Classified: France ’44 Review

thesixthaxis.com:

Set during the run-up to the D-Day landings, Classified: France ’44 puts the player in control of an elite squad of soldiers immersed deep behind enemy lines. Their mission is simple but oh-so-difficult; they must unify the French Resistance, eliminate key German targets, and sabotage vital infrastructure to ensure that the approaching allied invasion is a success. That sounds like a lot of pressure to deal with, but as a turn-based tactical game, you’ve got all the time in the world to plan out your moves.

Classified: France ’44 is a turn-based stealth action game. The problem is – controversial opinion alert – that stealth games are usually kind of boring. Crouching like an out-of-work yoga instructor and hiding in the dark behind a box while very stupid guards wander around does not a fun game make. Doing all that and also waiting fifty turns until the appropriate time to move finally emerges… well, that just doubles down on the dull. So, it’s to Classified: France ’44’s credit that it allows the player to mostly ignore playing stealthily, offering numerous tactical options in the healthy pursuit of blasting Nazis.

Whether you go quietly or go loud, it won’t just be the turns that tick by during a mission, but the days before D-Day as well. Every mission you undertake, every objective you achieve or fail, will result in the passing of days on the HQ map screen. It’s a neat tension builder, as the game regularly reminds you that time is running out, building the pressure and creating a real sense of jeopardy as you frantically decide what to do with the limited days you have left.

Mostly, your choices will be dictated by which turn-based mission you choose to go on. Do you ambush an enemy officer? Sabotage a factory? Steal secret plans? Every choice has a palpable effect on your overall progress and will unlock specific rewards. Unify a region of France through successful completion of three missions and you’ll unlock a variety of boosts and perks, vital if your