Saccharine and a little bland – Hearts of Iron: War Stories Review

HoI is a really neat text-based adventure game that suffers due to the tedious tone of the writing. The game has a nice mechanic where decisions you make affect your in-game stats, which in turn gate the choices that you can and cannot make. It's an affective way to give more weight to your choices, even if it feels like the narrative doesn't often branch significantly. The game's plot on the other hand is saccharine, romantic, and devoid of conflict. You're a farm boy with an innocent sweetheart fighting for King and Country. War is honor, allies rarely die, and the Germans make a habit of getting cut to pieces. Everyone's a charming ally just waiting for a chance to have a crack at the Hun. It's a feel-good adventure story without depth. If you're keen on something a bit more honest, try the Battle of the Somme.
Review by Agent_Zeppin on Hearts of Iron: War Stories.