14 DAY TRIAL // Paradox Interactive has just released the first screenshots from Hearts of Iron 3, the upcoming grand strategy game in its World War II series. The game itself is a long time away, with the release date scheduled sometime in the third quarter of 2009, but it's nice to see that the developers are interested in showing us how the game is beginning to shape up.
The game is set to cover the period between 1936 and 1938, as Heart of Iron 2 initially did. The main change is that the engine that powers the game will be a heavily modified version of the one that powers Europe Universalis III and Europa Universalis: Rome. This means that the game will be in 3D, with much more detail available for all those who want to zoom in. There are some long time fans who say that the game worked well in 2D and that this change is not needed, but as far as screenshots can be used as proof, the game looks better.
The game is set to include a brand new huge map which will feature more than 10,000 land provinces, creating a level of detail that is unprecedented in the series. More land characteristics will be featured and the ocean zones will also be more detailed.
Johan Andersson, who is leading the development team, stated that “I am proud to present the first looks of this revolutionary map. Never before has the world been depicted with such high detail, with over ten thousand different provinces spread over a map covering dozens of square-meters”.
It's still much too early to say anything by only looking at the shots posted below, but the game should include new and interesting gameplay mechanics, especially a new and revamped combat system in order to satisfy gamers. We'll bring you more details as they become available.
