Armored Brigade 2 First Impressions – Impressive New Dimension

Armored Brigade 2 First Impressions – Impressive New Dimension

As a seasoned gamer with over three decades of gaming under my belt, I can’t help but feel a sense of nostalgia when I look back at the games that defined my youth. But it’s not often that a new game comes along and manages to evoke those same feelings of excitement and anticipation. Armored Brigade 2 is one such game, a sequel to a top-down tactical wargame that was released in 2018, but with a twist – it’s going 3D!


Back then, transitioning to 3D games was a significant leap forward. Titles like Super Mario 64, Sonic, Virtua Fighter, Sega Rally, Daytona USA, Pokemon Stadium, and Resident Evil were some of the notable ones. The mid to late ’90s saw an exhilarating era for video games. I find it remarkable that in the year 2024, I’m feeling that same excitement about a game going 3D again. It’s not a classic from Nintendo or Sega anymore; those have faded away. But it is a beloved wargame series – Armored Brigade 2.

If you’re unfamiliar with Armored Brigade, here’s a brief introduction: Released in 2018, this is a strategic, real-time tactical war game that specializes in Cold War battles. It offers a rich array of units and expansive maps, simulates numerous weapon systems, and provides deep tactical experiences. However, due to its top-down perspective, it may not appeal to everyone beyond dedicated strategy gamers.

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The two-dimensional design of the map made it challenging to discern heights, exacerbated by an awkward line of sight feature and an ineffective isometric view, causing confusion as to why some units weren’t engaging when they appeared to have a clear line of sight. This design choice made the game more difficult to manage and monitor than expected, as it restricted your real-life perspective of the battlefield. For over three decades, gamers have become accustomed to playing strategy games in three dimensions. Unless there is a compelling aesthetic reason for creating a 2D game, there seems to be no significant advantage to doing so, with budgetary concerns likely being the primary motivation behind this design choice.

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Approximately six years on, Armored Brigade 2 addresses a primary concern I had with the initial Armored Brigade – it reintroduces an aspect frequently missing from strategic gaming: the third layer of complexity.

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To clarify, Armored Brigade 2 isn’t perfect yet, as it still has some issues similar to its predecessor, such as mediocre AI, limited infantry control options, and excessive delay times for basic commands (seemingly taking two minutes just to order a unit out of harm’s way! I’d expect that to happen automatically). However, since the game is currently in development, I’ll hold off on my critique until its official release, expected around 2025. Transitioning to 3D, though, significantly enhances the gaming experience in terms of battlefield awareness and decision-making compared to the original version.

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Units can now be easily positioned more swiftly by simply judging their line of sight, rather than meticulously using that peculiar ruler tool. This enables quicker decision-making; even if it’s not crucial for gameplay, you can always pause the game to get a comprehensive view of the entire battlefield. Consequently, this also expedites the setup of defensive positions, as there’s no more need for guesswork about the terrain layout.

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In summary, I find that the transition to 3D significantly enhances Armored Brigade 2 compared to its predecessor, Armored Brigade. I don’t foresee myself returning to the original game. If I could make a single suggestion to the development team, it would be to include an option to eliminate the order delay. This adjustment wouldn’t diminish the enjoyment for those who appreciate the system, but it would be a valuable addition for us who prefer more control. The order system works well on paper and functioned perfectly for Flashpoint Campaigns; however, when commanding troops in real-time combat, the delay feels unrealistic as units march into danger due to an order taking several minutes to arrive. Tactical decisions should be made instantly, which I believe should also apply to Armored Brigade 2.

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I trust you had a great time catching a sneak peek at Armored Brigade 2! Many thanks to Slitherine for granting me the opportunity to play it well ahead of schedule.

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2024-11-10 17:42