Engrossing, addictive, and an absolute joy to play, Silent Storm is akin to the most entertaining game of chess ever.
User Rating: 9.2 | Silent Storm PC
If you have been looking for a suitable turn-based tactical combat game and are sick of replaying X-Com and Final Fantasy Tactics, your search ends here. Silent Storm's most endearing feature is that it rewards creativity and caution. The turn-based setup allows unlimited time to plan and execute complicated maneuvers yet maintains a decent pace. You will feel like a hero when your sneaky plan to hit the enemy from behind works beautifully and will beat your head in to wall when your head-on assault is cut down by machine gun fire. Considering the simply inhumane odds against you (most missions see you outnumbered by 3:1, if not more), careful planning is an absolute must. The beauty of the game is that it, unlike many other games that claim to support creative gameplay, does not make your alternatives plainly obvious. There is no big neon sign that reads "take this approach, it's better," a feature that has turned far too many "thinking man's games" into standard linear affairs. Clever use of the fully destructible terrain and your squad's strengths will leave you with victory and, more importantly, a heartfelt feeling of satisfaction. The game features an experience-based skill tree/leveling system for characters that is just as engaging and satisfying as the combat. Visually, Silent Storm is exactly where it needs to be. The game is rendered in zoomable full 3D, allowing for comprehensive viewing of the terrain, which aids in planning a course of action. Explosion effects are amazing and a little over the top, but they often cause such a strain on the video card that they are not seen very smoothly. The game would benefit from having more smooth surfaces and fewer jagged ones, but the games overall visual quality is commendable and its style fits the game's dark and mysterious storyline, especially during night raids. The sounds of combat are very convincing and add much to the game's feel. Hearing a machine gun open fire on your squad is a tense situation even without sound, but the sounds of stray MG rounds ricocheting off of metal gates or shattering windows makes the tension almost unbearable at times. Grenade sounds have an ample amount of beef to them and massive explosions are appropiately loud and bass-heavy. The character speech is the sound departments weakest link. It is far too lighthearted and as a result distracts from the tension and reality of the game. The game offers no multiplayer, but the two campaigns, one Axis and one Allies, are very long. Although the mission maps are common, both sides will play each mission from a different position as well as use different weapons. It also gives the player a chance to create a different type of squad the second time around - the Axis campagin may be taken on with an explosives-heavy team while the Allied one is give a more stealth and snipe angle. In addition to missions there are "random encounters," which are strictly optional and mainly serve as a way to let your team gain experience The point is, depsite its lack of multiplayer (which would be a phenmonal addition) there is more than enough game here. Silent Storm definitely isn't for everyone. It is paced much slower than most other games and its payoffs are rarely instantaneous. A patient and clever gamer will find plenty to like here though. Engrossing, addictive, and an absolute joy to play, Silent Storm is akin to the most entertaining game of chess you will ever play.
