War Mongrels

Not often do we see a World War II game that takes place on the Eastern Front. It's a part of history full of stories, courage, and atrocities. War Mongrels already feels a bit more refreshing because it takes a different perspective on this war and touches base on reality a little. Even more so, it's not your typical first-person shooter associated with the genre.

War Mongrels is an isometric, real-time action-adventure that encourages tactics and strategy over gunmanship to accomplish your objectives. It's the perfect genre style for a dark and gritty narrative that supports gameplay. Already, the game is looking quite the indie offering of the season - let's see if it holds up to its hype.

The New Dogs of War

What stands out immediately about War Mongrels is that the narrative really wants to focus on this untold part of WWII history. It's pretty good at grabbing attention, providing shocking moments, and sending players on an emotional rollercoaster. The visuals and sound design already give a platform for players to make their gameplay decisions on, and that's already a pretty remarkable feat.

Based on that emotion, players can choose their own gameplay approach. War Mongrels promotes the idea of tactics through team command mechanics. But also facilitates the 'guns blazing' idea should you feel the need to do so. Whatever your style, you'll traverse obstacles and neutralize foes in levels that truly bring out the horrors of war.

The focus clearly is the narrative - and put before every other aspect of the game. It's arguable that in some points of War Mongrels, the gameplay becomes frustrating in line with the story of darkness, deceit, and solving the unknown. Mechanically, the game sometimes struggles to support such a heavy narrative - but ultimately, it still feels good to play.

War Mongrels facilitates ideas, spurs emotion, and has some magnificent visual aesthetics. It offers a complete journey and feels passionate in design throughout. The game stands out as being one that's captivating, offering something a little different than the status quo of WWII games - and is refreshing in contrast to the protruded atmosphere.

Facing Up to the Dark Side

You could count endless numbers of World War II games - simply because it's a seamless theme into games offering high-octane, action-filled mechanics. You'd feel like there aren't enough, though, that provide tactical options. Commandos 2: Men of Courage would be one of them, but still don't quite capture what War Mongrels tries to accomplish.

Pros:

• A passionate narrative that consistently resonates strong
• Well-crafted level design balancing visuals and gameplay
• Allows players to take their own approach to play

Cons:

• Tactical approaches can be a bit frustrating to manage
• Camera control becomes slightly irritating