Sudden Strike 4 (PC) Preview

Sudden Strike 4's greatest strength lies not in what it adds, but in what it refines. The campaign, while typical for a WWII-themed RTS, manages to recreate famous battles in a way that stays true to its historical background while allowing for deviations through alternate objectives.

Each mission has a specific goal, but new side-goals are added as progress is made. They start out simple enough, easily clearable by just following the designated path, but they quickly become trials that test the ability to manage an army during high stress situations. Defending an outpost sounds simple enough, but it becomes a gambit when doing so would mean giving up a tank, or key units, that could otherwise be utilised in the core objective.

Unlike other strategy titles, the Sudden Strike series has always put an emphasis on minimal team building. Reinforcements are scarce and a unit's death carries a monumental amount of weight. It may not seem like much when one infantryman falls in combat, but when they keep falling, and none come to replace them, the consequences become clear.

From a design standpoint, Kite Games' synergy between its map and level design takes an already strong core concept and elevates it. Maps are filled with hazards that require actually manoeuvring around and consideration. If a tank tries to roll itself over a frozen lake, it'll simply sink and potentially bring down whatever soldiers were escorting it across.

Although there's no shortage of map variety when it comes to the campaign, the multiplayer is a different story altogether. Online boils down to capture the flag spread between four possible maps. The novelty is fun at first, but the lack of others modes, and more maps, leaves multiplayer feeling rather barebones.

Multiplayer maps aren't particularly big, nor do they offer much in the way of discovery after one playthrough. There are multiple routes that can be taken to capture each flag, and volleying between constantly stolen flags can be exciting, but it doesn't take long for its simplicity to become glaring.

Disappointingly, the skill trees and commander abilities that Kite Games put front and centre don't amount to much. Skill icons are next to impossible to figure out in-game and commanders really only change an army's selection of units. It's an interesting concept that clearly exists to try to add a level of customisation and personality, but it barely feels like a feature.

As beneficial as it would be, it's unlikely that Kite Games will add more content into Sudden Strike 4 for its release. The single player is more than enough to make it an enjoyable RTS, but a $50 price tag and a lack of refined multiplayer is certain to keep prospective buyers on the fence.