The new hardcore shooter Isonzo wants to combine historical ambition and accessibility. Our preview clarifies whether and how well that works.
With Isonzo, the third offshoot of the shooter series by Blackmill Games is released, which is dedicated to different battles in the First World War. Historical pretensions and fancy battlefields catch the eye at first glance. But at its core is an accessible hardcore shooter that plays more like an Insurgency than a Hell Let Loose because of the short running paths. And so it could also appeal to genre muffins and fans of Battlefield and co.
We were allowed to play Isonzo extensively in the run-up to its release and interview the developer. Are we expecting a new star in the hardcore sky? What makes the game stand out? And at the end of the day, is it any fun at all? We discuss what we experienced with Isonzo.
Table of Contents
How does Isonzo work?
Isonzo is a hardcore shooter set in the First World War. Behind it are developers Blackmill Games and M2H, who previously released Verdun (2015) and Tannenberg (2019). This time, the action focuses on the historically extremely loss-laden Isonzo battles in the Julian Alps, which took place between 1915 and 1918.
Want to have a look first? You can see a gameplay trailer here:
This is what Isonzo offers, in a nutshell:
- We compete against each other in 32v32 on a total of six large mountain maps. Alternatively, a mode against bots is also available.
- We play on the side of the Kingdom of Italy or the Austro-Hungarian Dual Monarchy.
- The size of the playing fields cannot be compared to Squad or Hell Let Loose, rather to Insurgency: Sandstorm. Or, to bring a more common comparison: Bigger than Call of Duty, but smaller than Battlefield.
- Large-scale battles between infantry take place in several phases and span successive maps. We have to capture enemy objectives, blow up key points or prevent an advance on the other side. Mid-range gun battles and close combat with bayonets dominate the battlefield.
- Teams are broken up into small squads that serve as quick spawn points for each other.
- A class system divides players into specific combat roles. For example, the sniper uses scopes, the officer calls in air support, the climber can run extra fast and the engineer sets up mortars, machine guns and barricades.
- We unlock weapons and passive perks by playing a certain class a lot. Mainly bolt action rifles, but also early machine guns and revolvers and pistols. Early submachine guns and shotguns are to follow in a free update in the future.
- Historical uniforms, helmets and beards(!), which will be expanded after release, can also be unlocked.
- A hardcore rulebook with lots of help makes it easier to get started in the genre.
What makes Isonzo special?
Two aspects of Isonzo stand out for us:
Isonzo looks smart
Blackmill sets the scene for the Italian Alps in rich detail and believabilityUnbsp;Many stone buildings, Mediterranean-bright colour scheme, beautiful lighting moods Isonzo is pretty to look at! Weapons and uniforms also stand out with detailed materials and patterns
When we approach obstacles, the character picks up the weapon. This creates the feeling of actually physically moving through the world and thus enhances the immersion. But the somewhat stiff animations of the game characters make you realise that this is not a AAA production. And the explosions sound powerful, but look flat and unconvincing.
Due to the pretty world design, the fancy lighting and the many details, we still find the presentation to be successful overall.
Beginner-friendly hardcore shooter
No artificial crosshairs, high damage and deaths after often only one hit: Isonzo clearly sees itself as a hardcore shooter. But it remains very beginner-friendly compared to Squad and Co.
This is ensured by a useful user interface with ammunition display and markers about team mates and targets. So we always know who is friend and who is foe, where we should run and from which direction enemies are likely to come. Player guidance is thus guaranteed.
In addition, the maps are sensibly provided with cover through trenches, rocks and buildings. So there are no sprints over open fields for minutes like in Squad, Hell Let Loose and co. More time for Isonzo”s strength: intense battles at medium distances and close combat against onrushing troops.
This means that even newcomers can get into the game quickly, since many familiar shooter rules apply. The quick deaths, however, require rethinking. And a thoughtful approach and tactical understanding of the combat roles remain important in order to play successfully.
What do we like, what don”t we like?
We like that already
- Atmospheric battlefields that are thoughtfully constructed and create intense combat.
- Time manageable individual battles, but long campaigns. This allows for short lunchtime battles as well as full-length gaming sessions.
- The progression system for unlocking weapons, perks and soldier clothing can be motivating.
We don”t like it yet
- The bots often behave unwisely and run into the line of fire as if pulled by strings. At least they help by healing players and stopping bleeding.
- The weapon selection is lush, but for historical reasons is mainly limited to bolt action rifles. As a result, most weapons play very uniformly.
- The gunfire sounds are also very similar, which creates a rather monotonous battle scene. Grenades and artillery have a lot of power, but the explosion effects are rather poor.
Release, DLCs and Co.
The WW1 shooter Isonzo will be released on 13 September 2022 on Steam and the Epic Store. The developers told us that they plan to deliver new weapons via free updates as well as paid skins for soldiers. Game-relevant content is to remain free for all owners of the game.
In the conclusion you can read my personal opinion about Isonzo.
Editor”s conclusion
In the past, the First World War left me cold as a game scenario, which was mainly due to the dusty weapons. I simply missed the sustained fire of versatile assault rifles, which had not yet been invented at the turn of the last century.
With Hunt: Showdown, everything changed abruptly. Through practice in my favourite shooter, I”m hitting bolt-action rifles (more and more often). And that opens me up to games like Isonzo. So for two hours I was really engrossed in having sweaty skirmishes with other players.
In contrast, I quickly lost interest in the AI opponents. But that doesn”t surprise me … as a player of multiplayer shooters for decades, I only get the thrill when I can compete with human players. But the strikingly mechanical behaviour patterns of the bots are also rather suboptimal for practice.
Nevertheless, I had fun and will play Isonzo again after release. Hopefully, the hardcore shooter will gather at least a few thousand fans on the servers. From a purely gameplay point of view, it deserves it!
