Best RTS Ever

[truehunter]

I have been playing real time strategy games for at least 15 years. It is my opinion that Steel Division II may become the best RTS ever made. I say this fully aware of numerous flaws and limitations characteristic of all beta launches. And I know that the AI still primarily fights like dumb-Montgomery (though I see some flanking now in breakthrough games against AI, which is nice). But I think that my quite ridiculous, and certainly "early," claim is indeed self evident. For this game does what gamers have hoped a game could do since the first Panzer Commander hit the shelves. Steel Division 2 finally accomplishes that which I and I believe many have searched for in so many games, of such varied genres, and from publishers as diverse as they come:

Playing Steel Division 2 makes me feel in command of an army.

Developers - Keep up the fantastic work! I look forward to the official launch and will play the &%#@ out of the campaigns. And please, after some well-deserved rest, make new campaigns, in new locations, with even more armies and divisions. I don't care if you just reskin the units, just please keep that content coming. Thank you!

[Major.Pain]

Have you played the other Eugene games much for comparison ie Wargame series and SD1?

Why is this game better than those apart from the obvious Graphics?

Watched a few streams the last couple of days and apart from Graphics i don't see much over the RTS part of SD to be honest?

[legendary pair of shoes]

Its really good for me its 2nd place right behind the new Combat Mission games.

Best success for the release!

[truehunter]

Originally posted by Major.Pain:

Have you played the other Eugene games much for comparison ie Wargame series and SD1?

Why is this game better than those apart from the obvious Graphics?

Watched a few streams the last couple of days and apart from Graphics i don't see much over the RTS part of SD to be honest?

I have indeed played other Eugen games! This game feels much more immersive than SD1 and Wargame. I found SD1 hard to love - why have a division-level game of front line tactics? But I did find it hard to go back to Wargame because SD1 feels much larger in scale and has an infinitely better UI (scrolling in and out, the amazing distance ranging button, etc.). SD2 has an even better UI than SD1 (though it seems a bit limited graphically in the beta, it is obvious you can scroll basically anywhere and the whole system reacts [though not quite seamlessly in the beta...]). And SD2 is so much BIGGER in every possible way. The maps are huge. The divisions are much, much, much more customizable (you want heavy tanks in phase A? you got them! you want super troopers? you got them! you want bombers? you got them!!! ... just not all of them in one deck). The huge, detailed maps combined with the flexibility of division design is @#$#ing awesome. I personally am having a blast playing as USSR defending breakthrough with trenches and a deck geared toward defense. And the beta division isn't even specc'ed for trench defense - I just chose to spend my points that way.

[CheeseMerchant]

i have been playing RTS games since the release of age of empires 2. and i also say this game has the potential to be the best RTS game ever made. the reasons for this is:

1.the battles are in a scale never seen before and combined with the simple UI still very managable. this is where games like Graviteam tactics and theatre of war failed

2. the graphics are by far superior than any game that comes even close to this scale in the RTS genre. but in the Beta it feels more optimised then SD44 while having 3 to 4 times as many units on the field.

3.the deck builder. oh my god the deck builder. i have never seen such a fleshed out concept in an RTS game. really if someone has a problem with the deck builder.......FIGHT ME!.

4.Map design. the 2 maps we got feel Real and alive.elevation adds an entire layer of strategy and tactics to each battle.

5. they added enough micro to the game to not make it irritating but at the same time not to simplistic as well. i think they tried to go for the scale of wargame combined with the tactical depth of SD44 in which they succeeded.

i could add alot more points but those are too subjective in nature

[Major.Pain]

@truelhunter, thanks for the detailed feedback.
Bought and played all other Eugene games(except the C&C type on a couple years back) and trying to decide whether i want to drop some Dollars on this one.
Yeah i loved WG:RD risk style campaign map just the AI in WG series was so bad it took away so much from any kind of realistic play from the SP experience.
SD AI was leagues ahead and even gave a realistic and believable challenge, really enjoyed chilling with some AI Skirmish :)

[tyke]

I'm also really liking this so far. Enjoying it far more than any previous Eugen releases. This game is delivering on fun factor big time, and that's what matters most - Not nerfing Katyusha into a different role or completely changing the balance of tanks. The most important thing is not messing with how much fun this game is delivering right now.

I hope they don't change it too much.
The balance ATM actually seems very good between all types of units.
I like the large scale with all the units.

I don't want to see units getting hugely nerfed or buffed, I think it's way too early for that. And I don't want to see incomes being hugely nerfed or unit prices being hugely changed.

[Sluggger]

Agreed. SD44 was really good...SD2 is on a different level. Obviously there's some bugs and flaws but overall I am very impressed. Great job Eugen.

[fsp]

I agree, it's looking very, very good for a beta.

I am more of a hardcore wargamer (think War in the East, War in the West etc.) and this for the first time feels like a real wargame to me.

I know it's not hardcore.

The difference is in the scale.

I despise all that 50-200 m combat between tanks in most of the RTS games.

Here you have the real feeling of having a front line. More so than in SD1.

[PzKwkanone]

keep up the good work it is really that great! hope we can gather a big community for this game. hype train tuuut tuut love you eugen best RTS ever made

[Bullman]

+1 to OP comments!

Have been very impressed with Eugen and this expansion of the SD series. SDN44 is a fantastic game and SD2 is shaping up to be an incredible next step in the evolution of the series. Ever since the very innovative R.U.S.E. when I first saw what you guys could do with your IRISZOOM engine, I have played and thoroughly enjoyed every other release to date (except AoA). I enjoyed the Cold War/modern setting of ALB/WRD etc but the WW2 setting is a favourite of mine and of many other wargamers for good reason.

Thank you to all at Eugen, once again. Your work is really appreciated.

[Drunkafk]

Originally posted by Bullman:

+1 to OP comments!

Have been very impressed with Eugen and this expansion of the SD series. SDN44 is a fantastic game and SD2 is shaping up to be an incredible next step in the evolution of the series. Ever since the very innovative R.U.S.E. when I first saw what you guys could do with your IRISZOOM engine, I have played and thoroughly enjoyed every other release to date (except AoA). I enjoyed the Cold War/modern setting of ALB/WRD etc but the WW2 setting is a favourite of mine and of many other wargamers for good reason.

Thank you to all at Eugen, once again. Your work is really appreciated.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1698613088
All thanks to Eugen's game engine.

[♔ Affable 7th Wave Teaboo ♔]

Very nice foundation indeed...

But there's still a lot of balancing to be done to make this work well. Let's not end up having to resort to community patches again, shall we?