Info about Call to Arms: Official game description: WE ARE ONE ========== Our team is multi-national. Our head office is located in **Germany**, but a large part of our team is still in **Ukraine**. No words can describe our feelings right now. Our games mean so much to us. They are our daily passion. Our mission. We are united in what we love to do and we accomplish our goals together. We are not just colleagues. **We are friends. We are family. We are one.** And we have a simple message to you: **Make games, not war.** ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ BASIC EDITION ============= Enjoyed what you saw in the free version? Now everything gets better! Experience the cooperative campaign with your friends, play user generated content, fight custom battles in editor and mod your game from ground up. There are endless possibilities to increase your singleplayer and multiplayer experience. Limited on time? Don't worry, your base factions are unlocked right away and extra items will make it even more fun to customize your army! DELUXE EDITION ============== The Deluxe Edition of Call to Arms includes the following bonus content: * The Allied Army DLC, including two minor factions and a GRM singleplayer campaign * A clan tag item * Exclusive squad logo items * Emoticon items for the in-game chat * A slight XP boost to speed up your progress in the leaderboards * An outstanding HUD element visible while playing and recording matches ULTIMATE EDITION ================ The Ultimate Edition of Call to Arms includes the Deluxe Edition and Season Pass! The Season Pass includes: * The Allied Army DLC, including two minor factions and a GRM singleplayer campaign * The German Army DLC, including the German faction and a new singleplayer campaign * The Russian Army DLC, including the Russian faction and a new singleplayer campaign * Beta Access to new factions before they get released **The Season Pass content will be released throughout 2018**. If you have the free version, some new factions may not be available, or available at a later point. Feature List ============ About the Game ============== Call to Arms offers an innovative mix of real-time strategy and 3rd, as well as 1st person controls. Set in the time of modern warfare, the game offers realistically modeled vehicles and heavy weaponry, as well as dozens of firearms and customizations. Command your troops to victory or fight by yourself in the 3rd or 1st person action mode. Conquer rural areas, factories, railway stations and towns during intense missions and use the environment to your advantage. Cover is everywhere, and almost everything can be destroyed. An unseen amount of challenges are awaiting you in exciting, yet competitive online combat supported by Steamworks! Real-Time Strategy ------------------ Control several dozen units and place your squads in cover, flank your enemies and support your allies while advancing to the next key objective. Plant claymores, fortifiy FOBs, or set up mortar positions. There is an endless amount of options to choose in the RTS mode of Call to Arms. 1st/3rd Person Controls ----------------------- Not only can you defeat your enemies as a commander, but also by taking over any of your individual soldiers. You can control them in 3rd person view, as well as first person. The game has no limits! Tanks ----- Take over one of your vehicles at any time and join the heat of combat during intense tank warfare! Call to Arms offers you the ability to control every single unit to the last bit, including the type of ammunition you can use to take out enemy targets. Helicopters ----------- If you need that little bit of extra fire power, then hop into a helicopter and support your allies in online matches with some serious air support that leaves no room for escape! Release date: Apr 27, 2018 Categories: Real-time Strategy, First-Person Shooter, Third-Person Shooter, Vehicle Customization, Cooperative Multiplayer, Mod Support, Destructible Environments, Modern Warfare Setting Feature scans: - MTX: score 90; verdict: Predatory Monetization; summary: The game is heavily criticized for its monetization practices, including real-money loot boxes, pay-to-win DLC factions, fragmented content that requires multiple purchases beyond the base game and season pass, and bait-and-switch tactics. These elements create a predatory experience that exploits players financially. - Steam Deck: score 60; verdict: Tinkering Required - Mixed Stability; summary: The game shows a split user experience: some report frequent crashes and poor controls, while others praise fluid controls and deep mechanics after overcoming the learning curve. On Steam Deck, stability issues and control complaints indicate a need for tinkering or potential compatibility fixes. - Hardware Profile: - Summary: Players with less than 8GB VRAM on Windows report consistently low frame rates (15-30 FPS) even in single-player, with severe stuttering and unplayable performance in multiplayer. - Sample size: 43 (4% coverage) - Audience skew: Review sample is mostly Windows-based. - Windows <8GB VRAM (negative, 28 reports): All sampled reviews describe 15-30 FPS or worse, with mission lag and multiplayer becoming unplayable with few tanks. - Caveats: 43 of 1096 reviews expose hardware metadata.; Review sample is mostly Windows-based. Feature extractions: - Community Price: - Community fair range: $10.00 - $15.00 - Reasoning: Reviewers consistently advise purchasing the game on sale, with specific mention of $15 as an acceptable price for the base game and $12 considered a waste of money. The full price of $60 is deemed too high. Thus, the community's fair price range is estimated between $10 and $15, capturing the common sale price points while acknowledging the lower threshold where value is perceived. - Playtime Metrics: - Game completion: N/A - Story completion: N/A - Session length: N/A - Endgame: N/A - Reasoning: The only explicit playtime numbers are total hours played (55 and 81 hours), but they do not indicate game completion, story completion, typical session length, or endgame duration. No other reviews provide the specific metrics required. - Time-to-fun: - Summary: Call to Arms offers engaging RTS/TPS hybrid gameplay with realistic combat, but players must overcome steep learning curves, technical issues, and a frustrating progression system before enjoying the best moments in co-operative and multiplayer modes. - Stance: Mixed - positive about core gameplay but critical of progression and technical issues - Anchor: Multiplayer and co-op modes with friends - Time to anchor: N/A - Friction: steep learning curve; no comprehensive tutorial; progression gated behind online play; frequent crashes and desyncs; bad AI; repetitive campaign - Unlock drivers: playing with friends; co-op campaign; workshop mods; tactical realism; first-person direct control; skirmish modes - Conditions: play with friends; use mods; tolerate bugs; ignore campaign slog; grind online for unit unlocks; play skirmish instead of campaign; lower expectations for AI; use community fixes - Player Archetypes: - Disillusioned Veteran (no buy) - Motivation: nostalgic loyalty to previous titles and frustration with perceived abandonment of the hardcore player base - Playstyle: Deep strategy, gritty realism, direct control, and prior familiarity with complex RTS mechanics - Experience: veteran - Purchase stance: no buy - Labels: veteran player; old school hardcore player - Reference games: Men of War: Assault Squad 2; Men of War; Call to Arms - Gates of Hell: Ostfront - Casual Strategy Newcomer (sale) - Motivation: casual fun and exploration of modern warfare RTS - Playstyle: Prefers simple controls, point-and-click strategy, avoids complex micro-management - Experience: newcomer - Purchase stance: sale - Labels: casual player; new to RTS - Reference games: Battlefield; Company of Heroes - Cooperative Multiplayer Enthusiast (sale) - Motivation: playing with friends in co-op campaigns and skirmishes - Playstyle: Team-oriented, prefers tactical coordination and long sessions - Experience: familiar - Purchase stance: sale - Labels: co-op player; multiplayer fan - Reference games: Men of War: Assault Squad 2 - Modding and Realism Enthusiast (sale) - Motivation: realistic combat simulation and extensive mod support - Playstyle: Enjoys direct control, detailed unit management, and custom scenarios - Experience: familiar - Purchase stance: sale - Labels: mod enthusiast; realism lover - Reference games: Call to Arms - Gates of Hell: Ostfront; Men of War 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: - Overall fun and enjoyable (weight 0.41): The game is consistently described as very fun, interesting, and entertaining. Generic positive sentiment is strong across many reviews. - Excellent modding support (weight 0.23): Workshop mods greatly extend replayability and content. The active modding community provides new units, campaigns, and quality-of-life improvements. - Deep unit and squad control (weight 0.19): The ability to micromanage individual soldiers, squads, and vehicles is highly valued. Players enjoy controlling units both collectively and manually in real time. - Unique FPS and RTS blend (weight 0.18): Players praise the innovative combination of first-person shooter and real-time strategy mechanics. This unique hybrid allows for seamless switching between top-down command and direct unit control. - Cooperative campaign mode (weight 0.12): The co-op campaign is well-received and provides enjoyable missions to play with friends. It adds significant replay value. - Warfighter mod is essential (weight 0.12): The Warfighter mod is repeatedly mentioned as transformative, adding modern factions and improving gameplay. Many consider it mandatory for the best experience. - Modern warfare setting praised (weight 0.1): There is strong appreciation for a realistic modern-day RTS, which is considered rare. The tactical 21st-century combat setting is a major draw. - Tactical depth and realism (weight 0.09): The game offers genuine tactical gameplay with good micro-management and realistic military decisions. It balances strategy with direct action well. - High review scores given (weight 0.08): Many players give the game a high rating (9/10 or 10/10), indicating strong overall satisfaction. This aligns with the positive general sentiment. - Wide variety of vehicles (weight 0.07): Players appreciate the large selection of modern military vehicles, including tanks, APCs, and helicopters. This adds tactical depth and variety to battles. - One of a kind game (weight 0.06): The game is frequently called unique or one of a kind due to its specific genre blend. It stands out among other RTS and shooter hybrids. - Destructible environment and tactics (weight 0.06): The destructible environments create a dynamic battlefield and enable tactical options. This feature enhances immersion and strategy. - Conquest mode is engaging (weight 0.06): Conquest mode is specifically highlighted as enjoyable and immersive, giving a persistent war feel. It adds strategic depth beyond individual missions. - Good graphics and presentation (weight 0.05): Graphics are noted as good and contribute to the overall experience. Visual quality is considered appropriate for a modern military game. - Multiplayer fun with friends (weight 0.05): Multiplayer modes are enjoyable, especially when played with friends. Co-op and competitive play both get positive mentions. - Excellent value for money (weight 0.05): The game is considered worth the price, often described as a good deal. Players feel they get substantial content and replayability for the cost. - Comparison to Men of War (weight 0.05): Some reviews compare the game favorably to Men of War: Assault Squad 2, calling it a modern version. It is seen as a worthy successor in a modern setting. - Comparable to Gates of Hell (weight 0.05): A few players note the game is even better or as good as Gates of Hell in certain aspects. This is a positive comparison among genre enthusiasts. - First person mode is great (weight 0.05): The first-person view option when controlling units is specifically praised. It enhances the direct action feel of the game. - Fun mechanics and ideas (weight 0.05): Players find the core mechanics fun and interesting, with good game concepts that set it apart. The execution is generally enjoyable. Common complaints: - Game abandoned by developers (weight 0.29): Multiple clusters report that the game has been abandoned by its developers, with no updates or support for years. This is the most frequent complaint, indicating a complete lack of ongoing development. - AI pathfinding and behavior issues (weight 0.28): Players consistently report poor AI pathfinding, with units getting stuck or failing to navigate properly. This affects both friendly and enemy AI, making tactical gameplay frustrating. - Game feels unfinished and buggy (weight 0.21): Many reviews describe the game as feeling like an early access demo or alpha, with numerous bugs and a lack of polish. This suggests the game was released prematurely and never completed. - AI behavior is stupid and erratic (weight 0.18): AI is frequently called stupid, making poor decisions such as not attacking enemies in range, behaving erratically, and failing to use cover. This undermines tactical gameplay and immersion. - Numerous bugs and crashes (weight 0.16): The game is reported to have many bugs, including crashes, damage issues, and general instability. These problems make the game frustrating to play and contribute to its unfinished feel. - Game feels like unfinished demo (weight 0.13): Many players feel the game is an unfinished early access demo, lacking content and polish. This is tied to the abandonment by developers and the presence of many bugs. - Tank damage system unrealistic (weight 0.1): Players criticize the tank damage model, noting that frontal armor is too strong, shells require multiple hits to kill, and armor durability does not degrade when hit but not penetrated. This makes tank combat feel unrealistic and frustrating. - First-person mode poorly implemented (weight 0.1): The first-person perspective is described as stiff, rough, and not well integrated with the RTS gameplay. It feels like a user-created mod rather than a polished feature, detracting from the overall experience. - Inferior to Gates of Hell WWII (weight 0.09): Players compare this game unfavorably to Gates of Hell WWII, noting it is less refined and that the developers shifted focus to that title. This suggests the game was abandoned in favor of a sequel. - Not worth the price (weight 0.07): Several reviews state the game is not worth buying, even on sale or for free, due to its unfinished state and lack of content. This reflects a strong negative value perception. - DLCs overpriced and should be free (weight 0.05): Some players feel that DLCs are too expensive and should be free, given the game's unfinished state. This adds to the perception of poor value. Gameplay feedback: - Real-time strategy hybrid (weight 0.58): Players want a real-time strategy game that blends top-down command with first-person or third-person direct controls. This allows both strategic planning and immersive action. - Direct control of units (weight 0.45): Users desire the ability to take direct control of any soldier, vehicle, or squad in first or third person. This feature offers precise micro-management and tactical flexibility. - Modern military setting (weight 0.18): Feedback emphasizes a modern warfare theme with contemporary weapons, vehicles, and equipment like ATGMs, helicopters, and MBTs. This appeals to fans of modern combat. - Conquest mode requested (weight 0.13): Players want a conquest or domination game mode with dynamic campaign elements. It provides long-term strategic objectives and replayability. - Comparison to Men of War (weight 0.09): Many reviews compare the desired game to the Men of War series, especially Men of War Assault Squad 2. Users want a modern take on that real-time tactics formula. - Cooperative multiplayer mode (weight 0.07): Co-op campaign and multiplayer modes are requested. Players want to team up with friends for cooperative gameplay experiences. - Inclusion of helicopters (weight 0.07): Helicopters and other vehicles are a desired feature. Users expect fully working air vehicles for tactical variety. - Vehicle health bars (weight 0.06): Players want visible health bars on vehicles, with an optional realism mode to toggle them. This enhances tactical awareness and feedback. Performance notes: - Frequent game crashes (weight 0.25): Many players report constant and frequent crashes across various modes, including campaign, conquest, and co-op. The game becomes unplayable for some due to these persistent stability issues. - Lag and low frame rates (weight 0.18): Performance issues like lag, stutter, and low FPS are common even on medium settings. Frame rates drop significantly during intense battles, explosions, and late-game scenarios. - General poor optimization (weight 0.13): Players widely criticize the game's optimization as poor or lacking, leading to performance problems. Many reviewers suggest optimization is a key area needing improvement. - Poor performance on good hardware (weight 0.11): High-end PCs also experience terrible performance, with the game running extremely poorly despite capable hardware. This points to deeper optimization problems beyond hardware limitations. - Performance issues on low-end hardware (weight 0.1): The game struggles on low-end PCs, with some users noting it may not run well on older or weaker systems. However, a few report decent performance on modest laptops. - Multiplayer desync and netcode problems (weight 0.08): Multiplayer matches suffer from desync issues, especially after lengthy games, and poor netcode contributes to unstable performance. Network optimization is a notable concern. - Frame drops due to explosions and smoke (weight 0.05): Explosions and smoke grenades cause noticeable frame drops and freezes, suggesting particle effects are poorly optimized. This affects both singleplayer and multiplayer modes. - Stable singleplayer but not multiplayer (weight 0.05): Singleplayer runs fine for some players, while multiplayer performance remains poor. This discrepancy indicates netcode or server-side issues are a major factor. - Crashes and overheating on startup (weight 0.04): Some players experience crashes immediately after booting, with rare cases of the computer shutting down or processors overheating. These critical issues prevent gameplay entirely. - Performance worsens with mods and large battles (weight 0.04): Using mods or engaging in large-scale battles leads to increased lag and frame rate drops. Large troop counts and excessive effects strain the game's performance further. - Crashes occur with or without mods (weight 0.04): Crashes persist regardless of whether mods are installed, confirming that stability issues are rooted in the base game rather than user modifications. Some mods intended to fix problems may also cause crashes. Recommendations: - Recommends different game instead (weight 0.18): Clusters 4, 7, and 8 suggest buying Call to Arms: Gates of Hell Ostfront instead of this game, indicating this title is inferior to its sibling. - Do not recommend buying (weight 0.12): Many reviewers strongly advise against purchasing the game, even on sale, citing regret and wasted money. Cluster 1 highlights this general sentiment while Cluster 9 echoes the same disappointment. - Recommended for genre enthusiasts (weight 0.12): Clusters 11, 12, 14, and 23 recommend the game to fans of war games, strategy games, and military strategy specifically. - Use mods for better experience (weight 0.1): Clusters 6, 24 suggest installing mods like Warfighter Overhaul or workshop mods to greatly improve the game. - Worth the money (weight 0.09): Clusters 5 and 13 report the game is worth its price and content, with some giving it a perfect 10/10 score. - Buy on sale only (weight 0.09): Clusters 17, 20, 22 advise buying only on sale, warning that it is not worth full price. - High general recommendation (weight 0.08): Clusters 10, 15, 18 provide strong recommendations, often describing it as excellent or giving 10/10. - Technical and product issues (weight 0.08): Cluster 2 reports game crashes and that the game exists only to promote another purchase, leading to strong negative recommendations including playing a pirated version. - Recommended for RTS fans (weight 0.08): Cluster 3 recommends the game to both RTS veterans and newcomers, suggesting it appeals broadly within the genre. - Recommend fans of Men of War (weight 0.06): Clusters 25 and 26 mention Men of War: some recommend buying Men of War instead, while others recommend this game to Men of War 2 fans. - Good for multiplayer (weight 0.04): Cluster 16 recommends the game for playing with friends online or alone. - Avoid season pass (weight 0.04): Cluster 19 warns against buying the season pass or deluxe edition as it provides nothing extra of value. - Strong negative sale advice (weight 0.04): Cluster 27 advises against buying the game even on sale, strongly recommending against it. - Buy Ultimate on sale (weight 0.03): Cluster 21 suggests buying the Ultimate/Deluxe edition only when it is on sale. Other player notes: No miscpoints Emotions: - Frustration (weight 0.28): Players are extremely frustrated by pervasive AI failures, including terrible pathfinding, poor cover selection, and units ignoring orders, leading to unnecessary deaths. This is compounded by a long list of bugs, crashes, and performance issues, combined with a feeling of abandonment by developers who neglect the modern warfare version for WWII expansions. The clunky controls, poor balance, unrealistic damage models, and monetization practices like locking content behind DLC further fuel this frustration. - Disappointment (weight 0.14): The dominant cause is the game being abandoned by developers, leaving it incomplete, buggy, and without promised updates, while they focus on WWII spin-offs. Players feel the game had immense potential as a modern combat RTS but is a broken shell, often requiring mods to be playable and failing to meet the standards of its predecessor or series. This wasted potential, along with a lack of content and polish, leaves players feeling let down. - Excitement (weight 0.1): Players are excited by the unique hybrid gameplay that seamlessly blends RTS strategy with a third/first-person direct control mode, allowing them to take over any unit. The modern setting, detailed vehicle models, massive battles, and strong mod support that enables epic skirmishes and adds tremendous replayability are also key sources of excitement. - Satisfaction (weight 0.09): Satisfaction comes from the game delivering the desired single-player milsim experience, especially when enhanced by mods like Warfighter which fix issues and increase difficulty. Players feel rewarded by the deep mechanics, the ability to control any unit in first person, and the sense of accomplishment from completing difficult campaigns, often finding the game to be excellent value for its price. - Enjoyment (weight 0.07): Players derive enjoyment from the game's unique and addictive hybrid of RTS and FPS gameplay, finding it fun to switch between tactical overhead control and direct action. The extensive mod support, good physics, quality campaigns, and the ability to play cooperatively with friends or against bots provide countless hours of entertainment. - Anger (weight 0.04): Anger is primarily directed at the developers for what is perceived as a broken, unfinished game with predatory monetization, such as paying for a season pass with no content or needing to buy DLC to fix fundamental issues. The terrible AI, broken damage models, and extreme difficulty imbalances, where enemies have unfair advantages, further enrage players who feel scammed. - Desire (weight 0.03): Players strongly desire more content for the base game, including additional countries, factions, units, and vehicles, as well as specific features like naval warfare or a zombie mode. There is also a wish for a larger player base to populate online lobbies and for developers to provide continued updates and support. - Appreciation (weight 0.02): Players appreciate the game for being one of the few RTS titles set in 21st-century warfare, praising its modern setting, excellent first-person mode, engaging tactical depth, and detailed vehicle physics. The educational simulation value and the support for transformative mods like Warfighter also garner significant appreciation. - Hope (weight 0.02): Hope stems from a belief that the game has great potential and a wish that the developers will return to it with patches, fixes, and content updates to realize that potential. Some players hold hope because the game is still being worked on or because mods exist that can be further supported. - Love (weight 0.02): Despite recognizing many bugs and flaws, players express deep love for the core game itself, its map editor, and the underlying potential that keeps them engaged. The fondness for the game often comes from a history of playing the series and seeing the promise in its unique mechanics. - Admiration (weight 0.02): Admiration is expressed for the game as a deep tactical masterpiece that stands out as one of the best strategy games, blending two genres into a cinematic and engaging experience. Players praise the quality of the campaigns, the visual aesthetics, and the game's ability to deliver a compelling tactical experience. - Happiness (weight 0.01): Happiness is a simple emotion caused by being able to play the game, especially when doing so weekly with friends. The core goodness and fun of the gameplay are enough for some players to feel happy with their purchase. - Nostalgia (weight 0.01): Nostalgia is triggered by the game's feel and mechanics, which remind veteran players of playing with toy soldiers as a child. This feeling is often linked to long-time fans of the Men of War series who see Call to Arms as a modern continuation of that experience. - Boredom (weight 0.01): Boredom sets in once the content is fully explored, as a low online population forces players to fight the AI, which becomes predictable and repetitive. Matches can also become one-sided or drawn-out, leading to a lack of interest. - Confusion (weight 0.01): Players are confused by the game's relative lack of popularity compared to its WWII spin-off Gates of Hell. The tank armor HP system is also a source of confusion, as its design is not intuitive for all players. - Regret (weight 0.01): Players regret their purchase, even at a discounted price, because they feel the game is broken or lacks the content needed to be enjoyable. The disappointment upon discovering the game's flaws is the primary cause of this feeling. - Gratitude (weight 0.01): Gratitude is expressed towards the developers and, more often, to the mod creators who enhance the game to a state where it becomes truly enjoyable or playable. A simple thanks for a good game is also a common expression. - Disgust (weight 0.01): Disgust is a response to the game being perceived as a cheap, awful, and disgraceful product. Specific content, such as a mod adding the IDF faction, and the low-effort menu design also evoke this reaction. - Amusement (weight 0.01): Players find amusement in the game's chaotic and absurd moments, such as a single soldier wiping out an entire enemy base under precise control. The humor also comes from ironic situations like a game disappearing from one's library or comparisons to other games' bugs. - Sadness (weight 0): Sadness is caused by the game being abandoned by its developers while still having so much unfulfilled potential. Players feel a sense of loss, as evidenced by having to leave a negative review for a game they consider a unique masterpiece.}