Recent reviews by Ultimaratio

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Edit #2: Review update: 05/29/2015
Sadly no improvment for this game: OOS (out of sync) since the last major update alongside with constant freezes in MP which DMS can not fix resulted in a more or less complet dead game. Most players have already shelfved it or moved over to BoE although it has the old MoW look but at leas ti runs smooth.


Edit: Review update: 11/19/2014

More than half a year later DMS managed somehow to improve the performance marginally. 2vs2 is now possible but with more players you still face lag and drops. 4vs4 is still unplayable and the long time ago promised 8vs8 has never been delivered. Gameplaywise it is the still the same arcadish spam and clickfest on tiny maps although the dedicated community has made a lot of suggestions how to improve it at least a bit. So far DMS decided not to listen to the community and treat the rest of its loyal fan base with ignorance. Slightest critisism result in bans and locked threads. Rumors say DMS treats its employees in a similar way, would at least explain why they fail to fix their game. DMS also has decided to sell the replay feature as paied DLC as it is "new" for them while it is for other games an included basic feature. So far all arguments form the old review are sadly still vaild.

If you really look for a WW 2 themed game, grap CoH. It runs better , it looks better and it is just a bit more arcadish than AS 2. If you look for a realistic WW 2 go for Graviteam Tactics or the good old Blitzkrieg. In the end AS 2 is not even worth the 5 bugs when it is on sale especially with DMS's questionable behaviour.
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Review 6/11/2014

As a long time player and supporter of DMS and the Mow series, I sadly have to say that AS 2 is a big fail at its current state. The game has a lots of serious issues and it looks like that DMS is not willing to fix their game or they just can not.It seems AS 2 is more a desperate attempt by DMS to grap some players form its rivial COH and milk a bit the small loyal players with the result that the series was dumped down pretty hard.

AS 2 is in general a copie of AS 1(same units same models) with the diffrence that AS 1 works. The game engine has been updated so the game looks a bit more polished than AS 1 but now it tends to lag as hell. Currently it is not even possible to play 2vs2 lag free or without freezes. Matches with higher playercount (4vs4 max!) are more or less impossible as the players drop like flies due to heavy lag caused by the poor net code and/or engine.

Besides the technical issues the gameplay suffers also a lot from some designe decisions. In AS 1 it was possible to have a nice tank fight or the chance to flank your enemy. This does not work in AS 2 due to tiny maps and ridiculus ranges for tanks. The current gameplay is only focused on spamming wave after wave of infantry. Tanks or emplacements like at guns are not really needed. The entire gameplay feels artificially pressed in tiny maps to create a CoH feeling. In additon DMS has also forgotten or did not want to fix existing problems like the strange pathfinding of the units or the overcomplicated resupply system.

DMS has also introduced an unlock system for new players to getting them used to the units . Sadly this creates more fustration as locked units for all factions seem to have been picked randomly and creates very unfair games especially in matchmaking. But in general this does not matter as the Matchmaking system does not work properly as well. Tutorials, or a real Skirmish (not the repetitiv SP Missions which they call Skirmish) would have been more helpful for newcomers as the game still explains nothing. It is even hard to say how many people play the game as there is no lobby anymore, only the steamchat which is pretty empty. Also the server browser is bugged as it only shows max 50 servers, most of them skirmish servers so not sure how many try to play MP.

DMS had a lot of time to get their act together. Closed beta for CtA backers (what i did), open beta, delay of the release as the game did not run but was surprisingly ready for preordering, another dealy of the release and the unannouced move to Early Access without any compensation and several post release patches should have been enough time to create a game which offers a kind of enjoyment. The only good thing is the steamworkshop where really dedicated and talented modders can present their creations.

As for now the game can not be recommanded, even it would be on a steam sale.

Tons of units tons of tactics and a developer who listens to the community and even is spending free dlcs. What not to like? Currently is lacks only on new maps which will be delivered via free DLC. On the first view it will look a bit confusing but you get the sharp learning curve it proviedes hours of fun in MP. For SP i would not recommand it as the AI tends to cheat heavlily.
9/10