izigame.me

Huge potential overshadowed by a rough start
Let me explain to you, fellow player, where all the negative feedback is coming from and how this game actually could (and should!) have much higher reviews.
Just a note for all the true fans out there - I've been playing this franchise since 2006 when I first got my hands on Soldiers: Heroes of World War II (У тилу ворога) on CD. Since then I played EVERY game in this series, from commandos-like Silent Heroes (Диверсанти) to Arena, full of its controversies. I also participated in all the open playtests of Men of War II, so you can easily add another 20-30 hours to my playtime.

Why so many bad reviews?

Wrong audience priorities. Men of War was always kind of a niche franchise. It was popular, no doubt. But it certainly created its own player base. In attempts to widen this player base, developers (or publishers) missed a shot. It was supposed to be focused on the core audience first. The Realism mode should've been the default one, and Competitive would be a nice adjustment for a new audience. The Classic PVP should be recommended for old players first. Or at least there could've been a pop-up window with one simple question for everyone running the game for the first time: Would you prefer to have an experience closer to previous games in series OR our brand-new multiplayer-oriented mode recommended for new players?. And depending on the answer automatically apply Realism or Competitive and recommend Classic PVP or Batallions PVP. It's that simple, one question. I guarantee, it would help to avoid half of these complaints about heath bars, too dynamic games and arcadiness from old players.
No offline singleplayer (YET). Yes, it is mentioned in every second review, and developers replied personally to many of them with a promise to fix it. While it might have an impact on the overall singleplayer experience - lags here and there, getting kicked due to AFK and waiting for a local server, - the main frustration comes from the risk of losing access to this game forever if servers are shut down. I hope it never happens, but the reputation damage is already done.
Default interface settings are weird. Why turn off unit icons by default, why add huge arrows above enemy units while using mortars, why add this "too far" message while shooting? Once again - just add a pop-up window asking players which setting they like more, or at least show them nicely where and how to adjust those settings.


Why does this game deserve much better reviews?

Retreat, entrenchement, engineers, medics.... The best things implemented in the franchise since ever. Finally, you can send damaged or unused units to reserve and call them back in the hour of need. Another thing that was always so frustrating - sending your engineers for death just to release some of your CP for more necessary units. MoW II fixes this issue, so your medics, sappers, engineers will just run away from the map once the job is done.
Graphics. You can argue with me, but I believe that the graphics in this game are the best in the series so far. I personally preferred the bright colours of the original MoW or FoW to the dark picture of AS2 and GoH, so the colours of MoW II are definitely a huge plus for me. The lights, the explosions, the water, the grass, even dynamic skies... It looks and feels good. Put aside some clunky animations and some outdated crate textures right from FoW, it all can be fixed with patches. The overall picture is decent.
Mod support. With one of the latest updates we now have full access to the game files, so all the modders out there can start exploring them and apply their best reverse engineering skills to create all kinds of modifications. You don't like the new UI and want to replace it with the old MoW one? There is a mod for that already. You don't like the voice lines? Sure, there is a mod replacing them too. The game was released just 10 days ago, but modders are onto it already. For those complaining about the lack of new content or those seeking for new playable factions - give modders some time, and you will be able to play as brits, japan, space marines and anime girls. An example of Skyrim can teach us one thing - the modder community keeps games alive for decades.
Singleplayer. Finally, we have a lot of singleplayer content - you have 3 campaigns in the Story mode, similar to classic MoW and FoW missions with some scripted scenarios and characters, and not just capturing flags as we did for the last 15 years. In addition to that you can play Historical, Conquest and Raid modes, each offering a different look at DCG-like experience from moving armies on strategic map to leading your path through historical Overlord and Bagration operations.
Batalion system. This new multiplayer mode brings fresh air into the series, as it offers some roleplay - you don't have to control the whole army anymore, instead you can focus on artillery, infantry or tanks specifically. In addition, you can create or balance your own "deck" of units before every match. It reminds me some of CCG mechanics, and it works well for multiplayer battles.


Conclusion
There is probably much more to add to both pros and cons, but one thing amazes me the most - how developers listen to their community and adjust the game accordingly, which is a rare thing in the gaming industry today. While I was writing this review, they already posted the updates roadmap that addresses half of the issues I mentioned here. Oh, btw, developers, please fix this "not enough CP to recrew an allied vehicle" thing. I already have a vehicle on the map and men on the map, so this limitation feels weird.
Yes, it was a rough start indeed, but I see both developers and the community making this game better every day. I already like the game, I bought the deluxe edition on the day of release, and I'm eager to see what is to come in the future. This franchise is unique and it's warming my heart that this game was created in Ukraine. Thank you, Best Way!