I Loved this game, and the potential it HAD. Unfortunately due to what I'll be outlining below, I STRONGLY recommend avoiding this game.



===GENERAL GAMEPLAY AND COMBAT===

The combat, sounds and ships in battle are authentic and enjoyable. However with a lack of players it's extremely hard to find worthwhile fights against anyone or anything except AI ships, unless you're in one of the few large clans. This game has no place for the casual player, another thing the developers refuse to address.

Outside of a clan your experience levelling will simply be that of sailing to a port, getting a mission, fighting an AI ship, rinse and repeat hundreds of times. This huge GRIND has meant the game lost alot of potential players, very little has been added or even mentioned to address this.


===GRAPHICS===

The game is visually stunning on occasion, every ship looks top-notch and the weather system can make for some absolutely beautiful scenes. However the game's graphics engine is poorly optimized, you'll run into performance issues during large battles on even the best of computers.

The UI is extremely barebones and quite frankly very unappealing to look at, outlined changes to the appearance have been delayed with no ETA.


====DEVELOPERS===

The developers have ruined an absolute jewel in this niche genre. They are far too stubborn and childish to admit their faults and correct them despite negative feedback from the playerbase.

Constructive criticism on the game's forums is NOT welcome.

Before you buy this game, being that the game is still in early access, you really do need to know the true nature of this development team. These developers have purposefuly removed planned features and content out of spite due to negative patch feedback, for those who would say I'm lying, here's ONE example:

Taken from the first admin post on this page:
http://forum.game-labs.net/index.php?/topic/15485-patch-993-bucentaure-acceleration-rework-and-many-other-things/page-8


"We worked very hard this month and your comment offended my programmers and artists (makers of Bucentaure and Santa Cecilia).
I changed my mind and trading xp will never get implemented until release because of your comments. I am not joking.
We focus on making happy customers happier. Half empty pessimists are not our market"


If you don't like or wish to voice your concerned opinion on certain features or are simply unhappy with certain aspects of the game, you are completely disregarded and not welcome, even though you paid for the game like everybody else. Those with constructive criticism are branded "half empty pessimists" or "trolls" and that's only if you choose to brave the vocal minorty of privileged "testers" who'll defend the developers to the ends of the earth on the forums.

Another situation came about because the developers decided to add a feature called the "pray button" in their monthly "content" patch, players logged into the game, with no information in the patch notes as to what the pray button did, leading people to speculate on the forums, because people were speculating wrongly, the developers called these players trolls and called for them to be banned.


"Please report players who are spreading the rumors.
Mods are requested to ban players who consistently troll unsuspected players by lying or misinforming them about the features they know nothing about.

Captains who think they can troll devs in patchnotes or other players in help chats have come to the wrong forum. We respect players and demand the same in return. Players who show no respect will be removed from here."


http://forum.game-labs.net/index.php?/topic/15862-patch-994-alliances-new-ships-new-features/page-15

Again, scroll down to the first admin post on the page.


===FALSE STEAM REVIEWS - DEVELOPER BRIBERY===

The developers have openly suggested more positive steam reviews will result in more content, attempting to bribe their playerbase and leading to a misrepresentation of the true opinions of this game, here are a few examples:


"To celebrate the increase in the steam ratings 4 ships will be added to the game as event ships."

"If ratings continue to grow we will try hard to add more ships before release. We need your support to make the game better. Please go to Steam and rate the game if you have not done so. Thank you for all the generous support!"


Active and former players are afraid to leave negative steam reviews, fearing that it might impact the development of the game for the worse.


==="CONTENT"===

If you, like me, see "content" as new things to see and do in the gameworld, this game is NOT for you. The development team see bugfixes and tweaks to meaningless aspects of the game as "content". You will be dissapointed month after month from the lack of new content in the "monthly content patches"

Another direct quote from the developers on the forums:


"We are a small team so everything new we add is content. Fixes and new perks IS content. We are too old to adjust our views for someone who has a different idea on what content is. You are probably spoiled by some magical developer."


This game is due for full release on just a few months. There's barely been anything worthwhile added to the game in terms of content other than the small amount of new ships and fishing. When fishing was introduced, player numbers made a slight resurgance, recently with dissapointment after dissapointment with each coming patch, player numbers are plummeting again, the top and only relevant server eu pvp 1 is rapidly becoming an empty, barren, wasteland.

Important promised features just didn't appear, pirates have been abandoned in terms of promised features, port battles are still floating towers, despite a promised overhaul MONTHS ago. NOTHING of true substance has been added in terms of content, these features now have "no ETA" as we head towards release.


===PLAYERBASE===

The playerbase is PLUMMETING, you need only check a website displaying steam stats to have this proven correct directly infront of your eyes, this is a direct result of everything I've mentioned above. This game once had servers full every night, nowadays if you're anywhere other than outside capitals or with a clan you'll struggle to find your fellow players, because there aren't many left.

Despite this the small remaining community you will find are mostly very friendly.

http://steamcharts.com/app/311310


===MICROTRANSACTIONS===

They are on their way in the form of "premium ships" special ships you can't get your hands on unless you buy them in addition to the already expensive game. As a game with a large pvp element, I don't need to tell you how detrimental this will be to the balance of the already unbalanced game. Special ships exclusive to "testers" and "moderators" are also under consideration.

"Premium ships are not rumors and they were discussed extensively before."

http://forum.game-labs.net/index.php?/topic/6451-are-premium-ships-rumors-real/page-1?hl=premium%20ships


===SUMMARY===

To summarise this game's "open world" is a large lobby in which you sail around, with a huge lack of content and players, the developers are unwilling to listen to criticism or admit to their mistakes. Naval Action is going down like the Titanic, avoid at all costs.

AVOID.


----------------------------------------------------------


UPDATE
After the developers of this game flagged my review as "off topic" and "abusive" they were reported to steam. Steam took a look at the evidence I provided them and read my review, they decided the review was NOT "off topic" or "abusive" and removed the flag and censorship put in place by the developers, thank-you to steam, and those of you with kind comments.

I Loved this game, and the potential it HAD. Unfortunately due to what I'll be outlining below, I STRONGLY recommend avoiding this game. [b]===GENERAL GAMEPLAY AND COMBAT===[/b] The combat, sounds and ships in battle are authentic and enjoyable. However with a lack of players it's extremely hard to find worthwhile fights against anyone or anything except AI ships, unless you're in one of the few large clans. This game has no place for the casual player, another thing the developers refuse to address. Outside of a clan your experience levelling will simply be that of sailing to a port, getting a mission, fighting an AI ship, rinse and repeat hundreds of times. This huge GRIND has meant the game lost alot of potential players, very little has been added or even mentioned to address this. [b]===GRAPHICS===[/b] The game is visually stunning on occasion, every ship looks top-notch and the weather system can make for some absolutely beautiful scenes. However the game's graphics engine is poorly optimized, you'll run into performance issues during large battles on even the best of computers. The UI is extremely barebones and quite frankly very unappealing to look at, outlined changes to the appearance have been delayed with no ETA. [b]====DEVELOPERS===[/b] The developers have ruined an absolute jewel in this niche genre. They are far too stubborn and childish to admit their faults and correct them despite negative feedback from the playerbase. Constructive criticism on the game's forums is NOT welcome. Before you buy this game, being that the game is still in early access, you really do need to know the true nature of this development team. These developers have purposefuly removed planned features and content out of spite due to negative patch feedback, for those who would say I'm lying, here's ONE example: [u]Taken from the first admin post on this page:[/u] http://forum.game-labs.net/index.php?/topic/15485-patch-993-bucentaure-acceleration-rework-and-many-other-things/page-8 [i]"We worked very hard this month and your comment offended my programmers and artists (makers of Bucentaure and Santa Cecilia). I changed my mind and trading xp will never get implemented until release because of your comments. I am not joking. We focus on making happy customers happier. Half empty pessimists are not our market"[/i] If you don't like or wish to voice your concerned opinion on certain features or are simply unhappy with certain aspects of the game, you are completely disregarded and not welcome, even though you paid for the game like everybody else. Those with constructive criticism are branded "half empty pessimists" or "trolls" and that's only if you choose to brave the vocal minorty of privileged "testers" who'll defend the developers to the ends of the earth on the forums. Another situation came about because the developers decided to add a feature called the "pray button" in their monthly "content" patch, players logged into the game, with no information in the patch notes as to what the pray button did, leading people to speculate on the forums, because people were speculating wrongly, the developers called these players trolls and called for them to be banned. [i]"Please report players who are spreading the rumors. Mods are requested to ban players who consistently troll unsuspected players by lying or misinforming them about the features they know nothing about. Captains who think they can troll devs in patchnotes or other players in help chats have come to the wrong forum. We respect players and demand the same in return. Players who show no respect will be removed from here."[/i] http://forum.game-labs.net/index.php?/topic/15862-patch-994-alliances-new-ships-new-features/page-15 Again, scroll down to the first admin post on the page. [b]===FALSE STEAM REVIEWS - DEVELOPER BRIBERY===[/b] The developers have openly suggested more positive steam reviews will result in more content, attempting to bribe their playerbase and leading to a misrepresentation of the true opinions of this game, here are a few examples: [i]"To celebrate the increase in the steam ratings 4 ships will be added to the game as event ships." "If ratings continue to grow we will try hard to add more ships before release. We need your support to make the game better. Please go to Steam and rate the game if you have not done so. Thank you for all the generous support!"[/i] Active and former players are afraid to leave negative steam reviews, fearing that it might impact the development of the game for the worse. [b]==="CONTENT"===[/b] If you, like me, see "content" as new things to see and do in the gameworld, this game is NOT for you. The development team see bugfixes and tweaks to meaningless aspects of the game as "content". You will be dissapointed month after month from the lack of new content in the "monthly content patches" [u]Another direct quote from the developers on the forums:[/u] [i]"We are a small team so everything new we add is content. Fixes and new perks IS content. We are too old to adjust our views for someone who has a different idea on what content is. You are probably spoiled by some magical developer."[/i] This game is due for full release on just a few months. There's barely been anything worthwhile added to the game in terms of content other than the small amount of new ships and fishing. When fishing was introduced, player numbers made a slight resurgance, recently with dissapointment after dissapointment with each coming patch, player numbers are plummeting again, the top and only relevant server eu pvp 1 is rapidly becoming an empty, barren, wasteland. Important promised features just didn't appear, pirates have been abandoned in terms of promised features, port battles are still floating towers, despite a promised overhaul MONTHS ago. NOTHING of true substance has been added in terms of content, these features now have "no ETA" as we head towards release. [b]===PLAYERBASE===[/b] The playerbase is PLUMMETING, you need only check a website displaying steam stats to have this proven correct directly infront of your eyes, this is a direct result of everything I've mentioned above. This game once had servers full every night, nowadays if you're anywhere other than outside capitals or with a clan you'll struggle to find your fellow players, because there aren't many left. Despite this the small remaining community you will find are mostly very friendly. http://steamcharts.com/app/311310 [b]===MICROTRANSACTIONS===[/b] They are on their way in the form of "premium ships" special ships you can't get your hands on unless you buy them in addition to the already expensive game. As a game with a large pvp element, I don't need to tell you how detrimental this will be to the balance of the already unbalanced game. Special ships exclusive to "testers" and "moderators" are also under consideration. [i]"Premium ships are not rumors and they were discussed extensively before."[/i] http://forum.game-labs.net/index.php?/topic/6451-are-premium-ships-rumors-real/page-1?hl=premium%20ships [b]===SUMMARY===[/b] To summarise this game's "open world" is a large lobby in which you sail around, with a huge lack of content and players, the developers are unwilling to listen to criticism or admit to their mistakes. Naval Action is going down like the Titanic, avoid at all costs. AVOID. ---------------------------------------------------------- [u][B]UPDATE After the developers of this game flagged my review as "off topic" and "abusive" they were reported to steam. Steam took a look at the evidence I provided them and read my review, they decided the review was NOT "off topic" or "abusive" and removed the flag and censorship put in place by the developers, thank-you to steam, and those of you with kind comments.[/B][/u]