Over The Top: WWI Is A Refreshing Entry…
…into the world of war-based shooters, setting itself apart by focusing on a much less explored historical event—World War I. Developed by Flying Squirrel Entertainment, this game places players in the muddy, trench-filled battlefields of the early 20th century. While the setting is a welcome change from the usual World War II or modern military scenarios often seen in the genre, the game doesn’t quite reach the heights it could due to some frustrating control issues.
The Good: An Underexplored Setting
One of the most striking aspects of Over the Top: WWI is its commitment to immersing players in the brutal and visceral realities of World War I. The game’s environments are grim and accurate, with muddy trenches, war-torn fields, and desolate landscapes. The sheer scale of the battlefields, which can host up to 200 players or bots at once, adds to the immersion, making each battle feel chaotic and intense.
The destructible environments are another standout feature. Players can alter the landscape by using artillery or explosives, creating trenches, or demolishing buildings to gain strategic advantages.
What also helps the game stand out is its commitment to historical accuracy. From authentic uniforms to a vast array of World War I-era weaponry—ranging from rifles to tanks—Over the Top offers a deeply immersive experience for history buffs. The inclusion of historically accurate projectile physics is a nice touch, giving players a sense of the difficulty soldiers faced in using these weapons during such brutal conditions. For anyone tired of the overdone World War II or modern military settings, this is a breath of fresh air.
The Bad: Control Issues Hold It Back
Unfortunately, despite the game’s promising scenario, Over the Top: WWI stumbles when it comes to its controls. In a game where quick reflexes and tactical movement are key to survival, the control scheme often feels sluggish and unresponsive. Whether it’s navigating through the trenches or aiming at distant enemies, the controls frequently get in the way of fully enjoying the game. For instance, moving while shooting introduces a significant drop in accuracy, which, although intended for realism, can feel unnecessarily frustrating when trying to survive in largescale battles.
In addition, the melee combat system, which was inspired by games like Mount & Blade: Warband, can feel clunky and imprecise. While the idea of adding close-quarters combat is a welcome addition, especially for trench warfare scenarios, it often leads to frustrating encounters where hit detection feels inconsistent.
The Average: Great Potential, But Needs Polish
There is no doubt that Over the Top: WWI offers a unique and potentially thrilling experience, but it feels like it’s held back by its technical issues. The multiplayer battles, which can be both large and chaotic, could be incredibly fun if the controls were more responsive. The AI bots used in single-player scenarios also have inconsistent behavior, at times acting too aggressively or too passively, disrupting the flow of gameplay.
On the technical side, performance is still an issue, even in the more recent playtests. While the developers have made some strides in improving FPS (frames per second) and general stability, the game still suffers from performance hiccups. This is especially noticeable when multiple explosions or heavy artillery are in play, which can cause frame drops even on more powerful systems.
It’s clear that the game is still in its early stages of development, and with time and community
feedback, many of these issues could be ironed out.
Conclusion: A Solid 6/10
Over the Top: WWI is a game with enormous potential, and for fans of historical shooters, it’s a refreshing take on a war that is often overlooked in video games. The attention to detail, destructible environments, and large-scale battles offer a glimpse of what could be a standout entry in the genre. However, the current state of the game, particularly its sluggish controls and performance issues, prevents it from reaching its full potential. With more polish and refinement, Over the Top could easily become a must-play for history buffs and shooter fans
alike.
As it stands, it earns a 6 out of 10 for its unique setting and ambitious design but falls short due
to the control and technical shortcomings that hold it back from being really a good game.
