Info about Second Front:

Official game description:
  
Introducing Second Front, the highly anticipated World War II strategy game developed by Hexdraw and published by Microprose.  
As the commander of a military force in the era of WWII, you must use your tactical prowess and cunning to lead your troops through intense battles and challenging missions. With a vast array of weapons, vehicles, and equipment at your disposal, you must carefully plan your attacks and outmaneuver your enemies to secure victory on the battlefield.  
But Second Front isn't just about strategy and tactics – it's also about the human element of war. You'll need to carefully manage your soldiers' morale and physical condition, as well as their equipment and ammunition. And with the ability to issue orders, you'll be able to react to changing situations and make strategic decisions that could make all the difference on the battlefield.  
With a rich, detailed world, Second Front is a game that will transport you back to the days of World War II. Whether you're a seasoned veteran of strategy games or just starting out, Second Front offers a challenging and rewarding experience that will keep you coming back for more.  
So why wait? Join the fight and experience the intense-strategic action of Second Front today!
**Second Front Key Features**
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*   Second Front features 48 epic scenarios set in iconic locations of World War II, including the Stalingrad Factory District, Borisov, and Korostychiv.  
*   Second Front includes an editor to not only create and share custom maps but also complete campaigns. Players can then share their creations with the steam community - making Second Front an infinite tactical sandbox experience.  
*   Craft your own treacherous maps and scenarios in the integrated scenario and map editor. Then share with your allies on the steam community.  
*   Command the battlefield with absolute precision and realism. Outmaneuver your opponent while compensating for realistic persistent loss, unit fatigue and other unforeseen battlefield considerations.  
*   Choose to play as German, American or Russian forces, with unique leaders from each nation casting influence over the battlefield.  
*   Over 40 infantry units to command, each with its own tactical function and strategic value.  
*   Build a mechanized army from over 216 types of tanks, vehicles, ordnance and weaponry including MGs, Flamethrowers, Mortars, Panzerschrecks and Bazookas.  
*   Competitive AI, built from emergent AI behaviour, provides a more challenging and adaptive opponent on the battlefield.  
*   Easy-to-identify controls and mechanics make Second Front easy to play, while the in-depth strategic layers make it a challenge to master.  
*   Play over a wide variety of terrain, with 30 terrain types, 148 types of destructible and flammable buildings, bridges and environment pieces.
**More To Come**
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Second Front continues to expand with plans to add new features and content. Some examples of what players can expect in future updates include new desert and jungle environments, artillery support, and close air support. The team is passionate about making Second Front a great game, and they are committed to continuing to improve and expand it over time.

Release date: 31 Jan, 2023

Categories: Turn-based Strategy, Tactical Combat, Unit Management, Mission-based Gameplay, Map Editor, Sandbox Creation, Mod Support, Battle Simulation


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics: No data
- Time-to-fun: No data
- Player Archetypes: No data


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Highly Praised Core Gameplay (weight 0.99): Players overwhelmingly enjoy the game's engaging, fun, and solid tactical gameplay. Many find it to be a well-made, polished, and entertaining experience with significant potential for future growth.
- Excellent ASL Digital Adaptation (weight 0.85): The game is widely celebrated as the best digital implementation of Advanced Squad Leader (ASL) rules, capturing the tactical depth and feel of the classic board game without the complexity of manual rule checks and dice rolls. It's considered a 'gift' for ASL players.
- Robust Scenario & Map Editor (weight 0.39): The game features a user-friendly and powerful map and scenario editor, providing extensive replayability and a sandbox for creating custom WWII tactical engagements. The integration with Steam Workshop further enhances community content sharing.
- Appealing Graphics and UI (weight 0.29): The game receives praise for its clean, attractive, and intuitive interface and graphics. Despite a sometimes cartoonish appearance, the visuals are effective, easy to read, and contribute to a pleasant user experience.
- Competent and Challenging AI (weight 0.24): Players are impressed by the game's AI, noting its ability to provide a real challenge and actively engage in scenarios. It's considered one of the better AI opponents in tactical PC games.
- Extensive Unit Variety (weight 0.13): Players appreciate the great array of accurate units available, including infantry, tanks, and aircraft. This wide selection allows for diverse tactical approaches and adds to the game's depth.
- Superior to Similar Titles (weight 0.11): The game is considered a top-quality digital adaptation, offering a more complex and nuanced experience compared to other games in its genre, such as Battle Academy. It stands out as one of the best tactical games available.

Common complaints:
- Excessive Difficulty & RNG (weight 0.97): Players find the game excessively difficult, often due to perceived unfair or 'rigged' randomness (RNG) in combat outcomes, dice rolls, and critical events. This leads to frequent reloads, frustration, and a feeling that the game artificially inflates difficulty, making it unfriendly to casual players and causing a high learning curve.
- AI Imbalance & Cheating (weight 0.25): There's a strong perception that the AI cheats, exhibiting unusually high hit rates, frequent critical hits, and consecutive shots, especially with tanks and gun emplacements. This makes player units feel vulnerable and often leads to unfair losses, contributing to the overall difficulty.
- Inadequate Tutorial & QoL (weight 0.2): The tutorial is widely regarded as atrocious and ineffective at teaching game mechanics. Additionally, the game lacks essential Quality of Life features, such as a proper save option, better camera controls, and unit management commands, contributing to a frustrating user experience.
- Lack of Core Mechanics (weight 0.2): Players are critical of the removal or absence of fundamental tactical mechanics, such as multi-location Fire Groups, Encirclement, indirect fire, and off-board artillery/air support. These omissions are seen as simplifying the game too much and detracting from strategic depth.
- Missing Multiplayer Mode (weight 0.17): A significant number of players express disappointment over the complete absence of multiplayer, considering it an essential feature for a game of this genre. Its omission is a major deal-breaker for many, impacting the game's value proposition.
- Overpowered Gun Emplacements (weight 0.14): Gun emplacements are described as brokenly powerful, possessing superior rate of fire, accuracy, stealth firing capabilities, and resilience. They are effective against both infantry and armor, making them extremely difficult for players to counter.
- Divergence from ASL Standards (weight 0.13): Players familiar with Advanced Squad Leader (ASL) express disappointment that the game deviates significantly from ASL rules, particularly concerning infantry combat and the absence of ASL-style fire groups. They feel it doesn't live up to the tactical depth expected from an ASL-inspired title.
- Poor Graphics & Visuals (weight 0.08): The game's 'Lego-type' or cartoonish 3D graphics are criticized for being unrealistic, clunky, and making it difficult to discern unit positions, especially in urban environments. Animations are also considered average.

Gameplay feedback:
- Authentic ASL-inspired Tactical Wargame (weight 0.59): The game is a highly detailed, turn-based tactical wargame set in WWII, heavily inspired by the Advanced Squad Leader (ASL) board game series. It successfully translates complex 'dice 'n' chit' mechanics, including phases, morale, cover, and various unit types, into a digital format, offering a deep and realistic combat simulation.
- Controversial Turn Limits & RNG (weight 0.38): Scenarios often feature tight turn limits, which can force aggressive play and lead to abrupt defeats if not managed well. The game also incorporates significant, sometimes brutal, RNG (random number generation) which, while intentional for realism, can lead to unpredictable and frustrating outcomes for some players.
- Missing Key Tactical Features (weight 0.31): Players frequently point out the current absence of crucial tactical elements such as off-board artillery, air support, and the ability to split squads. Mortars are also limited to line-of-sight firing, which is considered unrealistic.
- Scenario-Based Phase Gameplay (weight 0.24): The game is structured around numerous scenarios and campaigns, featuring a phase-based turn system that logically breaks down combat actions. Scenarios vary in size and challenge, often requiring players to unlock new missions by winning previous ones.
- Specific Unit Balance Concerns (weight 0.2): Some players feel that AT guns are overly powerful against all targets, including infantry, while tanks are comparatively disadvantaged. There are also suggestions for improvements to fire group mechanics and the addition of encirclement rules.
- Limited Save Options & No Undo (weight 0.14): The game lacks a manual save feature, only auto-saving at the beginning of each turn. There is also no undo mechanism, which can be frustrating given the game's complexity and the impact of single decisions.
- Future Roadmap Promises Additions (weight 0.13): The developers have a detailed roadmap outlining future updates, including planned additions like multiplayer, new factions (e.g., British, Japanese), fortified buildings, and critically, the missing off-board artillery and air support.

Performance notes:
- Stable Performance & Few Bugs (weight 0.17): Players report the game is generally stable with very few bugs, even on Linux via Proton. Occasional crashes or hangs are noted, but autosaves mitigate data loss. This indicates a well-optimized and mature game experience.
- Average Graphics & PC Requirements (weight 0.12): The graphics are described as decent or normal, not exceptional but sufficient. The game is also noted to run well on a medium-spec PC, indicating good accessibility for a wider range of hardware.
- Minor Unit Selection Bug (weight 0.03): A specific bug was identified where a gun unit stacked with others becomes unselectable in the fire phase if its crew breaks. This is a specific gameplay bug that could impact tactical decisions.
- Fast Loading Times (weight 0.03): Players appreciate the reduced loading times, contributing to a smoother and more continuous gameplay experience.
- Missing Achievements (weight 0.03): The game includes Steam Workshop integration and cloud saving, but players noted the absence of Steam Achievements. This is a minor feature omission that some players might miss for completionist goals.

Recommendations:
- Highly Recommended for Wargamers (weight 0.74): The game receives strong recommendations, particularly from players who enjoy tactical WWII combat, hex-based wargames, and complex mechanics similar to Advanced Squad Leader (ASL). Many consider it a worthwhile purchase and a compelling experience.
- Steep Learning Curve (weight 0.58): Players note that the game is difficult and requires a significant time investment to master. New players, or 'younglings,' should be cautious and be prepared for a challenging experience, potentially even on easier settings.
- Potential for Future Improvements (weight 0.53): The game is seen as having even greater potential with future additions. Players specifically mention that multiplayer, artillery, air support, and 'Fire Groups' would significantly enhance the experience, potentially elevating the game to a 10/10.
- Mixed Reception & Disappointment (weight 0.46): While many recommend the game, some players express disappointment, regret not refunding, or cannot recommend it in its current state. This indicates a divide in player experience, possibly due to specific issues or expectations.
- High Replayability (weight 0.43): The game offers high replayability, especially when combined with the Steam Workshop. This suggests a robust core experience that can be enjoyed repeatedly.
- Consider Alternatives for Price (weight 0.02): One reviewer suggests that for the price, players might consider purchasing ASLSK1 instead, implying a perceived value issue or a preference for a different product at a similar cost.
- Suggests Two-Party Control (weight 0.02): A unique suggestion was made to introduce a mechanism allowing one person to control two parties, enhancing fun and enabling deductions with the editor. This is a niche request based on limited feedback.

Other player notes:
- Desire for more content and features (weight 0.15): Players are eager for additional content, including new factions (British, Japanese), different eras (Cold War, modern), and specific gameplay elements like artillery and Pacific/Jungle forces. The announcement of a content-heavy DLC and planned nation additions indicates future expansion.
- Active post-launch support (weight 0.12): The game receives consistent support, with frequent patches addressing minor issues and polishing the experience. This ongoing development suggests a bright future for the game, with more content and features planned.
- Graphics are a stylistic choice (weight 0.1): Player opinions on the graphics are mixed but generally positive, with many appreciating them as a charming stylistic choice. The graphics are seen as effective, making the game appear less daunting than its complex mechanics might suggest.
- Price perception is mixed (weight 0.08): Some players find the price to be at the upper limit, while others believe it offers good value for the content provided. There's an acknowledgment of small studio financial challenges, and some feel the quality justifies the cost.
- Minor feature suggestions (weight 0.08): Players suggest minor quality-of-life improvements, such as an after-action review with loss/kill statistics and UI enhancements like locking the top-down view. These are not critical but would improve the experience.
- Microprose brand nostalgia (weight 0.07): The return of the Microprose brand evokes positive memories for some players, who appreciate the company's focus on single-player experiences and view this game as another success for the publisher.
- Reviewer background noted (weight 0.06): Several reviewers highlight their extensive playtesting or gameplay hours, indicating a deep engagement with the game. This information provides context for their feedback.
- Technical and development context (weight 0.06): The game is developed by a small team of two, which is notable given its scope. It also features translations, which is uncommon for this genre, and is compatible with Steam Deck.
- Helpful in-game resources (weight 0.04): The inclusion of an in-game help file is appreciated by players, and external resources like DasTactic's tutorial videos are noted as beneficial for understanding game mechanics.
- Scenario unlocks implemented (weight 0.02): A recent update (as of Feb 2023) has added scenario unlocks, improving progression and access to content.
- Online VP scoreboard available (weight 0.02): The game includes an online VP scoreboard for scenarios, adding a competitive element.
- Story is not a focus (weight 0.02): The game's narrative elements are largely unnoticed or not a significant part of the player experience, suggesting a focus on gameplay mechanics over story.
- Duration is work in progress (weight 0.02): The game's overall duration or content scope is considered a 'work in progress,' implying ongoing development and expansion.
- Complex things are headache-inducing (weight 0.02): One reviewer mentioned finding complex things headache-inducing recently, which might influence their perception of the game's depth. This is a highly subjective and low-quality piece of feedback.

Emotions:
- Satisfaction (weight 0.3): Players are highly satisfied with the game's quality as a digital adaptation of Advanced Squad Leader (ASL), praising its tactical depth, realistic units, and immersive gameplay. The robust editor, workshop content, and active AI contribute significantly to replayability and a streamlined, enjoyable experience.
- Frustration (weight 0.17): Frustration primarily stems from perceived unfairness in the game's mechanics, including broken RNG, AI cheating, and unpredictable fire results. Players also express annoyance with restrictive turn limits, missing quality-of-life features, and minor interface issues.
- Disappointment (weight 0.13): Disappointment is largely driven by missing core features, particularly the absence of multiplayer or hotseat modes, and a perceived lack of realism or attention to detail. Players also cite unbalanced difficulty, functional issues, and significant deviations from the original ASL mechanics as sources of dissatisfaction.
- Excitement (weight 0.13): Excitement is generated by the game's overall quality, its potential for future content, and a clear roadmap for upcoming features and expansions. Players are also thrilled by the addictive gameplay, the challenge it presents, and the anticipation of community-created content through workshop support.
- Hope (weight 0.07): Players express hope for future improvements, particularly the addition of multiplayer or hotseat options, and further gameplay enhancements. There is also a strong desire for more content, such as new nations, units, and terrain, as well as better tutorials and polish.
- Anger (weight 0.04): Anger arises from perceived AI cheating, critical failures at key moments, and unrealistic combat outcomes. Players are also upset by the developer's approach to difficulty, the lack of essential features like off-board artillery, and design choices that lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.
- Joy (weight 0.02): Joy is experienced by players who find the game fulfills a long-held desire for a digital ASL experience, appreciating its fun scenarios, quick gameplay, and the developer's commitment to single-player content and free updates.
- Desire (weight 0.01): Players desire specific features, most notably a 2D mode and, predominantly, the addition of a two-player or multiplayer option to enhance the game's social and competitive aspects.
- Appreciation (weight 0.01): Players appreciate the dedicated developers, their generosity with free DLC, and the detailed roadmap for future content. The supportive community also contributes to this positive sentiment.
- Addiction (weight 0.01): Players describe the game as highly addictive, often losing track of time while playing. This addiction stems from the enjoyable and engaging gameplay that keeps them returning despite any negative experiences.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.01): Nostalgia is a significant emotion, as the game strongly reminds players of the classic board games Squad Leader and Advanced Squad Leader, evoking fond memories and a connection to the original experience.
- Caution (weight 0.01): Players express caution regarding the game's combat results, which they find unreasonable compared to Squad Leader, and warn others about its strong ASL influence and missing features that might deter new players.
- Annoyance (weight 0.01): Annoyance is caused by the AI's perceived 'superman' abilities towards the end of games and the absence of certain quality-of-life features that would improve the overall player experience.
- Boredom (weight 0.01): Boredom sets in when players are forced to replay the same missions due to restrictive turn limits or when the game fails to maintain engagement after a short period of play.
- Fun (weight 0.01): Despite any imperfections, players find the game to be surprisingly enjoyable and a fun, tactical experience, highlighting its ability to provide entertainment.
- Love (weight 0.01): Players express a deep affection for the game itself, appreciating its potential and the complexity it offers within the strategy genre.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.01): Players enjoy the act of playing the game and also find enjoyment in the publisher's other titles, indicating a positive overall experience with the developer's portfolio.
- Uncertainty (weight 0): Uncertainty arises from an unclear roadmap regarding the implementation of multiplayer, leaving players unsure about when or if this highly desired feature will be added.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0): Players show enthusiasm for the game's tactical depth, realism, and the capabilities of its editor, indicating a strong positive outlook on these core aspects.
- Disbelief (weight 0): Disbelief is expressed regarding the statistical improbability of the game's RNG, suggesting that outcomes often defy reasonable expectations and probabilities.}