Maroc - 3RD-STRIKE.COM - A La Une - 02/Apr 03:33

Over The Top: WWI – Review

World War I & II shooters used to be extremely popular, thanks to franchises such as Call of Duty, Medal of Honor, Battlefield, and so on. Nowadays, it’s a less popular period of time to base shooters on, as quite a few developers opt for modern warfare or even futuristic themes. Nonetheless, there are still occasional releases that incorporate the Great War into the experience. This brings us to Over The Top: WWI, a recently released third-person shooter that promises hectic online trench warfare. We were curious to see how this smaller indie production would fare against the so-called greats in the genre. Story Even though you are playing through World War I campaigns, there is no real story to speak of. You’ll just go from one battle to the next, be it in multiplayer or single-player mode. We didn’t miss the lack of a storyline here, as it would probably have interfered with the chaotic action the game provides. Some snippets about the war would have been interesting in a dedicated codex, but other than that, we don’t see how a narrative would have improved the experience. Graphics While certainly not on par with other war-themed shooters like Call of Duty, Over The Top: WWI has a certain charm to it, and is not a bad-looking game by any means. The sometimes almost cartoonish-like style does have a lot of details, ranging from the clutter and structures on the battlefield to the different character outfits, the variety of weapons, and the cool-looking vehicles. We did encounter quite a few ragdoll effects when enemies and allies were blown into the air by explosives, making the game look a bit silly at times. Even so, the overall atmosphere, the chaotic action, the many bullets whizzing by, and the explosions all around us made it feel like we were actually fighting in the midst of a warzone. The experience is truly a lot more intense thanks to this, and it feels totally different than many other shooters as a result. Sound In terms of sound design, Over The Top: WWI also nails it. For the most part, you’ll have to make do with the sounds of gunfire, explosions, the occasional bagpipe player, and a few other SFX. These all feel accurate and have a certain ‘oomph’ to them. Then there are the voicelines of the different characters in the midst of the chaotic battlefield, ranging from a few one-liners to actual screams of agony. These all add to the atmosphere, and it was nice to actually hear shouts in different languages. Of course, voice chat is also a thing here, so you might hear actual people shouting and talking too. All in all, the atmosphere was truly set thanks to the audiovisual presentation of the game. Gameplay Over The Top: WWI is a third-person shooter that supports up to 200 players online. The game has a World War I theme and provides chaotic (but fun) action-packed battlefields that change throughout the course of a match. As World War I was infamous for its trench warfare, the game is also focused on this particular element. Outside of regular combat and capturing points, you’ll also be able to dig additional trenches, build minor fortifications, and so on. The building component does add an interesting new gameplay element that many other similar shooters do not have. You can also play the game in single-player mode, which is recommended if you want to try out a few different classes, learn vehicle controls, or simply want to try out certain mechanics. During our first few moments, we were a bit overwhelmed by the hectic action that immediately ensued in a full online lobby. We had to come to grips with spawning points, offense and defense, vehicles, and trench digging. Of course, some of these topics are somewhat handled in the shooting range tutorial, but then you’re in a calm environment instead of a battlefield with up to 200 players. We noticed quickly that we were almost always stuck picking the same one or two classes, as classes with limited slots were always taken, in every single match we joined. It’s a bit of a shame, but it’s understandable not to have too many officers or snipers per fighting side, of course. As you play more and more, you’ll be able to unlock new weapons for loadouts, passive skills, and cosmetics. Even if you perform poorly, you’ll still be able to unlock new things regularly. Even though we had an absolute blast, there are still a few areas that could use some improvement. The vehicle controls aren’t that great, and there are hitbox issues and a few minor bugs. There is also no proper party system if you’re going to play with friends. At the time of writing this review, you’ll have to join the same server manually, join the same side, and hopefully join the same squad. We hope a proper party system gets implemented in the future, where one player can select the right server, side, and so on. Conclusion Over The Top: WWI is a fun, chaotic, and perhaps a bit silly, third-person shooter with a heavy focus on online play. If you’re looking for a single-player experience, you might end up a bit disappointed. If you’re looking for some online fun, however, you’re in for a treat. While you’ll often be stuck playing the same classes online, the combat itself is extremely satisfying, and it’s fun to barge into an enemy base with a tank or just crash your plane in the middle of an approaching group of soldiers. Matches are unpredictable, which is also part of the fun. If you’re looking for an amusing shooter with a World War I theme, this one is certainly worth looking into.