Info about Steel Fury: Kharkov 1942:

Official game description:
Steel Fury: Kharkov 1942 is based on real-life events that took place from May 12 to 28, 1942. During a vicious German counterattack three Soviet Armies were surrounded and were forced to fighting in what has become known as the “meat grinder.” Through the monstrous roar of tanks and military vehicles, and the blaring sounds of war, players will experience bitterness at the loss of their comrades during battle and elation when they are victorious.  
Historical Authenticity: Missions are based on true historical events recreated from archives and photo references, including the interiors and exteriors of vehicles and tactical markings.  
The player has access to vast battlefields without obstructions from impenetrable forests or other obstacles, allowing them to choose any path available to achieve victory!  
Fear and Fury Filled Missions: Throughout 30 playable missions in three unique single-player campaigns, experience large scale battles with numerous active vehicles.  
Vehicles: Interact with and command all units involved in the advance against the enemy, including: more than 40 different realistically modelled vehicles, with three playable tanks: T-34/76 mod. 1941, Mk.II ‘Matilda’ III, and the Pz. IV Ausf. F2.  
Take Full Control: In first and third person views, assume crew positions for Commander, Gunner, Loader, Driver and Hull Gunner.

Release date: Jun 24, 2020

Categories: Realistic Military Simulation, Tank Simulation, Historical Strategy, First-Person, Third-Person Perspective, Crew Management, Mod Support, Single-player Campaign


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $2.00 - $5.00
  - Reasoning: The reviews consistently indicate that the game is only worth purchasing at a deep discount, with several mentioning sale prices around €3. One reviewer explicitly states that $20 is not worth it for a broken game, while another says even €3 is too much. This suggests the community considers a fair base price to be significantly lower than the current price, likely in the $2-5 range.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: N/A
  - Story completion: N/A
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The evidence provides total playtime hours (2 and 4) but no information about game completion, story completion, session length, or endgame. The modding time is not gameplay time and does not indicate any of these metrics. Therefore, all playtime metrics are null.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game has a steep, messy tutorial that blocks early enjoyment, but players who push through report engaging tank combat afterward; others find the base game dull until modded.
  - Stance: Clicks after
  - Anchor: Completing the tutorial
  - Time to anchor: N/A
  - Friction: Tutorial instructions cut off by UI; Tutorial displays wrong keyboard commands; Anti-tank ditch blocks first tutorial; Controls difficult to reconfigure; GUI and controls are rubbish
  - Unlock drivers: Tutorial completion; Tutorial assistance for controls; JCM mod installation
  - Conditions: Tutorial must be completed; Mod must be installed for some players; UI resolution must be fixed; Controls must be reconfigured; Overcoming anti-tank ditch; Tolerance for initial difficulty
- Player Archetypes:
  - Modding Tinkerer (buy)
    - Motivation: To customize and optimize the game, enjoying the process of making it work and enhancing it.
    - Playstyle: Installs mods, tweaks settings, then plays with enhanced features and improved realism.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Realism Sim Veteran (buy)
    - Motivation: To experience authentic, detailed tank combat and historical simulation.
    - Playstyle: Plays with realistic settings, manages crew, uses tactics, appreciates ballistics and damage models.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: Graviteam Tactics; Steel Armor: Blaze of War; Silent Hunter III
  - Frustrated Newcomer (no buy)
    - Motivation: To play a tank game but blocked by technical barriers; motivation is to play but they can't.
    - Playstyle: Attempts to play but gives up due to setup issues; may not actually play much.
    - Experience: newcomer
    - Purchase stance: no buy
    - Labels: PC-noob
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Patient Bargain Hunter (deep sale)
    - Motivation: To enjoy a realistic but relaxing tank experience without spending much.
    - Playstyle: Plays casually, uses third-person view, enjoys after-battle analysis, waits for sales.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: deep sale
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A


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:
- Best WW2 tank simulator (weight 0.99): Multiple clusters consistently praise the game as the best or one of the best World War 2 tank simulators, highlighting its historical accuracy, realism, and combined arms gameplay. It is often described as the quintessential WWII tank sim and a reference for the genre.
- Realistic and immersive experience (weight 0.74): The game is praised for its high realism, including detailed armor and crew mechanics, module destruction, and crew kills based on shell penetration. The immersive battlefield atmosphere, with infantry and artillery support, enhances the feeling of being in a real WWII battle.
- Excellent gameplay and fun (weight 0.61): Reviewers frequently mention that the gameplay is really good, action-packed, and fun, with straightforward controls and satisfying shooting mechanics. The game is described as enjoyable and capable of providing many hours of entertainment.
- Strong modding community (weight 0.54): The game has extensive mod support that significantly expands content, with mods adding nearly ten times as much content as the vanilla install. Specific mods like STA 2.2, Iron TaskForce, and JCM are praised, and the community remains active with custom scenarios and enhancements.
- Good graphics and performance (weight 0.44): While some note that graphics are acceptable or decent, others praise the visuals as fantastic, especially at 1080p with high frame rates. The game runs well on modern systems, including Windows 10 and humble PCs, with few crashes reported.
- Varied content and missions (weight 0.26): The game offers a wide range of missions across different fronts, including Europe, Africa, and the Pacific, with varied objectives like anti-infantry, anti-tank, and base defense. Playable vehicles include tanks and armored cars, providing plenty of content.
- Detailed tank interiors (weight 0.23): Several reviews highlight the fully rendered tank interiors that allow players to look around inside and switch to any crew member. This level of detail adds to the immersion and authenticity of the simulation.
- Infantry behavior is immersive (weight 0.19): Infantry units are noted to do their own thing and not get in the way, adding to the immersion. They also push alongside the player, enhancing the scale and atmosphere of battles.
- Unique and atmospheric setting (weight 0.19): The game's setting, particularly the battles around Kharkov, is praised for its unique atmosphere and the feeling of being in an important battle. The steppes are beautifully rendered, and the overall ambiance is immersive and authentic.
- Tank variety and handling (weight 0.16): The game offers a good choice of tanks, including the T-34-76, Matilda, and Panzer 4, which are all fun to use. The difference in handling is seen as a positive design because these are WWII era tanks.
- Challenging and strategic gameplay (weight 0.15): The game is described as tough and requiring patience and strategy, with a high level of difficulty that is rewarding for dedicated players. The AI is fantastic and challenging, and the game demands careful planning and tactical thinking.
- Good value for money (weight 0.11): Reviewers consider the game to be inexpensive and worth the money, offering a realistic but chill experience. It provides high value for money, especially considering the amount of content and mod support available.
- Positive developer reputation (weight 0.1): The developer Graviteam is praised, and the game is expected to be good based on the developer's reputation. This adds to the trust and confidence in the game's quality.
- Dynamic and destructible environment (weight 0.09): The game allows players to destroy almost everything on the map, and shells leave craters, adding to the realism and satisfaction of combat. This dynamic environment enhances the gameplay experience.
- No major flaws (weight 0.09): Some reviewers state that the game itself has no flaws, indicating a high level of satisfaction. However, one reviewer notes that it is great if dedicated enough to fix it, implying minor issues may exist.
- Emotional connection (weight 0.08): The game holds a place in the reviewer's heart and is described as the happiest driver, showing a strong emotional connection and fondness for the game.

Common complaints:
- Requires mods to play (weight 0.79): The vanilla game is considered unplayable without extensive modding and file editing. Players must tinker with third-party patches and mods to make the game work on modern systems, which is unacceptable to many.
- Poor controls and UI (weight 0.71): Controls are clunky, unintuitive, and require memorizing many keys. The UI is misaligned, ugly, and sometimes cut off, making it hard to read instructions or adjust settings.
- Game is broken and buggy (weight 0.71): Many players report the game is unstable, crashes constantly, and is unplayable out of the box. Specific issues include resolution bugs, stability problems, and general malfunctioning.
- Incompatible with modern systems (weight 0.54): The game is old and not optimized for modern computers, causing crashes, FPS drops, and failure to run on Windows 10. Even with mods, it may not work properly on current hardware.
- Resolution and display issues (weight 0.47): The game has resolution problems, including being locked to minimum settings, not supporting 16:9, and displaying incorrectly on modern monitors. Some issues require editing config files or mods to fix.
- Graphics card not recognized (weight 0.42): The game fails to detect modern graphics cards, incorrectly claiming they don't meet requirements. This affects many users, including those with Nvidia GTX 1050Ti and above, and no official fix exists.
- Outdated graphics and content (weight 0.42): The game's graphics are old, dull, and missing effects, making it feel dated. The vanilla game lacks content, with few missions and limited gameplay options.
- Modding process is difficult (weight 0.35): Finding and installing mods is challenging, with many links dead and mods often in foreign languages. The process can break the game, and some mods cause conflicts or fail to work.
- Tutorials are useless (weight 0.28): Tutorials are confusing, incomplete, and sometimes broken, failing to teach players the controls or commands. Some tutorial messages are cut off or not visible, and the tutorial itself can be frustratingly long.
- No official support or updates (weight 0.28): The developers are inactive, and the game is not being updated or patched. There is no official fix for many issues, and community mods are often the only solution, but they may be hard to find or broken.
- Tank movement and physics problems (weight 0.23): Tanks move slowly and get stuck on small obstacles, and the repair mechanic is unrealistic. The game forces a third-person view for repairs, breaking immersion.
- Technical issues with mods (weight 0.21): Mods may not work without manual file renaming, and some mods cause the game to crash. The modding scene is fragmented, with many fixes only addressing one issue.
- AI and gameplay issues (weight 0.21): The AI is poor, with enemies missing shots and not reacting properly. Friendly AI fails to follow commands, and tactical elements are limited, making gameplay frustrating.
- Game is too hard or unbalanced (weight 0.17): The game is very difficult even on easy, with unfair damage mechanics and weak explosives. Some missions are impossible without shooting, and the overall tempo is bad.

Gameplay feedback:
- Realistic WW2 tank simulator (weight 0.76): The game is consistently described as a realistic World War II tank simulation, with an emphasis on authenticity and high fidelity over accessibility. It is set on the Eastern Front in 1942 and features combined arms with infantry and artillery.
- Combined arms gameplay (weight 0.35): The game features combined arms action where the player's tank operates as part of a larger operation with infantry, artillery, and air support. Infantry units are functional and contribute to gameplay, and air support is dangerous.
- Detailed tank interiors and crew (weight 0.3): Players can drive tanks with fully rendered interiors and manage their own tank crew, switching between crew members to perform different roles. This includes driving, shooting, and commanding the tank.
- Multiple campaigns and tanks (weight 0.19): The game offers three campaigns: Soviet T-34-76, British Matilda, and German Panzer IV. Players can choose from these tanks and play as Soviet or German forces depending on the campaign.
- Crew role switching (weight 0.19): Players can switch to any crew member and take on roles such as driver, gunner, or commander. This allows for a fully immersive experience where you can give orders, drive, load shells, or aim the gun.
- Detailed armor and crew mechanics (weight 0.19): The game is a realistic, detailed, harsh tank simulator with detailed armor and crew mechanics. This includes the type of ammunition and hit location mattering.
- Complex controls and mechanics (weight 0.15): The game uses a huge number of control keys, almost the whole keyboard, and is considered complex. This high complexity is part of the simulation experience but may be a barrier for some players.
- Training and tutorial available (weight 0.14): The game includes training missions and a tutorial mode to help players learn the complex mechanics. This is important given the steep learning curve.
- Historical missions and objectives (weight 0.14): The game has historical missions and objectives, allowing players to complete missions with chosen tanks. This adds to the authenticity and replayability.
- Tank movement and AI command (weight 0.09): The game includes tank movement and AI command mechanics, allowing players to command a tank unit and an infantry squad. This adds strategic depth.
- No COOP or multiplayer (weight 0.06): The game lacks COOP or multiplayer modes, which may be a downside for players looking for cooperative or competitive play.
- No enemy icons (weight 0.06): There are no enemy icons; players must use the map and cupola to track enemies. This increases realism but also difficulty.
- First-person crew control (weight 0.06): The game is first-person with control over each crew member, providing an immersive experience. This is a key feature of the simulation.
- Built-in map editor (weight 0.06): The game includes a built-in map editor, allowing players to create custom maps. This is a feature that supports the modding community.
- AI enemy behavior (weight 0.06): AI enemy tanks face their front armor to the player, making them harder to penetrate. This adds to the tactical challenge.
- Physics and gun mechanics (weight 0.06): The physics of tank maneuverability and gun mechanics are different from SABOW, offering a unique feel. This may appeal to simulation enthusiasts.
- Normal difficulty (weight 0.05): The game has a normal difficulty setting, which may be suitable for players who want a balanced challenge.

Performance notes:
- Modern system compatibility issues (weight 0.44): Multiple reviews report the game fails to run on modern operating systems and hardware, even after modding. This includes problems on Windows 10 and newer video cards.
- Stability and crash problems (weight 0.19): The game suffers from constant crashes and stability issues, including on systems with limited RAM. This prevents smooth gameplay for many users.
- Performance and optimization issues (weight 0.19): The game's engine requires optimization, leading to FPS drops and forced low settings. Some players report extreme frame rate fluctuations from 500 to 1.
- Video settings reset problem (weight 0.06): Adjusting video settings often results in them automatically reverting to default, frustrating players who want to customize their experience.
- High DPI setting workaround (weight 0.06): One player had to modify the starter.exe for high DPI settings to get the game to work properly, indicating a lack of native support.
- Virtual memory insufficiency (weight 0.06): A player reported that the game requires more virtual memory than available, causing performance issues.

Recommendations:
- Recommended for tank sim fans (weight 0.42): Multiple reviewers recommend the game to fans of tank simulators, especially those who enjoy realistic WW2 tank battles and games like GHPC. The game is praised for its unique elements and suitability for milsim enthusiasts.
- Requires tinkering and guides (weight 0.4): The game demands significant time for tinkering with mods and following community guides to get it working. Reviewers emphasize that players should be prepared for file editing and troubleshooting, which may deter casual gamers.
- Mods enhance experience (weight 0.38): Reviewers highlight that installing mods like STA, JCM, and ITM significantly enhances the game, adding scenarios and controllable tanks. These mods are considered mandatory for a satisfying experience.
- Buy on sale only (weight 0.35): Many reviewers recommend purchasing the game only when it is on sale or at a discounted price, as the full price is not considered worth it. This is especially true for players who are not willing to invest time in modding.
- Recommended for patient players (weight 0.22): The game is recommended for players who are willing to learn the basics and invest time in modding and tutorials. Those with a passion for tank sims will find it rewarding despite the initial setup hurdles.
- Strongly advised against (weight 0.18): A few reviewers strongly advise against buying the game, citing that it is completely broken and not worth the money. This is particularly true for players who are not tech-savvy or IT whizzes.
- Not for casual players (weight 0.11): The game is not recommended for those who want a quick or casual tank game experience, or for players expecting arcade-style gameplay like War Thunder AB or World of Tanks. It is more suited for dedicated simulation enthusiasts.
- Recommended for milsim fans (weight 0.06): The game is recommended for milsim fans and those who love ARMA3 tank combat, as it offers a similar level of realism and depth. This makes it a niche but appreciated title.
- Recommended for Panzer Front fans (weight 0.06): Fans of the Panzer Front series are likely to enjoy this game, as it shares similar gameplay elements and appeals to the same audience.

Other player notes:
- Game is very old (weight 0.44): Multiple reviewers note the game is around 15 years old and feels dated, lacking modern system support and resolution options. This age contributes to the need for mods and community patches.
- Compared to IL-2 Tank Crew (weight 0.33): Reviewers frequently compare Steel Fury to IL-2 Sturmovik: Tank Crew, with mixed opinions on which is better. Some call Steel Fury the 'poor man's version,' while others prefer its combined arms and infantry combat.
- Japanese community mod recommended (weight 0.32): The Japanese Community Mod (JCM) is highlighted as an active and well-maintained mod that adds missions and improvements. It is especially recommended for Japanese users but also benefits others.
- Cheap price on sale (weight 0.21): The game is often purchased on sale at a low price, making it a good value despite its age. Reviewers mention discounts and the low cost as a positive factor.
- Community guides available (weight 0.18): There are community guides and wiki pages that help players install mods and fix issues. These resources are essential for new players to get the game running properly.
- Unique tank simulator (weight 0.16): Despite its age, the game is praised for being a unique and deep tank simulator, with no direct competitors. Reviewers note it stands out in the genre for its realism and combined arms focus.
- Wish for remake or sequel (weight 0.15): Many reviewers express a desire for a remake or sequel with modern technology, hoping Graviteam will revisit the game. They believe the core gameplay is strong but needs updates.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.32): Players are overwhelmingly frustrated by severe technical issues, including the game failing to run on modern systems like Windows 10, requiring extensive modding or community patches, and lacking proper tutorials for controls. The game also suffers from bugs, crashes, poor performance, and broken menus, making it nearly unplayable for many.
- Disappointment (weight 0.15): Disappointment stems from the game not working on modern hardware and operating systems, with unresolved graphics and resolution issues. Players also feel let down by missing promised features like Russian language support and the game not living up to their expectations of a WW2 tank simulator.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.07): Satisfaction arises from the game being a realistic and detailed tank simulator that works well once players learn how to play. The shooting mechanics provide a high level of satisfaction, and the game is considered better than War Thunder by some.
- Admiration (weight 0.06): Admiration is expressed for the game being one of the best WW2 tank simulators, with great immersion and aging well over time. Players consider it a top-tier tank game that still stands strong among its peers.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.05): Enjoyment comes from the fun and solid gameplay, the immersive feeling of being in an important battle, and the presence of infantry support. The detailed module destruction and crew kill mechanics also make tank combat enjoyable.
- Excitement (weight 0.05): Excitement is driven by the immersive real combat experience from a tanker's perspective, enhanced by mods like JCM. The detailed combat scenarios, realism, and graphics contribute to an engaging and fun experience.
- Appreciation (weight 0.05): Appreciation is shown for the game's realism, excellent battlefield atmosphere, and overall quality as a tank simulator. Players view it as a forgotten gem that, with mods, becomes one of the best in its genre.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.04): Enthusiasm is fueled by the game being the best authentic tank simulator, especially with the Iron TaskForce Mod, offering a realistic milsim experience without enemy icons. Players consider it the best tank sim they have ever played.
- Sadness (weight 0.04): Sadness is felt because games like this are no longer made, and the game has graphical issues that make it hard to run properly. Players love the game but cannot play it due to resolution and Windows 10 compatibility problems.
- Amusement (weight 0.02): Amusement comes from the game being cool despite dull graphics, and the humorous bug where the game thinks the GPU has 400 TB of VRAM.
- Glad (weight 0.02): Gladness is expressed for having the game thanks to a friend and for seeing it available on Steam.
- Desire (weight 0.02): Desire is expressed for a remake or updates, with specific wishes for campaign features in a potential remake.
- Pleasure (weight 0.01): Pleasure is derived from purchasing the game on sale, indicating a positive feeling about the acquisition.
- Interest (weight 0.01): Interest is sparked by the game being a tank simulator from Graviteam and Discus Games, suggesting curiosity about the developers and the game itself.
- Anticipation (weight 0.01): Anticipation is based on the simulation level of detail, which indicates the game will be good.
- Regret (weight 0.01): Regret is felt because the game is excellent but compatibility issues will not be fixed, leading to a sense of loss.
- Anger (weight 0.01): Anger is caused by the tank moving painfully slow and the AI failing to move the tank when commanded, leading to frustrating gameplay.
- Happiness (weight 0.01): Happiness is expressed for being able to buy the game on Steam, indicating a positive emotional response to the purchase opportunity.
- Apprehension (weight 0.01): Apprehension is felt about the upcoming battle, suggesting anxiety or nervousness about the gameplay experience.
- Love (weight 0.01): Love is felt for the atmosphere of possible impending doom when your crew gets wounded, highlighting an emotional connection to the game's tension.}