I'm gonna start this review in an odd sort of way: by adressing the elephant in the room and comparing Regiments with Warno. Don't get me wrong, I don't intend to establish which one is better (that would be downright silly). Instead, all I want is to compare the ups and downs of both titles, and in doing so (I hope) help a friend in need who, much like me one day, was torn between which game to buy.
So, first things first: are you a fan of RTS games? Are you a sucker for the Cold War? If so, do you like Eugen System's Wargame series/Warno? However, did you ever get tired of their titles sometimes being too fast paced, too clicky, perhaps even dangerously close to just being another RTS where APM is all that matters? At this point, I'd just like to go on a little segue: calm down, hold your horses, I for one absolutely love WARNO and know all too well it's far slower and has incredible singleplayer content compared to its predecessors. However, the issue remains that its still much faster when compared to Regiments, and there can be no doubt that a lot of effort went (and still goes) into developing and balancing multiplayer instead of singleplayer. Sure, we got Army General recently, and it really is a blast, but just take a look at Youtube to see where all the fun is really at.
Anyway, with that out of the way, if you answered yes to the questions above, then Regiments is the game for you. And don't get thrown off by the fact that it's an indie game developed basically by a single guy all on his own (truth be told, that makes me admire it even more). The graphics are gorgeous, the sound amazing, there is a vast and diverse array of factions and units for you to play with (with even more to come in the upcoming Winds of Change DLC, just two weeks away). But wait, there's more: there is no multiplayer. At this point, we usually hear the distinct ''HARK, YE VILE BEAST'' of multiplayer junkies screeching at the top of their bubonic lungs. Pay them no mind, for our conscience is clear. To each their own, or [i]suum cuique[/i], as the ancient Romans would say. Personally, I've always been more a singleplayer guy, and finally getting my hands on a title which puts the singleplayer experience at the forefront is a breath of fresh air.
Still on the topic of singleplayer, there's a ton of it. Not only do we have classical style Skirmishes, where we can set up battles to our hearts (and minds) content, but the game also introduces the concept of Operations. Operations are like the campaign mode of Regiments. It's a set of linked battles in a certain region, complete with all the historical flavour in the form of military and intel briefings, news, photographs, and sometimes even first hand acounts from soldiers on the ground. Nothing that really changes the gamplay whatsoever, but it's a nice touch that adds a lot to immersion, and really makes you feel like a commander going through the escalation of a Cold War gone hot.
Now, regarding how Operation works, it's actually quite simple. There are several operations available (that more or less follow each other in succession, telling the story of how WW3 unfolded, and you need to play and complete the previous one in order to play the next), and in each one you either control NATO or Warswaw Pact forces (unfortunately, that's set in stone and you can't choose which one to play as). Each Operation is divided in stages, and each stage is divided in phases. Stages are the objective you must achieve in a certain location, and you have a certain amount of battles (phases) in order to do so. By playing your cards right and not taking too many casualties and capturing victory points, you also get Operational Authority, which can be used to replenish your beleaguered troops, call in special taskforces or upgrade said taskforces. Last, but not least, while resting and regrouping between phases (battles), you must also choose one of a set of randomly drawn Phase Events (cards), which can either give you a buff or debuff in several shapes and sizes (maybe your enemy is jamming comms and you can't call in airstrikes, or maybe you got lucky and you can call in some heavy artillery support, just to name a few).
Anyway, the game is a great bang for your buck. It may play differently from Eugen's titles, but once you get the hang of it, you are in a for a ride. Gorgeous strafings, shining armoured vehicles glistening in the sun, radiant napalm strikes, golden artillery strikes. It really is a sight to see, all the while being fun and engaging. This a thumbs up for me.
