WARNO has a bright future, despite its rough edges
Eugen Systems is not the largest strategy game developer, but it has been a pioneer in real-time strategy design. Over the past decade, the Wargame and Steel Division series was the most influential for Eugen Systems. The former introduced the iconic tactical gameplay loop while focusing on key quality-of-life features. Eugen’s WARNO seeks to combine the best of both franchises to write a new chapter for quality strategy gaming design.
WARNO is an online tactical game that focuses on real-time strategy. It features large-scale, engaging battles in single and multiplayer. WARNO also includes a deck-building system that can be used as a mini-game. It is very similar to its predecessors. This will make Wargame and Steel Division veterans familiar with the game’s flow. WARNO has a lot of exciting elements, even though it is in its current rough state. This gives the game hints at its incredible potential.
The most attractive feature is the return to the Cold War-gone hot backdrop. This setting, which is underutilized but mechanically rich and engaging, is the main point of attraction. Except for a few exceptions, simulation wargames have dominated the Cold War, a small subset of the larger genre that doesn’t offer the most accessibility. However, this trend seems to be changing in a positive direction.
This setting offers deep tactical gameplay, unlike any other strategy game. While there are some impressive and shiny tanks, the presence of anti-tank guided missiles and infantry fighting vehicles and a wider range of ammunition gives this period of combat its unique and dynamic style.
WARNO vehicles now have short-range smoke launchers. This gives players more options to protect their troops against ATGMs. This is both tactically and thematically interesting.
WARNO saw significant improvements in the aeroplane industry. The first was an increase in speeds for different aircraft. Close air support planes like the A-10 Thunderbolt are slow but manoeuvrable. The MIG-31 Foxhound, as an interceptor, is fast, but it has difficulty in long dogfights.
Modular speed will mean that planes will perform more specific roles on the battlefield and will need a greater range of tactics and players skills to make them work effectively. A travel timer is now available on planes en route to battle, encouraging planning and greater loitering to increase battlefield presence.
WARNO’s fierce battles are markedly different from Steel Division. Control zones have a return, which departs from the previous series. Players will need to use leader units to claim these control zones to earn victory points and eventually prevail. Although the shifting frontline system is still in effect when opposing units claim the same control area, it isn’t as well-known as Steel Division.
This shift results in battle lines becoming more porous, which opens up possibilities for sneaky manoeuvres, surprise attacks, and artificial reconnaissance tools. WARNO is a welcoming state that embraces ambitious tactics and manoeuvre warfare.
WARNO makes a welcome return to the deck-building system of Eugen Strategy. The system is closer to Steel Divisions. Players will create their troop formations using historical divisions or army divisions. This gives each battlegroup a tactical identity and playstyle through division-specific unit selections.
WARNO’s presentation can be compared to the basic gameplay loop. Developers have paid more attention to audio and graphics. Maps look especially vivid and crisp while aircraft emit powerful engine roars that bring every match to life. Although the interface is more stylized, it feels clunkier than Steel Division 2’s. There are areas for optimization and improvement.
WARNO is currently in Early Access and has several issues. Online games can be unstable. Some unit commands don’t work or aren’t working, and unit balancing may not be perfect yet. The advantage of Early Access is that most of these issues should be resolved by the full launch.
