Sudden Strike

CDV

Game mode

Single player , multiplayer (Internet & LAN )

system advantages
preconditions

233 MHz processor, 32 MB RAM, 150 MB hard disk space

1 CD

German

Gameplay

The player can choose between three campaigns ( Soviet Union , the German Reich and the Allies ) in single player mode . The player has the opportunity to re-enact mostly fictional events of the Second World War (for example the Battle of Stalingrad or Operation Overlord ) , some of which are based on real circumstances .

The player commands his units, which are modeled on reality in detail, from an isometric , non-rotatable 2D map from a bird's eye view . The high level of reality is remarkable. Without education and careful handling, the player quickly runs the risk of being ambushed. Cliffs, houses and forests restrict the view. Bridges, houses and trees can be destroyed to increase visibility, eliminate pockets of resistance or to prevent the enemy from getting supplies.

The choice of units ranges from infantry ( rifle shooters and submachine gun shooters ) to transport trucks and armored transport vehicles to heavy Panther tanks, Stalin organs , howitzers , field guns and bombers. The air fleet can consist of scouts, bombers, paratroopers and supply machines.

The strategic options are also diverse: mines, paratroopers, snipers and building pontoon bridges.

In contrast to many other real-time strategy games, with a few exceptions there is no possibility to create units, so the missions have to be mastered with the given units. Except for any reinforcements that may arrive, the only thing left for the player to do is to develop and implement the best strategy for the existing units.

The multiplayer mode (LAN or Internet) can be played with up to 12 players.

reception

The game was largely received positively by the trade press. The graphics, the realistic fights and the tactical depth were praised. On the other hand, the extremely high level of difficulty, the AI's path-finding system, the lack of resource management and, in some cases, the music were criticized .

The undifferentiated treatment of the world war theme and the falsification of history were also criticized :

“The settings include Stalingrad and Normandy. These places are associated with tragic events and are known to many people. There were therefore discussions in the editorial team as to whether Sudden Strike played down the horrors of World War II. That cannot be completely dismissed. Especially if the game falls into the wrong hands and the player doesn't know the real background. [...] On the other hand, the game is also suitable for drastically recreating the horrors of war. Historically, this has been quite successful in places - at a very high technical level. Historically, however, the end of the German campaign has turned out to be historically absurd. The war can no longer be won with the Wehrmacht, but the last battle can. This gives the player a better negotiating position with the allies and the German Reich does not have to surrender unconditionally. A short film - a German soldier shoots a Russian radio operator - is simply tasteless. "

- Computer picture games : Spieltest Sudden Strike , issue 11/2000, p. 38.

The topic would again be taken up untreated by some clans:

"[...] at Sudden Strike (abbreviated as SS by some players) you can find German groups [...] with the SS skull in their coat of arms without having to search for a long time ."

- Hartmut Gieselmann : Virtual steel thunderstorms - militarism and nationalism in computer games , in: Violence in children's and youth media. Origin, expression, prevention (PDF; 1.3 MB) , issue 46, p. 39.

reviews

Computer Picture Games: 1.55
Gamerevolution.com: B-
ign.com: 8.1 (out of 10)
gamecaptain.de: 85 (out of 100)
GBase: 8 (out of 10)
PC Games: 84%
4Players: 90%
GamingXP: 89%
mobygames.com: 82 (out of 100)

success

The game was unexpectedly successful. More than 600,000 copies were sold and the game reached No. 1 on the GfK charts in Germany and France and No. 4 in Great Britain. The game won the VUD's platinum award in 2001 . The publisher CDV was surprised by the success and signed another production and publishing contract worth 2 million US dollars with the Russian development team Fireglow .

Sudden Strike: Forever

CDV

Game mode

Single player , multiplayer (Internet & LAN )

system advantages
preconditions

233 MHz processor, 32 MB RAM, 150 MB hard disk space

1 CD

German

Sudden Strike Forever is the only official expansion for the first part. The new features include a map editor, over 30 units, four campaigns (including Englishmen in the African campaign ) and seven single and 20 multiplayer missions. The game has also been upgraded graphically: instead of the usual summer and winter landscapes, the cards also have desert and autumn scenarios. However, the landscapes have no influence on the strategy.

The strategic possibilities are given greater depth by sensible properties of the units, such as increasing the experience of units by officers who are close by or driving vehicles backwards.

Sudden Strike 2

Sudden Strike II

CDV

Game mode

Single player , multiplayer (Internet & LAN )

system advantages
preconditions

333 MHz processor, 350 MB hard disk space

1 CD

German

Sudden Strike 2 is the second installment in the series. The current version is 2.2. In addition to a new war faction (Japan), new campaigns, new units and game mechanics (airfields and warships) are available.

The full version of Sudden Strike 2 is now available for free download from GameTop.com. It is an English-language light version without a multiplayer mode.

Mods for Sudden Strike 2

Unofficial fan-made mods include: a .:

Real Warfare Modification (RWM) is free for Sudden Strike 2 (version 2.2). Special features of this mod are the realistic properties of all units. The current version is (as of January 2019) RWM 8.0.
Hidden Stroke is an expansion for Sudden Strike 2 that comes from the mod developers at APRM . The success of Hidden Stroke led to a second part being published.

Sudden Strike: Resource War

CDV

Game mode

Single player , multiplayer (Internet & LAN )

system advantages
preconditions

333 MHz processor, 350 MB hard disk space

1 CD

German

Sudden Strike: Resource War is an official standalone add-on for Sudden Strike 2. It is actually the third game in the series. What was new was fuel, which made for more logistical tasks. Otherwise there wasn't too much new, which in turn became visible in the menu, in which the version number was v2.3 and indicated the status of the source code. However, four patches corrected some bugs, including the so-called MP bug (4th patch).

Mods for Sudden Strike: Resource War

Unofficial fan-made mods include: a .:

Real Warfare Modification for Resource War (RWM for SSRW) emerged from the Mod for SS RWM 6.8 and realistically models the properties of all units. The current RWM is version 8.0 Beta 3 (as of March 2016).

In Pacific Warfare modification (PWM) of the Pacific and Asian theater of war is treated with a particular attention was given to infantry, air and sea battles. With the second version, the mod was completely revised after four years of development.

Sudden Strike 3: Arms for Victory

Game mode

Single player , multiplayer