The figure of Napoleon Bonaparte and his impact on 19th-century history have always been prominent in the realm of video games, with Napoleon: Total War being the most famous title that dealt with the conflicts surrounding him. Now, Russian studio Fatice Games aims to bring some of the sensibility of classic wargames to the setting with Combat Directive: Napoleonic Wars.
The launch is set for October 3, 2024, on Steam. Alongside the auspicious gameplay trailer available on the game’s Steam page, the official description promises a faithful representation of the Napoleonic Wars across seven years, all told through six distinct campaigns: 1807, 1808, 1809, 1812, 1813, and 1814. While the RTS tactics game isn’t including multiplayer modes, for now, it appears the single-player offering is vast, with the devs saying it packs over 150 missions.
The main selling point here – besides the classic wargame mechanics and systems – are the battlefields themselves, which were built paying special attention to the real battles and how each side was positioned before hell broke loose. This, of course, factors into the decision-making required to achieve victory. This attention to detail extends to the historically accurate uniforms and each regiment’s role, which seemingly leads to a unit system that isn’t just class-based.
Another attractive element is the mix of turn-based elements “like hexagonal grid movement” with the traditional elements of RTS games. According to Fatice, “quick reflexes aren’t essential,” so it’s more about staying focused and making the right calls at the right times. Moreover, the promise is the core systems are designed to “minimize randomness” through elaborate tactics and formations, allowing players to predict what will happen next based on their possible actions.
Combat Directive: Napoleonic Wars is set to release only on Steam for now. The game’s page states it has full controller support, but we’ve yet to hear about a console port from publisher Revvy Games LLC.
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