in it's gameplay. A tutorial is effective when you can actually play and learn at the same time. But instead, this dev thought it was a brilliant idea to interupt your tutorial every 20 seconds for a 60 second long video where he "breaks the fourth wall" and won't stop talking. HE'S PLAYING THE TUTORIAL FOR YOU!!!! Guess what that means? It means YOU'RE NOT PLAYING THE TUTORIAL. Which means it's harder to fricken learn how to do anything. And they do the tutorial in 2 completely different ways which just serves to confuse the crap out of you. One way is the damn video of the guy playing the tutorial for you. And then, in the same box with the same text and the same damn font as the story and dialogue, the tutorial is there randomly mixed in with the dialogue and story narrative. So half the time you don't know if your reading a tutorial or a dialogue narration. As for the gameplay, it's needlessly complicated. I came here for the roleplaying a leader, the dialogue and narration stuff. I didn't come here for a tactical game otherwise I'd just go play any of the other thousands out there. I wanted a WW2 leadership simulation game which is what this seemed to be. And instead the devs decided to make this gameplay super annoying. You can't just click a squad to move them. No no no. That'd be too easy. Instead you gotta have a leader "activate" a squad FIRST. Why? I have no fricken idea. A lot of stuff here just didn't make any sense and honestly I could keep ranting and raging but I'm done and severely disappointed. I had been looking at this game for months waiting for the money to enjoy it and then when I finally get in I'm constantly bombarded by some guy who keeps "breaking the fourth wall" in my damn tutorial thus effectively STOPPING me from learning or getting immersed into the game and my character.

Burden of Command is a fascinating mix of wargaming and RPG mechanics and one of the few that blends them together well. The only thing similar I have played is Decisive Campaigns: Barbarossa though that is an operational level simulation instead of just the company level tactical simulation you have in Burden of Command. The story is really well done and does a great job of drawing you in and making your command decisions feel important. I honestly grew to care about the various platoons and officers under my command. The longer the war went on the more I found myself being slightly more conservative as it made no sense to risk lives when there was going to be little gain in the long run. The writing was brilliant and the mix of interviews of vets covering the various battles and campaigns you are about to fight was brilliantly done. It definitely made me feel like a young LT going through the war and eventually taking on the mantle of Nickel Company of the 3rd Infantry Division. I will also say that the creators of the game went above and beyond when I ran into a bug not only taking my report seriously but quickly resolving that. I honestly have never seen anything like that before and I appreciate it and they have made a customer for life! Great game and easily will scratch the itch of any grognard or someone looking for a leadership RPG.

I absolutely loved this game, after 40 hours of constant twists and turns I've finally completed the campaign with the Cottenballers. This game intertwines the most in depth story and strategy together, leaving me in awe of their creation. Despite the ups, downs, and pure rage this game made me feel, I definitely fell in love with it. To say I almost cried when multiple of my PL's died is truly an understatement to the story this game creates. As a PS. I hate German Armor with a passion. Might of just been me but I've only managed to kill a few vehicles and tanks with the RNG of this game. To say the least I'd get the first shot off then get immediately curb stomped... Besides that, no hate for the game. I wish they'd create a similar campaign as the Cottenballers for the Pacific. Maybe following a marine unit with some different mechanics from the army. I know it'll have less civilian interactions but I bet you could create an very immersive campaign. For anyone thinking of picking up this game, do it.

The game has a very steep learning curve, as promised, but is well worth the invested time and effort. The graphics are mediocre as games go, but the gameplay is well worth that minor sacrifice. What has been achieved here is a thoughtful balance of company and squad level combat like Battle Academy, the role of leaders and smart tactics like Squad Leader, and planning and management studies. The added bonus is the story that is created by your choices, akin to Band of Brothers in feeling. The backstory enhances gameplay as well as the feeling of being inside the game. It's hard not to find yourself rooting for each persona that comes your way during the campaigns. The only real drawback is the somewhat clunky save interface, but that is trivial once you understand it. The game has a delightful degree of unpredictable outcomes to decisions and actions, as does life itself. I find myself so engrossed in this game that I get lost in the experience of planning a capture of an objective or trying to pull my scattered company together. I am anxiously awaiting a hoped-for sequel for a Pacifc/Marines version of this game. Great, great experience.

Love it, sure all my people died but hey! We are russians after all.. wait

This doesn't seem to be a game so much as a "being in bootcamp" simulator. If you enjoy getting yelled at for following instructions (just like bootcamp!) then this experience is for you, and it does it well. I can't really recommend it as a game though as games tend to have winnable situations if you follow the instructions and rules of the game, and that's not what this simulation is aiming for. They accomplish their ends, it's just not a game.

Great squad level game! Looking forward to more campaigns.