World War 2 On-Line: Blitzkrieg

by Strategy First

Product Features

• This is a historically-based multiplayer battle simulation -- you decide what part you want to play
• Operate on a 1/2-scale map of Europe, with accurate terrain modeling
• First person perspective in all gameplay- the first massively multiplayer first person shooter!
• Incredibly accurate and detailed, from the planes & tanks to the rifles and grenades
• The rich RPG element allows for character advancement and slection of career paths

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00005K89C
• Media: CD-ROM
• Release Date: June 6, 2001
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (162 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #29,396 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Platform: PC

Amazon.com Preview

There were prettier games at E3. There were more popular games at E3. There were even more innovative games at E3. But nothing at the show had me more excited to actually play it than World War II Online: Blitzkrieg from Strategy First. War game, simulation, and first-person shooter fans will all want to take a close look at this massively multiplayer game, as it has the potential to combine all these game elements into a cohesive whole unlike any title ever seen.

Developer Cornered Rat Software is attempting nothing less than simulating the entire Western Front of World War II, letting thousands of players duke it out simultaneously. All of Europe is represented at half the scale, providing an enormous amount of terrain for players to conquer and defend. There are a number of strategic points, such as airfields, that players must take and hold to gain and maintain supremacy. To accomplish these goals, both the Axis and Allied teams have access to a variety of resources, ranging from basic foot soldiers to tanks, bombers, and fighter aircraft. A planned patch will add naval units to the game, letting budding admirals command everything from landing craft to aircraft carriers. The design team has taken pains to model everything in great detail, and the experience of flying or commanding a vehicle seemed particularly authentic.

It should be noted that players can't simply jump into the best vehicle and drive or fly to the frontlines. They must earn the right to use these valuable assets. The war is always raging, whether you are logged in or not, and a player's success in missions can lead to promotions within the game. Beginning infantrymen can only gain status by successfully participating in the raids commanders order. With a sufficient amount of prestige, players can begin to plan offensive and defensive actions and allocate troops, vehicles, and aircraft. The game is designed to really reward skill, letting the most capable players become virtual generals if they choose. Of course, players always have the right to stay in the trenches with the rest of the grunts if that's how they prefer to play, but it's nice to see that talented team players will reap appropriate rewards.

The game's biggest asset could become its most damning handicap. Aside from purely defensive structures and guns, there are no AI-controlled opponents. That means every plane, soldier, vehicle, and ship you see in the game has a human lurking behind the controls. It also means that if the game doesn't reach a certain level of popularity, there will be very little to do. Judging from the look and feel of the game at E3, popularity shouldn't be a problem, and I anticipate spending much of my free time helping my fellow teammates secure our objectives. Here's hoping it's worth the $10 monthly fee. --T. Byrl Baker

World War II Online is a multiplayer online game you play via the Internet. A stable Internet connection is required to play. Strategy First charges a small monthly fee for this game, separate from your Internet service provider access charges. The first month of this fee is included in the purchase price of this package. You must provide a valid credit card to register and play. After your first month, you can use your credit card to buy more time.

Product Description

In World War II Online, you are a soldier in real-time battle during the greatest conflict of the 20th century! The game begins at the beginning of the Blitzkrieg, and you must work with the British and French to turn back the Nazi tide! Will the Nazis be victorious again, or will history be re-written? The answer lies with you, and the choices you make in World War II Online!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun and addictive, January 13, 2002

By 

TG - See all my reviews

This review is from: World War 2 On-Line: Blitzkrieg (CD-ROM)

Holy cow, this game is fun. WWII online has worked through its early problems and, while not perfect, is still just about the most fun I've had playing an online game. It's amazingly immersive and well modeled. Just the driving a tank, for example, is better than most tank sims I've played! And that's only one part of the game...you can fly a plane, man a gun, or attack as infantry. All the parts are modeled differently, and all the vehicles have different strengths and weaknesses. This is a tough game to get tired of since there's so many things to try.

A few warnings - you will need a decent processor and video card to play this. 512MB of RAM is also a big help. The learning curve can also be a bit steep at first, but it's not too insanely tough to get the hang of. Also, a note to FPS fans - this is *not* Quake II. I f you expect to jump in as infantry, run off by yourself and take on the enemy you will last about ten seconds. This game requires strategy, teamwork, and patience - one shot can kill, and the guy who will get you is the one you don't see.

Minus one star because of the high system requirements and a few remaining gameplay issues. The game has evolved so much since its initial release, however, that I am confident it will only get better and better.

This game rocks - go buy it!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Addicted, June 7, 2005

By 

Dennis Hodges (Portland, OR United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: World War 2 On-Line: Blitzkrieg (CD-ROM)

Here's the deal: I really like this game and it's one that I continually keep coming back to (off and on for 3 years). However, I think it's only fair in a review to try to drop some of my bias. (No guarantees)

First off this is not a twitch game; although it's commonly referred to as an FPS, the term is a little misleading. The game is intended to be a simulation. It requires much more strategy, skill, and teamwork than your typical FPS. If you like to point and shoot over and over and over again, taking out 10-20 other players over the course of 5 minutes, this is probably not the game for you. With WWII online, there are times where you might find yourself spending 15-20 minutes just getting to the action.

Second, this game is frustrating and has a very steep learning curve. Anyone that spends 15-20 minutes looking for a target, only to die empty handed is going to be a "little" upset. Anyone that dies 10 or 20 times before they get their first kill is understandably going to be shouting some profane words at their monitor.

Third, the graphics are alright. Due to the realism in this game you need to have the draw distance cranked up. Needless to say if you haven't upgraded your machine in a while, the graphics are going to suck and you're going to get some lag. If you've got a decent machine (2.8 to 3.0 ghz) and a mid to high end vid card (e.g. Nvidia 6600/6800 or ATI X700/X800), you can max a lot of the settings and may be surprised at some of the visual detail you see.

Finally, as far as support is concerned: I haven't had any problems, so I really can't comment too much. As far as bugs, the game is pretty clean at this point (much better than many other MMO games I've played)

So, the question is: Why do I keep coming back. Personnaly, a lot of the newer MMORPG games I've played tend to focus on graphics at the expense of gameplay (S.W.G. - can anyone say GRIND), or involve insane amounts of levelling (W.O.W. - sorry, I don't have 20 hours a week to play). As far as twitch shooters are concerned, I get tired of playing the same 20 maps over and over again: point, click, move, point, click, move.

With that said, the main reason I still play is this: I've never played any other game that provides such a hardcore adrenaline rush. There's nothing like the experience of spotting the enemy after setting up for 10-15 minutes and knowing that a split second can make the difference between him dying or you dying. The realism of this game, is awe-inspiring. Don't get me wrong, this isn't a perfect sim; but it's the best that's out there. Where you place a shot, can make the difference between killing an enemy or being taken out yourself. There have been times where I could feel my heart beating in my chest, and I've nearly broken a sweat. Any lulls in the action, only add to the intensity. Although there is a rank system which has some effect on available equipment, player skill plays much more of a role than any other online game I've played (unless you consider twitch a skill).

And, then there's flying. Even getting a plane of the ground is a challenge. Actually killing something is an entirely different story. But, once you get used to it, to play a top notch flight sim and actually be able to stafe ground targets (all other players) and engage in dogfights (again all other players - AI is almost non-existent in the game)... it's beyond description...

It comes down to this: You'll love it or hate it; you'll rave about it, or you'll go off on how it's the worst game you've ever played; but ultimately, you won't know until you try.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rough Start, but now for me it's Simply Addictive!!, January 10, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: World War 2 On-Line: Blitzkrieg (CD-ROM)

I just love this game! Sure, there are many things about it that could be improved, but there is nothing like it out there otherwise, and the realism alone makes it worthwhile. WWIIOnline came out last June with a very rocky start, but over the past 7 months has improved dramatically. Cornered Rat Software is a small company that listens to its subscribers, and if you purchase this game (and pay its monthly subscription fee) you're really joining them as a 'beta tester' as the world they have created grows and changes. Right now the war is limited to northeast France and the Benelux, but over time, it will expand to include the entire globe.

If you get this one, pay VERY close attention to the required specifications. You WILL need at least 384 Mb of RAM, and 512 Mb would be even better. You MUST have a good video card, and a joystick to play all aspects of the game (tanks and aircraft), despite it not being mentioned in the list of specs.

This game will appeal to the older gamer who is interested in military history, combat flight sims, and military hardware. Don't get this one if you're a Quake fan, as the play is more cerebral and takes more patience than quick reflexes to succeed.

Finally, if you get this one, make sure to check out the related forums sponsored by Playnet. Many of the questions you have related to installation and start-up can be answered by the knowledgable player base, who are ready and willing to help you out.

One final item worth mentioning: there will be a VERY large (@ 100 Mb) initial download for you once you have stated the install. If you have a 56K dial-up like me, give it an overnight to complete, and dream of WWII while you sleep!

Good Luck!

WWII Online Screen Name: "nestorm"

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