HOI is Editor's Choice in PC Gamer

[Spaced Cowboy]

Just reading my PC gamer mag last night and the review for HOI received a 90%.

Since I have been following this game for quite some time, I really cannot believe that PCG gave them such a high score.

Admittedly, I do not have the game. But why are some folks saying that the AI is weak, and yet he (PCG) says it is way too strong?

He mentions bugs, but the Paradox website mentions far more. Of which the fleet bugs bother me the most.

Also, I have heard that the manual is just useless.

Okay, so my question is to those who have this. Is it so deep that the problem so not surface until you've played it a a few times...I'm just having trouble understanding the PGM score with all the bad things that I've heard about the game.

R:PM

[Dauphin]

Game reviews tend to be superficial. Unless the reviewer has played it a lot they won't pick up bugs or the weakness of the AI unless they are obvious.

[Garth Vader]

Despite the annoying bugs, and flaws in basic design, and poor AI play I have still played a lot, and enjoyed it, and so would have given the game a good rating.

[Dinner]

It's a great game so it's no wonder it's an editor's choice. Plus MP mod makes the poor AI less relavent.

[Spaced Cowboy]

Okay. since Paradox games never seem to find the bargain bin, is it worth the purchase price?

[Dinner]

If you like military stategy games then yes it is worth it. The game has less replay value then say EU2 or the Civ series but it is entertaining and Paradox is still supporting it with period patches. There's also a lively MP community.

[asleepathewheel]

It is a fun game. apparently a patch will come out in early february, so I might suggest waiting until then, as there are several annoying bugs that need to be patched.

My least favorite bug: the research bug. if you shoot down the computers line, you get, maybe 5 techs that lower the cost and time of research. Very helpful, I think maybe adds up to a 25% cut in prices or maybemore. I always try to get those as soon as possible, to aid down other paths. Well, for some reason, the game doesn't save the research modifiers, so you have to play it ironman or download a utility to fix the errors. Sucks, on the other hand, it gives me the excuse for playing for 10 hours straight or something

But, I love the game, the annoyances for the most part will get ironed out soon, hopefully. I hope they fix the way navies operate, for now I just chase ships all over the map, quite irritating.

[The Pioneer]

I like the game, I haven't played much since I am waiting for the patch. It reminds me of Axis & Allies games that I played way back but with more depth.

So long...

PS: The manual s*cks big time

[Nikolai]

I think the manual is okay. Not as a guide to the game(which, I know is the main point), but the info is interesting nevertheless. The short timeline for example.

[Grumbold]

Black and White got a better score and I'd rate it as a far worse game. Personal preference makes a lot of difference. I liked HoI enough to play it for 100+ hours before filing it away until the 1.3 patch. Its going to get played a lot more once things are patched more. There are enough difficulty settings, countries to play and potential exploits to make it at the same time too easy and quite hard to play

[Spaced Cowboy]

Hmm... interesting comments.

I think I'll wait for a bit until an acceptable patch is on the table.

I personally do not have a wife that will let me play a game for 10 hours straight. I usually get serious grief after 5-6.

Has anyone tried Bolts mod, and what do you think of it?

[Nikolai]

Bolt is G-R-E-A-T! I've not tried Trip's mod, so I can't say which of them's the best, but Bolt's mod is very good. Much better than the original GC!

[asleepathewheel]

Bolts mod is a lot of fun, quite an improvement over the game. Its quite cool that hhis and trips changes, at least some of them are making it into the 1.03 patch

[Spaced Cowboy]

Paradox's forums are nightmare. Any insight into when 1.03 is going to be released?

[Nikolai]

It will be released when it's ready. Do you want the patch to be good and to fix as much of the bugs as possible, or do you want it now, and byggy?
I know this "Paradoxian" answer isn't very appreciated, but it's true!

And why are the forums a "nightmare"? Because of the lack of info relating the patches? It's IMHO a very good site, where you get polite answers to almost everything(even if it's asked 100 times:P).