Recent reviews by Sinowarrior

Best Total War ever, as a WFB and Shogun player since late 90s, CA has done a tremendous service to both community.

For the amount of time spent on this game and the joy of playing it, a little price increase isn't a problem for the continued evolvement of this great game.

Definitely done AoW justice with this strong release, managed to retain the core experience of past AoW games yet incorporating features from Civ6, Humankind, Endless Legend etc.

Fun race customization but unfortunately that reduces the story telling part for each race/faction, and there is no selection/customization of units roster for each race. Hero customizations and progressions aren't bad but not having some sort of existing classes just reduced the RPGness of the game.

All in all, an excellent turn based/4x game in a fantasy setting, and pretty much the only one remaining in that genre. Customization capability is unique and limitless but unfortunately also reduced the RPG part of the game.

Played HoI back in early 00s, and I have to say HoI 4 for me is a pretty big disappointment.
Cons:
1. Complete removal of command echelons, and I always loved the division, corps, army, army group etc, this leveled command echelon and ability to allocate commanders at each level, with appropriate rank needed to take the command and staking of various bonus and command distance is much more realistic than this whole new division then army approach. It is just too much of a simplification for a very good and accurate representation.

2. Lack of dedicated HQ and ability to add supporting elements to various HQs, division template is very nice but removal of the HQ concept and the ability to freely tag supporting battalions such as heavy panzer to the HQ etc make it again much less historically accurate, as those heavy assets should be located at higher echelon not at division level. It is at the discretion of the higher level commanders where those heavy assets should be allocated.

3. 3D model for units, again it’s nice but I would much prefer to have pure NATO symbols rather than bunch of 3D models running around on maps. HoI should be distinct from EU and CK

4. Drawing up battle plans, I need to practice bit more before giving a in depth review but at the current stage, it’s pretty weird for me, again due to lack of command echelon, and its either divisions attacking or a whole army running around.

5. Air unit, much prefer older squadron then air wing approach with ability to install commanders, aces are nice but they are not proper commanders. And I found it much harder to coordinate air support or air superiority.

7. Research…..hate this whole research tree with graphics much better to have HoI 3, or HoI 2, even I’s research scheme. Again this makes me feel over simplification. We are talking about WWII grand strategy, not some ARPG skill tree...or a research tree from AoE.

8. Trade: pretty weird to me, no cash but trading manufacturing (civil) for resources. Like how they have split resources further, but it is better to have cash for trading… global econnomy back in 30s are not a barter economy. Also prefers to have a visual representation of supply and manufacturing of such.

9. Obsolete equipment, still need to dig more into this part. Don’t know whether they can be sold or scrapped.

10. Just too cartoonish and EU4 like, completely lost the feeling HoI series.

Pros
1. Production line is nice, so is the split between civil and military production facility
2. Division designer is very nice, but again will be much better if HQ is included
3. National Focus, well its interesting but still hate those graphic presentation, remind me too much of skill trees in an ARPG game than a grand strategy game

Overall, it will be much better if they implement production line, split between civil and military production and division designer into HoI3. I may play it a bit, but I will be back to HoI 3.