Video Game Review: This War of Mine
It seems like there's a nearly infinite supply of high-action war games out there. Spanning centuries of violence, the games highlighting the brutality of human conflict have always captivated the attention of gamers. From the skirmishes of ancient civilizations to modern battlefields and futuristic assaults, players have always looked forward to testing their strategies and skills against formidable enemies and empires. And these games, no matter how similar they may seem, all have something unique, some aspect that makes them stand alone from the rest. So what makes This War of Mine so special and different from the other war games?
In This War of Mine, you are not a soldier; you do not play a strategic commander and you do not direct armies against opposing forces. Your goal is not victory, but survival. This game is probably unlike any war game you have ever played because, rather than armed soldiers, you control a small group of survivors in a war torn city. Your enemies are the cold, starvation, depression and other desperate survivors. Like the game says, "not everyone in war is a solider", but that doesn't mean you aren't fighting tooth and nail to survive.
A side-scrolling, survival-themed strategy game, This War of Mine puts you in control of a small group (2-4) of civilians, trying to survive in a makeshift shelter in the fictional city of Pogoren. The ultimate goal is to survive until the declaration of a ceasefire, living off of the food, tools and materials you are able to scavenge, barter for or steal. These characters have no military background or survival experience, so it is up to the player to determine how best to proceed. It is important to maintain adequate health, hunger and mood statistics until the ceasefire, which requires constant care and attention from the player.
Each character has different traits that will be helpful or detrimental to your survival. It is important to strategize who will do what to achieve maximum efficiency (for example, characters with the "good cook" trait can prepare food using less water and fuel). You will control the actions of each member of the group; your actions and choices will determine the outcome of each survivor (whether they live or die and what kind of life they live after the conclusion of the war). You must not make these decisions lightly; there's no autosave here and you cannot reload to a safe point. Death is final. In all, there are 12 different characters, though your first run through will feature Bruno, Pavle, Marko, or Katia.
During the day, you will be unable to leave your shelter due to hostile snipers. It is best to use this time to craft tools, trade, upgrade the shelter, prepare food and heal your civilians. If you have a radio, this will be a good time to listen for weather warnings, changes in the economy and war progression, allowing you to plan your next strategy or upgrade. You will also want to make sure your survivors are well rested during the day; it is at night that they will be put to the test, so it is best to get your people some sleep before the sun goes down. At night, you will be able to select a survivor to go on an excursion, looking for food or supplies. There are a number of different locations you can go to, each with NPC characters that you can help, trade with, rob or even kill. These other survivors will regard your civilian in different ways; defenseless, starving survivors may beg you for spare food, while hostile soldiers and thugs may try to deter you with force, gaurding their own precious resources. You will have to take your chances and brave these threats to acquire the materials necessary for survival. Your remaining civilians back home must remain vigilant as well; armed, desperate survivors may make their move under the cover of darkness, attempting to steal your hard earned food and resources.
The ceasefire occurs after a randomized duration. Just like a real war, you never really know when it's going to end until it has concluded. You might only have to survive for a short time while guerrilla forces battle it out...or you may have to struggle through months of conflict in a devastated city. Regardless of duration, every single day is going to be a challenge, whether it's day 2 or day 50. The end of the war will provide you with a brief conclusion for each of your surviving characters. Some, strengthened by the ordeal, go on to live happier, better days while others, emotionally crushed by the horrors of the war and their own atrocities, may not be able to find peace after all they've witnessed.
There are a number of reasons why this game really resonated with me. The first is the sheer emotional power of the game. Let me tell you right now: if you want a happy game, or at least one with a happy ending, you probably need to look elsewhere. This is not an uplifting story, it is emotionally brutal, and that harsh aspect is what really pulls you into the game; it is incredibly, and horrifically, immersive. With their back stories and social interactions, it is really easy to get attached to the characters, all of whom are victims of a war they aren't really even a part of. They (and through them, you) will have to make impossible decisions that make you question your own morality in a time of crisis (when starving children come to the door begging for food, feeding them may help you sleep better at night, but puts you at risk for your own starvation). The terrible lengths they must go to to survive often lead to depression and angst within the group, fueling the emotional effect felt by the player. This War of Mine also has a habit of humanizing your "enemies"; you may be forced to kill another character, only to find out they were also a desperate starving victim or simply trying to gather what they need to help their families. You have to decide whether you want to survive at all costs or help others at the detriment of your own health and emotional state.
Most of us are so far removed from the horrors of war that we don't really think about the gravity of the situation portrayed in these games; we can kill dozens of soldiers on the virtual battlefield without blinking an eye. However, This War of Mine is a completely different story, throwing you into the shoes of the real victims of war, the poor civilians who never chose to be involved but were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. It's easy to mow down nameless enemy combatants, but when you're up against desperate, starving people with names, faces and backstories, the entire scope of things changes. This War of Mine is disturbingly beautiful for an accurate portrayal of war that many people will (fortunately) never know. The game itself was inspired by the 1992–1996 Siege of Sarajevo, the longest city siege since World War II, and the horrific wartime atrocities endured by the Bosnian civilians living in the city.
Developed by 11 bit Studios, this indie game was well received by critics (83/100 by Metacritic) and players alike. This War of Mine reportedly sold so well that its development costs were covered after only two days on the market (seriously, this is a really good strategy simulation; check out some of the reviews at the bottom of the page). The developer recently released a DLC for the game; The Little Ones adds children to your group. With no fighting skills or survival experience, it is up to you to care for the children in your group, bonding with them and protecting them from the hellish world (of course this only adds to exhausting emotional gravity of the game). A scenario creator has also been released, allowing players to create their own characters and choose from a variety of different environmental conditions. Player created content is now available on the steam workshop.
Even if you do not consider yourself a gamer, I highly recommend This War of Mine. Its gameplay and controls are fairly simple and intuitive and it is a real eye opener. While it's not particularly "fun" to play, it's just so damn immersive that it's hard to stop playing; hours will fly by as you do everything you can to see your survivors through the seige. Few games capture the human spirit the way This War of Mine has done seemingly so effortlessly, and you will continue thinking about this game even after you walk away (not something that can be said of a lot of games). This War of mine is available on the steam store here.
"This War of Mine might be the war game we need." IGN.com
"Actually feels like being in a war." Polygon
"Uneasy Brilliance." PC Games N
"Grueling but Beautiful." The Guardian
Great review! Made me want to start it up again :D