14 DAY TRIAL // 505 Games announced that the release of the first title under its new 1C Label would be a real time strategy based on the WWII, called Men of War. The game is practically a sequel to Soldiers: Heroes of War and Faces of War, and a summer 2008 release has already been announced.
So, for those who are still hoping that World War II-inspired games (RTS or whatever) will no longer be produced one day, Men of War is the proof that their hopes might never come true. However, this doesn't mean the game will automatically be a poor one, especially if it manages to keep its promises. For example, there will be three different campaigns, each telling a different story of World War II. Players will be able to play either as the Soviets or the Germans, or the allied forces. For example, the Soviet campaign presents two student comrades, Smirnov and Kuznetzov, who join the army and become brothers-in-arms as they rise through the ranks and experience the war. The developers haven't said anything about this, but just think how cool it would be to have a final common mission, where the main characters from each campaign would meet in a Babel-like storyline. And this could be possible, since there are 19 total missions, which means that there are 6 for each nation and a last one. I can hardly wait for that one.
Besides the story, the game will feature 50 new playable units with a new design for tanks, APCs and heavy guns, while the sounds promise to be as natural as it can, since over 100 effects have been recorded under real operating conditions. Moreover, the single player interface is fully customizable, so real time strategy fans can set up their commands as they see fit. The multiplayer option is available, too, and it comes with a new rating system that promises to ensure some fair fights in online battles.