Isonzo analysis – Back to the historic trenches

The conflicts carried out in Isonzo had historical relevance, and in this game we will be first-person witnesses

Although World War I had many open fronts, there were areas where skirmishes were less well known. Forgotten places where they directly and indirectly influenced the course of the war, and where men from both sides gave their lives to defend the objectives. On this occasion, the protagonist of the game we are analyzing today is a river. exactly the river isonzowhere twelve battles took place where more than 300,000 soldiers from the Italian front and Austro-Hungarian forces lost their lives. Ready to learn first-hand about the events that took place there?

Go Savoy!

Those who have played similar proposals such as Verdun or Tannenberg You will quickly find similarities. And it is not for less, since they are M2H and Blackmill Games those in charge of the development of this new opus, while providing new features that make Isonzo something different without losing historical accuracy. we will continue to have massive, fierce and long battles with various ways to deal with them. All in very wide scenarios and with a marked vertical component that we will appreciate in these fights located in the Italian Alps.

As in previous episodes, we are faced with a fully online multiplayer shooter. Today there is only one game mode based on massive clashes between two teams. And as happens in titles that play in the same league as Battlefield, which makes the raids sharing a squad with friends will make the experience twice as fun and immersive.

ready for battle

Unlike other similar proposals, it should be noted that Isonzo is very versatile. We can fight the battle any way we want, and even adapt the demand to combat according to our skills on the battlefield. To be a simple soldier who “breaks free”, to play in a squad with other friends, or even to be a general who assists on the battlefield with actions and artillery deployments. That’s why the title is aimed at people who are experts in the field and at users who have never faced a game of this magnitude.

Initially, in addition to the choice between the Italian or Austro-Hungarian strip, we can select the class we like the most. We will have the rifle class (which will be the most common), to specialize in exploring the environment with the mountaineer or be in charge of creating small barricades with the engineer. This allows each user to play in the way that suits them best, using different strategies on the battlefield and using the resources available to the selected role.

With patience and good judgment

The scenarios also help to have variety in each game. It is no longer only that we can access the objectives by different means, but that the same scenario is composed of several biomes depending on where you are. We can start a phase with a siege at the top of an enemy valley, reach a small town through the woods and end up conquering the main building while gaining access to the railroad tracks. In this aspect, Isonzo plays his cards very well, and Despite repeating the screen, the future and strategic way of approaching situations can vary a lot.

Of course, despite how “fast” everything might sound when said in that word, the pace of the game is slow. And be careful, slow does not mean bad. I’m not fooling anyone if I tell you that a game can easily last 45 minutes. Isonzo must be taken calmly, planning each incursion, stopping to observe, spotting the enemy from afar… It’s a task that can be heavy for those looking for a more frantic shooter, but if you have the rhythm, you can enjoy it just the same.

Assistance on the ground and from the air

All this silent “tempo” is due to the realistic facet that the game itself wants to bring. If we are the attacking team, we will have 300 infantry units to spend on siege attempts and area control. If we are defenders, we will have no choice but to resist the enemy’s push until he finishes off his units. A constant and intense showdown where the adaptation of new strategies, the use of various resources and, of course, team collaboration will be our daily bread.

The only relevant aspect that fails in the whole subject of Isonzo skirmishes concerns combat vehicles. We can position ourselves in bunkers with heavy machine guns, use mortars and weapons of this caliber… but there are no vehicles. Or yes there are, but not controllable. We can order them to bomb a specific area or use mustard gas in a particular area, but nothing else.

trench warfare

Entering fully into its visual commitment, Isonzo follows the line drawn by Verdun and Tannenberg. Unfortunately, that’s not good. It is true that in general everything looks good, with very colorful scenes and a lot of movement on the screen. Even the moments with gas in between are overwhelming, with the gas mask equipped and that noise dampening when you’re wearing it. But it’s in the details that the flaws are most appreciated. Soldier animations are a bit rough, both ours and the rival’s, and that in head-to-head matchups feels very contrived.

Target the deserter

There is also errors in drawing distance, with on-screen elements (soldiers included) that magically appear and disappear. But for me, the worst part is the “change of resolutions” (to call it something) that we experience when aiming at long distances. Let me explain: Isonzo is a game where snipers rarely have scope magnification, and everything is based on the iron sight of their weapon. It happened to me several times that when aiming far, scene resolution fluctuates, performing intermittent swipes that change the texture we’re targeting. Well… when you need to aim for a “point” in the distance (which happens to be the enemy’s head) these variations can end up being very annoying and condition the fight.

Except for these details, the rest behaves decently. I still insist on realism. Don’t expect auto-aim, or very dizzying agility with weapons. It takes time to aim, and if we miss a shot, we are very likely to be cannon fodder for the opponent. If we add a sound section to this general scope, in the end the game manages to get you into the action, despite the fact that “we’ll see the seams” at some point. Special mention to the sound effects, with cries of pain on the battlefield, explosions and beeps of the generals giving the order to attack.

Conclusion of Isonzo

M2H and Blackmill Games They return to the fray with another warrior title with a clear historical component. This time we leave the French territory of Verdun to go to the valleys, towns and mountains that surround the Italian river Isonzo. We will continue to have the same playable base as previous iterations: massive online battles with many strategic possibilities and objectives to achieve. A very interesting scheme whether you play alone or in company by forming a squad.

Generally speaking, Isonzo tries to be realistic and this immersion in battle succeeds. It is true that we find small errors such as somewhat crude animations, or a resolution sweep over long distances that can take us out of context. But fortunately, the rest of the points work in his favor, making the long games he shows pass very quickly. And also, thanks to its cross-platform play, we will ensure that there will always be soldiers online ready to die for our cause.