Info about Steel Division: Normandy 44: Official game description: Deluxe Edition ============== **The Deluxe Edition of Steel Division: Normandy 44 comes with the following extras:** Art Book: --------- A detailed look at the art and making of Steel Division: Normandy 44 Tactical Guide: --------------- A digital book getting you up to speed with the terrain and tactics of the game. Six Exclusive in-game aces: Historical personalities you can deploy on the battlefield -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Ernst Barkmann (Germany, Panther A tank) * Joseph Priller (Germany, Bf109A fighter plane) * Dick Winters (The USA, Paratrooper Battalion) * Wilfred Harris (The UK, Sherman Firefly tank) * Leo Major (Canada, sniper scout) * Kurt Knispel (Germany, Tiger II) Battle Log: ----------- Major maps of the game and how to fight them Deluxe avatar and icon for the Paradox forums --------------------------------------------- Unique ringtones and text message sounds ---------------------------------------- Wallpapers: ----------- Artwork from Steel Division you can use to decorate your computer desktop Streaming Overlays: ------------------- Steel Division themed overlays for those who stream on Twitch or YouTube. Feature List ============ Command Over 400 Historically Accurate Units: --------------------------------------------- Whether fighting for control in intense multiplayer battles with up to 10-vs-10 players going head-to-head, playing alone or working with friends in ranked matches, players will need to coordinate their selection of historically accurate infantry, tanks, aircraft, and support vehicles to counter enemy units in this Tactical RTS game. Real-world Tactics: ------------------- Battles rage over three distinct phases, where different units unlock over time, mimicking the movements of real-world armies and adding variety to the ever-changing theatre of war. A dynamic front line illustrates the ebb and flow of the conflict. Pin down your opponent's infantry to gain the advantage and force a retreat, or push through with a perfectly executed plan. Real-world Setting: ------------------- Using the latest version of Eugen’s IRISZOOM engine, players can smoothly zoom from a tactical aerial view all the way down to a single unit, and see 400 different real-world vehicles and units designed with careful historical detail and accuracy. Maps are designed based on actual aerial reconnaissance photos of Normandy in 1944, requiring real-world tactics and strategies to cover and control. Outplan, Outsmart, Outgun: -------------------------- From battlegroup customization to troop positioning and maneuvering, winning battles requires cunning and strategy, not just raw firepower. Each unit lost presents a growing tactical disadvantage, and players will need to fight to gain -- and keep -- the upper hand. From commanding historically accurate infantry, tanks, and vehicles, to troop positioning and real-time engagement with the enemy, players will need to be clever and resourceful in order to win. Every unit counts as the battle presses on, and raw firepower alone will not be enough to claim victory. Whether viewing the entire battle from an aerial perspective, or following a single tank into a firefight, players will need to cleverly manage the dynamic front line in order to execute ambushes and advances. About the Game ============== **Steel Division: Normandy 44** is a Tactical Real-Time Strategy (RTS) game, developed by Eugen Systems, the creators of titles like Wargame and R.U.S.E. This new game puts players in command of detailed, historically accurate tanks, troops, and vehicles at the height of World War II. Players can measure their tactical skills against several opponents in big multiplayer battles or against enemies in a challenging single-player campaign. Steel Division: Normandy 44 allows players to take control over legendary military divisions from six different countries, such as the American 101st Airborne, the German armored 21st Panzer or the 3rd Canadian Division, during the invasion of Normandy in 1944. Release date: May 23, 2017 Categories: Real-time Strategy, Tactical, Historical Strategy, Multiplayer, Single-player Campaigns, World War II, Turn-based Tactical, Military Simulation Feature scans: - Steam Deck: score 55; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: The analysis of user feedback for the Steam Deck experience reveals significant issues with controls, UI readability, game performance, and technical limitations. These problems collectively contribute to a suboptimal user experience, with notable friction points that require attention. - Hardware Profile: No data Feature extractions: - Community Price: - Community fair range: $15.00 - $25.00 - Reasoning: The evidence suggests that while the full price of $40 is considered steep by some users, many find the game worth it at around $20 or less. Several reviews mention that the game is worth buying on sale, with specific mentions of $15 and $20 as fair prices. This indicates that the community generally finds the game's value to be in the lower price range, suggesting a fair base-game price range between $15 and $25. - Playtime Metrics: - Game completion: 44.0h - Story completion: 16.0h - Session length: 1.0h - Endgame: N/A - Reasoning: The evidence provides several key data points regarding playtime. One review mentions that completing all the DLC campaigns on a high difficulty took approximately 16 hours. Another review states that each of the 12 campaign missions takes around 40-60 minutes, suggesting a total playtime of roughly 12-18 hours for the main story. Additionally, a player reported taking 44 hours to complete the campaign with video guides, indicating a longer playtime likely due to difficulty or thorough exploration. Finally, another player mentions having played 25 hours before the game's official release, suggesting significant playtime investment. - Time-to-fun: - Summary: The game has a steep learning curve that initially frustrates players, but once overcome, it reveals a fun and strategically deep experience. - Stance: Fun after learning curve - Anchor: Completing the tutorial and understanding the game mechanics - Time to anchor: 0h 20m - Friction: Steep learning curve; Initial frustration; Instability and crashes - Unlock drivers: Completing the tutorial; Understanding game mechanics - Conditions: Playing with friends; Enjoying strategic depth; Preferring multiplayer - Player Archetypes: - Loyal Franchise Fan (buy) - Motivation: Loyalty to a specific game series or genre. - Playstyle: Strategic and knowledgeable, often comparing new games to their favorites. - Experience: veteran - Purchase stance: buy - Labels: 忠实粉丝; fans of WW2 games; fans of RTS games - Reference games: 战争游戏三部曲; Wargame series; Company of Heroes - History and Strategy Enthusiast (buy) - Motivation: Interest in historical accuracy and strategic gameplay. - Playstyle: Deliberate and thoughtful, focusing on strategy and historical realism. - Experience: mixed - Purchase stance: buy - Labels: 二战迷; 军事爱好者; strategy enthusiast - Reference games: 近距离作战; Men of War series; Combat Mission - Strategic Planner (buy) - Motivation: Enjoyment of strategic depth and complexity in gameplay. - Playstyle: Focused on long-term planning and strategic execution. - Experience: mixed - Purchase stance: buy - Labels: strategy gamer; RTS fan - Reference games: Company of Heroes; Wargame series; StarCraft - Multiplayer Competitor (sale) - Motivation: Enjoyment of competitive and cooperative multiplayer gameplay. - Playstyle: Competitive and cooperative, focusing on multiplayer dynamics. - Experience: mixed - Purchase stance: sale - Labels: multiplayer gamer; competitive player - Reference games: Wargame series; Company of Heroes; StarCraft 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: - Detailed and Engaging Gameplay (weight 0.26): The game features detailed unit management and tactical micromanagement, with a focus on strategic planning and execution. Players spend significant time in bullet time, planning moves and giving detailed orders. - Innovative Gameplay Mechanics (weight 0.2): The game introduces innovative and unique gameplay mechanics, including a dynamic frontline system and a line of sight tool, which enhance the strategic experience. - High-Quality Graphics (weight 0.16): The game is praised for its beautiful and highly polished graphics, which contribute to historical immersion. The landscapes and unit details are visually impressive. - Authentic Normandy Campaign (weight 0.15): The game offers an authentic and deeply engaging portrayal of the Normandy campaign during World War II. It includes historically accurate maps, unit placement, and a wealth of intel, making it a detailed and immersive experience for WWII enthusiasts. - Improvements Over Wargame Series (weight 0.15): The game is seen as a large improvement upon the Wargame series, with a reduced pace that benefits the tactical component and corrects main design problems. - Realistic Combat Mechanics (weight 0.14): Combat mechanics are realistic, with units that can panic or surrender under fire. Infantry behavior is realistic, adding to the game's depth. - Recommended for RTS and WWII Fans (weight 0.09): The game is highly recommended for fans of real-time strategy (RTS) games and World War II history. It is considered one of the best WWII RTS games ever made. - Phased Gameplay (weight 0.09): The game features a well-defined three-phase system (A, B, C), which adds structure and strategic depth to the gameplay. - Wide Unit Variation (weight 0.09): The game offers a good selection of units with a wide variety of unit types and divisions, each with unique animations and behaviors. - Active Community (weight 0.07): The game has an active multiplayer community, which contributes to its ongoing engagement and popularity. - Historical Campaigns (weight 0.07): The game features three distinct single-player campaigns for the USA, Germany, and the UK, with missions deeply embedded in historical facts and events. - Educational Value (weight 0.06): The game is appreciated for its educational value, teaching players about historical tactics and events, and piquing interest in history. Common complaints: - Limited map variety (weight 0.15): Players report a lack of maps and variety in the game, with maps becoming repetitive quickly. There is a demand for more diverse maps, including urban and river-based maps. - High difficulty level (weight 0.14): The game is perceived as very difficult, requiring careful advancement and strategy. This high difficulty can be a barrier for some players. - Balance issues (weight 0.14): Players have noted that the game suffers from balance issues, making gameplay unfair and frustrating. - Flawed gameplay mechanics (weight 0.14): The gameplay mechanics are seen as flawed and frustrating, leading to a poor gaming experience. - Poor campaign design (weight 0.13): The campaign is criticized for being dry, not comprehensive, and poorly designed, leading to a lack of enjoyment. - Excessive micromanagement (weight 0.13): The game requires a lot of micromanagement, which can be tedious and overwhelming for players. - Poor AI and optimization (weight 0.1): The AI pathfinding and overall optimization of the game are criticized as poor, affecting the gameplay experience. - Incomplete translations (weight 0.07): The game's translations, particularly the Chinese translation, are incomplete, affecting non-English speaking players. - Lack of objectives (weight 0.05): The game lacks common sense and clear objectives, making it difficult for players to understand what to do. - Poor UI design (weight 0.05): The user interface is criticized as awful and horrible, affecting the overall user experience. - Lack of content (weight 0.05): There is a lack of content in both multiplayer and single-player campaigns, leading to a less engaging experience. - Time-limited objectives (weight 0.04): Players are forced to complete objectives within a certain amount of time, adding unnecessary pressure. - Unit management issues (weight 0.04): Players face difficulties in managing units, including issues with shooting through walls and friendly units. - Campaign difficulty settings (weight 0.04): The campaign lacks difficulty settings, making it either too hard or not customizable to player preferences. - Enemy accuracy issues (weight 0.04): Enemies, particularly AT and Arty units, have unrealistic accuracy, making the game unfairly difficult. - High cost (weight 0.04): The game is seen as expensive unless purchased on sale, which can be a barrier for potential players. - Multiplayer matchmaking issues (weight 0.04): There are issues with multiplayer matchmaking, including a lack of players, making it difficult to find matches. - Comparison to other games (weight 0.04): The game is criticized for not having the finesse, complexity, or realism compared to other grand strategy games like HoI3, EU4, and CK2. - Fast-paced gameplay (weight 0.04): The game's pace is seen as too fast, lacking the depth and realism expected from a strategy game. - Stressful gameplay (weight 0.04): The game is seen as too stressful and not suitable for players looking for a more relaxed strategy game experience. - Japanese language issues (weight 0.03): There are specific issues reported in the Japanese version of the game, including problems with unit morale and gameplay mechanics. Gameplay feedback: - Game pace issues (weight 0.27): The game's pace is criticized for being too fast, making it difficult to form strategies and enjoy the gameplay. Some players find it stressful and unsuitable for a strategy game. - Real-time strategy with historical accuracy (weight 0.24): The game is praised for its real-time strategy elements and historical accuracy, offering large-scale battles and a frontline system. - Morale and suppression mechanics (weight 0.23): The morale and suppression mechanics add depth to the gameplay, with units reacting realistically to combat situations, such as panicking or surrendering under heavy fire. - Dynamic front line system (weight 0.22): The dynamic front line system shows the ebb and flow of battle, indicating where players are pressing the enemy or being pressed. - Combined arms and terrain advantages (weight 0.13): The game emphasizes combined arms warfare and the importance of terrain, allowing players to minimize losses or maximize them based on their tactical decisions. - Comparison to Company of Heroes (weight 0.13): Steel Division is compared to Company of Heroes, with some players preferring the latter for its gameplay and pacing. The division into phases A, B, and C is noted as a unique feature. - Unit and resource management (weight 0.13): Players must manage their units and resources effectively, with each small unit potentially having a significant impact on the course of the game. - Strategic and tactical gameplay (weight 0.11): The game offers a mix of strategic and tactical gameplay, appealing to players who enjoy military strategies and planning. - Three-phase system (weight 0.11): The game's three-phase system (A, B, C) allows for dynamic gameplay where the fate of the match can be reversed even if a player is losing in the early phases. - Single-player campaigns (weight 0.07): The game features long single-player campaigns with mission variety, offering a substantial amount of content for solo players. - Artillery and air support mechanics (weight 0.07): The game includes mechanics for artillery and air support, adding another layer of strategic depth to the gameplay. - Historical significance of D-Day (weight 0.07): The game focuses on the historical significance of D-Day, providing a detailed and accurate representation of the events and units involved. - Division-based deck system (weight 0.07): The game features a realistic division-based deck system, allowing players to customize their forces and strategies based on historical divisions. - Line-of-sight tool (weight 0.07): The game features a line-of-sight tool that helps players plan their attacks and ambushes more effectively by showing visibility and obstacles on the map. - Soundtrack appreciation (weight 0.07): The game's soundtrack is appreciated by players who enjoy the music from strategic titles, adding to the overall immersion and enjoyment of the game. Performance notes: - Optimization and stability issues (weight 0.13): Many players report optimization problems and stability issues in the game, particularly in multiplayer modes. These issues affect the overall gaming experience and performance. - Aging game engine (weight 0.07): The game engine is considered outdated by some players, which may contribute to the optimization and stability problems. This also affects the graphical fidelity. - Stable performance at 1080p (weight 0.05): Some players report that the game can achieve stable performance with constant 60 frames per second at 1080p resolution, indicating that optimization can be good under certain conditions. - High system requirements (weight 0.03): Players have noted that the game has high system requirements, which can be a barrier for those with less powerful hardware. - Frequent bugs (weight 0.03): There are reports of frequent bugs in the game, which can disrupt gameplay and affect the overall experience. Recommendations: - Recommended for strategy enthusiasts (weight 0.18): The game is highly recommended for those who enjoy strategy and simulation games, especially with a historical focus. - Not recommended for casual players (weight 0.07): The game is not recommended unless you are a WWII enthusiast or a fan of realistic RTS games. - Comparison with Steel Division 2 (weight 0.07): Some players suggest that Steel Division 2 is a better alternative and recommend getting that instead. - Worth buying on sale (weight 0.07): The game is considered worth buying, especially during sales or from third-party websites at a discounted price. - Balance issues with divisions (weight 0.06): There are balance issues with certain divisions, particularly the Panzer Lehr division, which can dominate with a high number of powerful tanks. - Good value for money (weight 0.05): The game is considered to offer good value for its price, especially considering its content and future development potential. - Need for strategic layer (weight 0.03): Players request the addition of a real strategic layer and map, similar to those in the Wargame series. - Recommended after tutorial (weight 0.03): Players are recommended to go through the tutorial to fully understand and enjoy the game. - Request for new SP content (weight 0.03): There is a demand for new single-player content with the new divisions, possibly as a separate DLC. - Realism improvements needed (weight 0.03): Players have pointed out unrealistic elements, such as trucks disappearing after the crew disembarks, and request improvements for more realism. - Balance anti-aircraft weapons (weight 0.03): There is a need to balance anti-aircraft weapons, which are currently considered useless against aircraft. - Add infantry units without transports (weight 0.03): There is a request to add infantry units that do not require transports to the divisions. - Add cinematic mode (weight 0.03): Players have requested the addition of a cinematic mode without transparent units and frames around units. - Lack of decisive moments (weight 0.03): Players feel that there is a lack of character for units to have decisive moments in matches. - Add paratrooper parachute jumps (weight 0.03): There is a request to add the ability for paratroopers to jump with parachutes. - Potential for future DLC (weight 0.03): The game is seen as having a good groundwork for future DLC content. Other player notes: No miscpoints Emotions: - Appreciation (weight 0.39): Players appreciate the game's historical accuracy, detailed gameplay mechanics, and strategic depth. The realistic combat mechanics, varied missions, and the dynamic front line system are particularly praised. Additionally, the authentic mix of Wargame and WWII elements, along with the historical accuracy of the squads, contributes to this appreciation. - Frustration (weight 0.19): Players are frustrated with several aspects of the game, including poor controls, camera issues, and the high difficulty of the main campaign. The AI's ability to control all units simultaneously while the player can only focus on a single area is a significant point of contention. Additionally, the game's steep learning curve, unbalanced divisions, and the inability to pause the game timer add to the frustration. - Satisfaction (weight 0.1): Players find satisfaction in the game's strategic gameplay, realism, and historical accuracy. The combined arms gameplay and meaningful choices in unit deployment are particularly enjoyable. The depth of the firefights, advanced system, and the realistic combat mechanics contribute to a satisfying experience. - Disappointment (weight 0.08): Players express disappointment due to the game not living up to its predecessor, lack of content and updates, and poor overall experience. The game's micromanagement requirements, lack of objectives, and flat maps also contribute to this sentiment. Additionally, the lack of developer support and unresolved issues add to the disappointment. - Excitement (weight 0.07): Players are excited about the game's strategic depth, graphics, and realistic gameplay mechanics. The detailed gameplay mechanics, historical context, and the unique blend of gameplay elements are particularly thrilling. The phase system and division specializations also add to the excitement. - Enthusiasm (weight 0.04): Players are enthusiastic about the game's design, future potential, and detailed unit control. The realistic battalion-level combat and the stress mechanic are particularly engaging. The hope for a sequel and the detailed gameplay mechanics contribute to this enthusiasm. - Enjoyment (weight 0.03): Players enjoy the game's interesting plot missions, challenging gameplay, and intense battles. The graphics, mechanics, and depth of the game are particularly enjoyable. Despite the initial complexity, players find the gameplay and strategy elements rewarding. - Admiration (weight 0.03): Players admire the game's historical accuracy, innovative gameplay mechanics, and strategic depth. The realistic aspects of the game and the beautiful simplicity yet complexity are particularly admirable. The game's ability to capture the historical context well and its depth contribute to this admiration. - Hope (weight 0.01): Players hope that the developers will continue to work on improving the game. They express a hopeful sentiment about the game's potential if the online player count were higher, indicating a desire for a more active community and ongoing support. - Love (weight 0.01): Players love the game for its ability to conduct combined arms warfare in an authentic and rewarding way. The emotional attachment grows as players spend more time with the game, appreciating its depth and strategic elements. - Excited (weight 0.01): Players are excited about the changes done to the underlying mechanics, finding them refreshing. The sense of accomplishment and the unique feeling of victory contribute to this excitement. - Anxiety (weight 0): Players feel anxious due to the game's difficulty and mechanics, which can be overwhelming. The high stakes and challenging gameplay contribute to this anxiety. - Nostalgia (weight 0): Players feel nostalgic about the game's focus on D-Day and its immersive experience. The game's ability to evoke memories of older games and historical events contributes to this nostalgia. - Anger (weight 0): Players are angry about the poor quality and incomplete Chinese translation, as well as the developer's behavior. These issues significantly detract from the overall experience and cause frustration. - Amusement (weight 0): Players find the tank behavior amusing and historically accurate, adding a touch of humor and enjoyment to the gameplay experience. - Delight (weight 0): Players are delighted with the mix of different game styles and the user-friendly nature of the game. The game's ability to blend various elements seamlessly contributes to this delight. - Grateful (weight 0): Players are grateful for the Japanese localization mod, which enhances their gaming experience. The appreciation for community efforts and improvements contributes to this gratitude.}