This War Of Mine Review

“…eeirly impressive”

So a few weeks back I previewed This War Of Mine (and you can read it here – http://invisioncommunity.co.uk/2014/09/24/war-mine-preview/ – if you like!), 11-Bit Studios’ wartime survival thriller which focuses for the first time on the experiences of civilians living amongst the carnage of battle. The preview was very positive, but the finished product of the game is better again! Improvements have been made, features added and what was already good has been touched up and finalised. The finished product is fantastic, and all of the following explains why…

In case you are yet to hear about the game, This War Of Mine is a 2.5D survival game in which you control a small group of civilians fighting to last out the challenges and horrors of war. You must scavenge for resources, maintain your living conditions and protect your possessions and your fellow survivors, and all the while ensure that the mental stability of your group remains intact. For the first time ever, the game makes you consider the genuine difficulties faced by civilians attempting to live in a war zone, from the simple things like eating to the complex issues of depression, guilt and fear. It is an incredibly deep concept, and whilst it has been made into an entertaining and challenging video game, it is also treated with consideration, respect and care by its creators.

The game itself tries to consider all of the aspects which could come into play in trying to survive in what would be undoubtedly one of the most difficult and dangerous environments in the modern world. Rather than treacherous jungles, or a zombie apocalypse, or even a haunted asylum, the theme of this game is simply “war”, but in reality things cannot get much more treacherous than that. You need food, warmth, tools, medicine, weapons, valuables for trade, vices, comfort, and most importantly a strong morale in order to live both physically and mentally in the war zone, and thus you require these things in the game. In terms of being realistic then, the game has things well and truly covered. What’s more, it also conclusively shows how difficult it would be to acquire and maintain all of these things in such circumstances. That makes it a challenge, and in some ways also makes it a very scary concept…

In terms of this being a video game, realism is only one important factor. The gameplay however is very strong too, and whilst the user interface still seems as though it would be better suited to a mobile device, everything fits together very nicely. It is easy to learn to play the game, easy to navigate when crafting, scavenging, and simply living, and you can even enjoy expansive detail in the form of individual character bios and detailed information on the war which plays out in the background to your experiences, as well as the events which came before it. There is a huge amount of detail packed into a game which is really easy to get on with and both challenging and entertaining at the same time too. It’s a fantastic package from a small indie studio, and it uses a unique idea to present this. The game then, on top of its premise, realism and detail, is really quite a triumph.

If these details don’t come together and make you want to go and snap up This War Of Mine on Steam right now, which they really should at a £14.99 price tag, then you might be interested to know that the aesthetic elements of the game complete the package. Semi hand drawn and semi computer created, the visuals of the game are unique in their lack of colour, setting the mood for the events which you experience. Clever lighting techniques and pencil-based shadowing creates the thrilling feeling of the fear of the unknown and the tension of what may be around the next corner. Mysterious sounds when scavenging, the reactions of other characters in the game and the need for fight or flight in some situations are strongly pronounced by what you see, despite all of its simplicity. It can only be described as eeirly impressive.

This War Of Mine makes you feel, think and attempt to live with the troubles experienced by the civilians living amongst warfare. Every day we see the troubles around the world in the media, but the decisions and actions of ordinary civilians in their fight the survive usually remain illusive to us. This War Of Mine changes that fact, and sends a message. It is also a challenging and entertaining game to play too. It is not funny or indeed a great epic of our time, but it is a fantastic game to play, and something truly unique. This is a game you should undoubtedly pick up. You will enjoy it, you will learn something, and perhaps most importantly, you will be investing in an experience, not just some cheap fun. And now that in this final version and you can save your game (this was an issue during its beta stages), you can truly experience the long-term challenges and troubles of your small group as you get drawn into the title for hours of strongly-built gameplay. This War Of Mine is not a AAA blockbuster, but it is certainly a masterpiece, that much is for sure.

The Good:

• A well thought out and respectable represntation of a different side of modern warfare.
• In depth, intuitive and testing gameplay makes for a frequently varying challenge, and one with purpose.
• The graphical style of the game compliments the mood and gives the final product a distinctive image which suits the game’s story.
• Potential for players to easily spend hours of time playing without losing interest.
• A friendly price tag!

The Bad:

• The User Interface would be better suited to a mobile device.

Disclaimer:All scores given within our reviews are based on the artist’s personal opinion; this should in no way impede your decision to purchase the game.