| Developer | Publisher | Platforms |
|---|---|---|
| Absolutely Games | Team17 | Microsoft Windows-Xbox Series X/S-PlayStation 5 |
Classified: France ’44, developed by Absolutely Games and published by Team17, isn’t your typical romp through a warzone. Instead, it thrusts you into the tense, secretive world of the French Resistance in the months leading up to D-Day. This turn-based tactical game puts you in command of a crack squad of Allied operatives, tasked with disrupting the Nazi war machine and tipping the scales in favor of the coming invasion. While primarily a game, Classified: France ’44 offers a valuable historical experience. The game features detailed dossiers on real-life events, resistance movements, and even historical figures associated with the French Resistance. This not only adds context to the fictional narrative but also serves as a springboard for further exploration of this pivotal period in history.
Classified: France ’44 blends two distinct genres: turn-based tactics and strategic planning. The heart of the game lies in tactical operations. You’ll control your elite squad on intricately designed maps, engaging in firefights, sabotaging vital Nazi infrastructure, eliminating high-value targets, and navigating enemy lines with a healthy dose of stealth. However, unlike pure tactics games, Classified: France ’44 adds a strategic layer that unfolds between missions. Here, you’ll manage your squad’s development, assigning them specialized skills to enhance their combat prowess or infiltration abilities. You’ll also equip them with better gear, from silenced pistols to devastating explosives. Most importantly, you’ll make critical strategic decisions on which Resistance factions to support and what missions to prioritize. These choices directly impact the effectiveness of the French resistance and, ultimately, the success of D-Day.
Tactical Depths and Moral Burdens: Classified: France ’44’s tactical gameplay shines in its complexity. Unlike the all-out action of some war games, movement and actions are tied to Action Points (AP). This forces you to carefully plan your squad’s movements and prioritize abilities. Do you spend AP maneuvering a sniper into a perfect vantage point, or unleash a hail of bullets with your machine gunner at the cost of limited movement for the rest of the turn?
The game further adds a layer of tension with its morale system. Under enemy fire and witnessing comrades fall, your operatives’ morale can plummet. A soldier with low morale might fire wildly, refuse to follow orders, or even succumb to panic and abandon the mission entirely. This system forces you to consider enemy positions, firepower, and your squad’s mental fortitude. A well-timed word of encouragement from a squad leader or a strategically placed smoke grenade to cover a wounded comrade can be the difference between a successful mission and a disastrous retreat.
Stealth or Bullets? The Art of Choosing When to Strike: The game rewards a tactical approach. Carefully planned flanking maneuvers, silenced takedowns of unsuspecting patrols, and well-timed distractions can lead to a successful mission with minimal casualties. However, the option for full-blown firefights exists, and the action feels satisfying, and weapons have a nice weight to them.
For veterans of the turn-based tactics genre, Classified: France ’44 might evoke memories of XCOM 2. Both games share a turn-based structure and a focus on squad management. However, there are key differences. Classified: France ’44 leans more on stealth and features a smaller, more specialized squad. Think of it as a covert operations unit rather than a paramilitary force. The problem is that the strategic layer, despite offering a layer of customization and decision-making, feels underdeveloped. Interaction with the Resistance factions beyond simply choosing missions is limited. The game’s difficulty curve can also be uneven, with some missions feeling like punishing slogs, especially if you haven’t properly equipped or skilled your squad for the specific challenge.
Classified: France ’44 presents a convincing portrayal of occupied France. The environments, from war-torn villages under the watchful eyes of Nazi patrols to dimly lit back alleys teeming with informants and collaborators, effectively capture the oppressive atmosphere of the time. The level of detail is impressive for an indie game, with destructible elements in the environment adding a sense of dynamism to firefights. Character models are well-crafted, but unfortunately, animations are buggy, and in between cinematics plays wrong. It’s common to see a character point the gun in an irrelevant direction, and the camera can’t find the right angle for you to see.
Classified: France ’44 is a competent and engaging turn-based tactics game. It offers a suspenseful blend of stealth, action, and squad management, all set against the backdrop of a critical historical period. The core gameplay loop of planning missions, managing your squad, and then executing tense tactical operations is undeniably satisfying. The game masterfully captures the atmosphere of occupied France, and the inclusion of historical details adds an educational touch. For players looking for a challenging and atmospheric tactical turn-based game with a historical twist, Classified: France ’44 is worth checking out. It’s a game that will test your tactical skills and immerse you in the world of the French resistance.
The review code was provided by the publisher
| GAMEPLAY | ART | VALUE |
|---|---|---|
| 85% | 75% | 80% |