Enlisted

Announcing a first-person shooter based around WWII is a safe bet for a developer. Still, today would seem like a risk for the public. Enlisted releases amongst many leading publishers with already well-established games of precisely that premise. Unless there is something remarkable about gameplay or setting, we're unsure where this will fit.

But one of the best parts about playing video games is to be proven wrong. Perhaps Enlisted will redefine WWII first-person shooter gameplay with epic multiplayer mechanics and personalized stories. Maybe an innovative approach that fixes everything wrong with popular WWII games. It's a lot to ask, but it's not impossible today.

Form Up, Solider!

Let's break down the core gameplay of Enlisted before we get into the analysis. Enlisted is a squad-based first-person shooter where up to 9 players on each side will duke it out for objectives in some of the most famous battles of WWII, five to be exact. The game adds a bit more than the typical run-and-gun mechanics, giving real players control over AI soldiers at your side to strategically accomplish objectives.

So yes, there's some innovation brought into Enlisted, but is it enough to compete? There's nothing particularly outstanding about the game outside of a few exciting bits and pieces. Game modes are similar to those in other WWII games, visually and mechanically. We're not seeing anything particularly exciting or new to get us engaged in gameplay.

What weighs on Enlisted more is that the control schematic for the game is clunky, and when things get hot and heavy, performance gets slow. There's an ambitious progression system that doesn't work. What's even worse, the microtransaction market feels like a get-rich-quick scheme.

Is there anything redeeming about Enlisted? The game plays OK, and at least the guns are fun, but overall, the game is remarkably average. The design and development feel uninspired for a game built around the concept 'for the fans, by the fans.' Something went wrong in the development process, or the game was created as a quick cash grab.

The Battle Was Lost

We circle back to the initial thought of where Enlisted could fit in under the trove of WWII games. It turns out nowhere. Who would think that this mediocre game had an opportunity to compete in the marketplace? There's little innovation, poor design, a microtransaction market, and very little encouragement to play.

Round-Up - Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Gunplay is entertaining
• Some innovations with control of AI squad members
• Battles of larger scale

Cons:

• Mechanics and controls are clunky
• The microtransactions weigh down on the gameplay
• Visually not particularly appealing