First off, lemme give the headline result of my [i]Iron Nest[/i] experience so far: [b]the game is excellent.[/b]
There's nothing more satisfying than cranking the turret around, ramming shells into the breeches, using the compass and pencils on the map, and dropping a couple of HCHE shells right on the foolish heads of the savage would-be foes of Castile!
The game runs well even on my aging rig; the simulation is lovingly detailed and satisfyingly tactile; and the challenge keeps ramping up past whereat I thought it would level off---counter-fire, damaged systems, uncertain information, and similar complications render the game fun for much longer than I had expected (and it will never cease being thrilling to yank the firing chain down and watch the cannon go BOOM!, before slamming in another set of shells and cranking the turret around for another go...).
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[b]However...[/b] there are two problems:
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[*] There could still be a bit more variety in the missions, and a bit more complexity to the firing process. [b](a)[/b] For instance, what about dropping shells down into a fortified position, thus requiring you to use a higher-than-normal elevation? That'd be cool. Or, as another reviewer suggested, what about needing to penetrate heavily-armored targets with extra powder-charges? [b](b)[/b] Similarly, I'd like it if the elevation-calculation wasn't quite so simplified---sure, you get to turn some cranks and pull a lever for it, which is nice, but what about inputting at least the angle at which we want the shell to hit, for example? [b](c)[/b] And, finally, how about some sort of unload-and-make-ready process after firing? Perhaps venting the breech oughtn't be automatic?
[*] The ballistics equation is, seemingly, [i]laughably wrong![/i] From my experimenting, I think it has to be something like: [i][b]Range-in-KM = [(powder-charges * elevation°) / 12][/b].[/i] Obviously, this is [b]not[/b] how it should work! This means that a shot with [i]n[/i] charges at 60° [b]goes farther[/b] than a shot with [i]n[/i] charges at 45° (instead of being approximately equivalent, in range, to a shot with [i]n[/i] charges at 30°)!
For a game wherein the atmosphere and mechanical detail and "simulation-y" aspects are so lovingly produced, I would absolutely have expected similar fidelity in the [b]ballistics[/b]---i.e., one of the most important parts of any artillery sim! C'mon, High Command, [b]please fix our beloved rebel-destroying cannons![/b] (The dastardly anti-monarchist forces are now monkeying with the [i]very laws of physics themselves,[/i] clearly!)
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Other than these issues, though, I've no complaints. Fantastic game, and---especially if it gets continued support!---I see myself playing it for many more hours yet.
(Plus, the records you can throw on your neat little record-player contain some amazing music; blowing the foes of Castile into tiny little shreds while a marching band plays a jaunty little tune? Can't beat it!)
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[h2]✮✮✮✮: 4 out of 5 stars,[/h2] and a potential [b]5/5[/b] with a little more love.
