REVIEW – Within the framework of this turn-based strategy, Classified: France ’44 harbors a few interesting ideas but ultimately languishes in mediocrity. At its core pulses the very essence of World War II strategy, yet, lamentably, this is insufficient for it to rise above the sea of run-of-the-mill games. The potential was unmistakably present, but somewhere along the way, execution falters, leaving players hungering for something more substantial. In essence, there was more smoke than fire.

Classified: France ’44 unfolds in the closing days of World War II, 55 days preceding D-Day. Players assume the roles of Allied Forces’ special operations soldiers, charged with stirring chaos, building up the French resistance, and readying occupied France for the Allies’ onslaught. Boasting a compelling theme and introducing decisions that set it apart from numerous other genre titles, it falls short of fully leveraging its inherent potential, leaving one desiring more.

Tactical Map and “Morale Boosting”

First off, let’s touch on the game elements of Classified: France ’44 that appealed: these include the campaign map and the unique innovations within the turn-based battles.

A detailed campaign map is laid before us, encompassing the western part of occupied France. Through this map, we embark on missions to liberate from Nazi dominance, all the while collecting rewards in the form of weapons, soldiers, and uniforms. These rewards allow for team customization and strengthening of Allied factions within the region. Liberating each territory unveils special bonuses, providing genuine satisfaction as the map gradually slips from Nazi control.

The combat system’s various aspects lend a distinctive flavor to the game within its genre, with the morale system of notable importance. Classified: France ’44 approaches combat realities with a sophisticated morale code, significantly influencing troop behaviors in battle.

Contrary to most similar games, where shots affect characters only if they hit, here, even near-misses can induce stress and fear. Reality dictates that combat is much more than mere physical confrontation; psychological impacts, such as fear of death or combat stress, can be decisive. This game endeavors to present this dimension, where a decrease in morale affects characters’ decisions, courage, and combat capabilities.

When a Bullet Whizzes Past Your Head on the Battlefield…

The reality experienced on the battlefield is far more nuanced than one might anticipate. The feared whizz of bullets flying past, the shocking force of nearby explosions, or an unexpected burst of gunfire – these are all vivid details that leave a profound impact, even when anticipated. The awareness that a bullet was specifically meant for you can be a truly terrifying and unsettling experience.

Classified: France ’44 excellently portrays these real sensations with a morale indicator that decreases each time our character is subjected to fire – whether they are hits or misses. If a character’s morale barely brushes the 50% threshold from below, a kind of paralysis sets in, fueled by the fear that stepping out of cover might make them the next target. Although I lack personal military experience, I believe this mechanic accurately reflects how fear might operate in reality, thus adding an extra layer to the gameplay experience.

Once morale drops to zero percent, the unit becomes incapable of action, paralyzed by the fear for their own life. This aspect particularly resonated with me, perhaps because it tangibly emphasizes the weight of decisions or allows us to see enemy combatants as real individuals, not just expendable extras ready to sacrifice their lives merely to complicate our heroes’ tasks. This gameplay element, especially within the context of turn-based combat, therefore made a deep and memorable impression on me.

Lame combat

However, when compared to others, the combat system of Classified: France ’44 is just painfully mediocre. While technically adequate, it offers nothing new; it feels as though one is playing a sequence of other games over and again. For instance, the cover and hit chance system becomes a rather tedious gameplay element, slightly redeemed only by the aforementioned “morale shock” mechanism when targeting an enemy.

The enemy AI also lacks sophistication, often making enemy soldiers too easy a target due to morale shock or trivially destructible. Occasionally, the enemy behaves absurdly, such as running right up to you, making them easy kills. Combat against stronger enemy types – like machine gunners or “heavy” units – feels artificially, unnecessarily hard, as these somehow can’t be stealthily neutralized, which is odd, considering they’re just in simple wool coats, not special armor.

The game’s visual presentation and overall presentation are also disappointing. The quality of character models falls far short of expectations: facial expressions are awkward, and the detail in their attire is quite basic. Although the game is primarily played from a top-down perspective, customization and presentation of characters would play an important role, but this unfortunately does not translate due to the poorly executed character models.

The lack or repetition of game animations – the same introductory animation at the beginning of every mission – and frequent glitches in the “cinematic” camera during combat scenes, such as black screens or getting stuck in the environment, only further degrade the user experience.

The sound of weapons also seems incorrect or malfunctioning, and the voice acting is often amateurish. I swear, the Germans spoke in a Southern accent in English on more than one occasion. The only voice acting that impressed was that of Tom King: one of the soldiers with whom you start the game. The rest of the voice acting was very poor.

Average Joe

Classified: France ’44 turns out to be a fairly average experience. While it possesses a few unique aspects to the classic mechanics, the game overall feels quite formulaic compared to others in the genre. The presentation of the game is dismal, with ugly character models and weak sounds and voice acting. Fans of World War II and die-hard turn-based strategy gamers might still find this title entertaining, but it won’t impress them.

-BadSector-

Publisher: Team17

Developer: Absolutely Games

Style: Turn-based strategy

Release: March 5, 2024.
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