Forgotten but Unbroken Review (Zachmann)
This game is to be recommended without any reservation.
When I look back, the most comparable title was "Soldiers at War", 1998, by SSI Inc.
"Forgotten but Unbroken" today is superior in many ways - so this has to be considered a total success of this project.
I think in a way it is difficult to compare "Forgotten but Unbroken" with "X-Com". There are quite different underlying design decisions between those two titles.
The tactical part of "X-Com" feels more fast-paced and intuitive (two points. movement & fire.) And the lore is all in all exceptional; includes Bradford, a grand Clint Eastwood type, etc.
I need more time for tactical combat in "Forgotten but Unbroken", including AP counting.
It's always unwise to try something full frontal. So you'll want to keep it stealthy as long as possible. Watching patrol routes, identifying posts who won't move at all. In most scenarios you'll be able to weaken the opposing force by making stealth moves. And afterwards it gets unpleasant.
Seems realistic enough.
In the end you can't avoid to blow cover and try to deliver a proper firefight to Fallschirmjaeger.
Hopefully you've shifted the odds to your favour before - since (at least in the first several game months) you're leading a ragtag gang with limited combat capabilities and equipment that...leaves room for desire.
The good thing about this game's design is the love for details which in fact is supported by the use of an old school AP system. There is a wide variety of weapons and equipment of the contemporary nations at war. And there are differences, not too gross ones, but they will be interesting after playing this for a while. For example I find myself tending towards US and German gear.
The camp management is also atmospheric.
Winter 1941/42 felt a bit like Valley Forge. Ran out off firewood several times, send the men woodcutting in the frost.
Virus infections, no medicine available.
Food supply could've been better but worked out after all. Had also cared for loghouses, a field infirmary and a kitchen during the summer before.
So spring 1942 came and everybody was still there.
This is a well designed tactical game that is supported by its studio in an outstanding way!
For this genre the graphics and animations are good and are displayed very smoothly.
It has also got a soul - I see that the studio honors their nation and their forefathers this way. (And it won't leave anybody untouched who ever joined military service. )
Steam Achievements would be nice.
In a gamer's perspective it would be great to have a chance to showcase an ironman playthrough with THIS GAME. :)