Gallipoli

its very good

Fantastic game, if you're into history this game's for you.

Gallipoli is the fourth entry in the WWI Game Series. As someone who has played every one of its predecessors, it very much feels like a logical, next step in the series’ evolution. At its core, Gallipoli offers pretty much the same experience. At the same time, it introduces a good number of innovations that warrant its existence beyond additional content. I’ve been playing the game regularly for the past four weeks. I’ve familiarised myself with every map, each class and nearly all weapons. Here’s my thoughts. When Gallipoli had just come out, some people were already complaining that the game felt sluggish. Bollocks, I say! To be fair, weapons can feel quite cumbersome. You get tired rather quickly as well. And your avatar is in no rush to perform various actions. But all of these supposed problems are easy enough to manage. Doing so is a key component of the moment-to-moment gameplay, and the experience is better for it! It’s important to know that Gallipoli puts a lot of emphasis on anticipation and positioning. If you can get to the right place at the right time, you can easily make up for all those previously wasted lives. And let me tell you: you will waste a lot of lives. There’s enemies hidden everywhere. Artillery and mortars are a frequent threat. And then there’s that sneaky bugger stabbing everyone in the back. Survival involves a great deal of luck, but victory favours the bold! Don’t worry about it: if you die, you’re back into the fight in no time. There’s ten classes to choose from, this time, and they’re all fun and interesting in their own ways. In addition, each class offers two complementary kits, i.e. subclasses. On top of that, you usually get a few different options for each weapon slot. Note that everything is playable from the start! I don’t see the point of having a progression system in these games, yet they couldn’t let go of it entirely: the more you play each class/weapon, the better it becomes through minor perks. God knows why the most experienced players get objectively better stats, but it’s not that big of a deal, really. Because each class is notably versatile, I tend not to switch mine in the middle of a match. Teams do benefit from a diverse make-up, though it’s not necessary to have every class present. It’s a pretty relaxed game, after all, so play whatever you fancy. Do keep in mind that most classes feature a player limit. Which ones are available varies a lot, except for the sniper, which gets claimed post-haste in pretty much every match. I guess sniping’s a good job, indeed. Teamwork is somewhat limited, but the game’s design does guide players towards working together. There’s a decent illusion of cooperation, without the expectations of a more competitive game. Of course, it is mostly improved, with occasional map scribbles and intel in chat. They also added a couple of pings, which, unlike the voice commands, are worth using! As for the maps: there’s only five. Yep. At least they’re top quality. And they’re incredibly diverse and memorable. Gallipoli’s one and only game mode is a revision of Isonzo’s: one side attacks whilst the other defends. Each map is divided into several, decently sized sectors, which must be seized one after the other. The attackers do so by capturing its headquarters, and completing a small task next. In addition, all but the last sector contain an optional support objective, whose capture can serve as a stepping stone. Which one’s which gets randomised inside every sector, and that introduces a bit of variety between matches, though the environment itself remains identical (safe for some interactable objects). Lastly, there’s a few map specific gimmicks: land on cape Helles in or alongside the SS River Clyde, cross the Suez canal with hastily constructed bridges and rowboats, or fight alongside Mark I tanks in the soon to be released map. I like having these. The action in these sectors varies from match to match. Sometimes the attackers get pinned down for ages. Sometimes they infiltrate rapidly, and catch the defenders off-guard. Sometimes it’s a tough, piecemeal conquest. In my experience, these realities can always change. The real question is whether or not the losing team can turn the tide of battle in time! The scope of these matches is perfect: not too long, not too short. The sectors also strike a nice balance between concentrating the action, and giving players enough space to manoeuvre. Make sure to fall back in advance, when you’re defending! As for the presentation: I’ve got nothing to complain about. It’s a pretty game, alright. The sound design is just as good, and the soundtrack (which you can find on YouTube) is worth listening to on its own. When Kivrak Zeybek starts playing during overtime, you’re in for a treat! It is worth noting that, despite meeting the system requirements, my computer can’t quite run the game at a consistent 60 FPS. It’s generally fine, but a large influx of explosions and dust clouds can minorly hurt the frame rate. There’s some rough edges as well, like the viewmodel going through the environment at times, but it’s not that big of a deal. Overall, Gallipoli is polished and bug-free, though you might occasionally spawn in someone’s line of sight. Sometimes that someone is on a machine gun. Oof. There’s so much more I could say! The suppression mechanic is a wonderful addition. And so is the charging mechanic. Did I mention that each attacking squad can build their own beacon, around which its members can respawn? And then there’s the downed state, which changes things. Lots of good stuff. Squad types also make a return, but it’s a bit of a let-down, if you ask me. It doesn’t really matter in which one you play, unless you’re picky about your officer call-ins. And they’re predetermined, too. Their beacons do offer unique benefits, but their extra class slots are global. Finally, there’s some nice quality-of-life settings, like whether you want to hold or toggle certain buttons. Gallipoli is a fantastic game. It only cost €22.50 at launch, which is the sort of price that no-one can complain about. Keep in mind that a lot more content will be added, for free, in future updates; only the cosmetic items are priced. Be warned that the takbir will be drilled into your mind, while playing this. ALLAHU AKBAR!