Steel Division: Normandy 44
X
Forgot password? Recovery Link
New to site? Create an Account
Already have an account? Login
Back to Login
Steel Division: Normandy 44 is a Tactical Real-Time Strategy (RTS) game, developed by Eugen Systems, the creators of titles like Wargame and R.U.S.E. This new game puts players in command of detailed, historically accurate tanks, troops, and vehicles at the height of World War II. Players can measure their tactical skills against several opponents in big multiplayer battles or against enemies in a challenging single-player campaign. Steel Division: Normandy 44 allows players to take control over legendary military divisions from six different countries, such as the American 101st Airborne, the German armored 21st Panzer or the 3rd Canadian Division, during the invasion of Normandy in 1944.
Steam User 38
I usually don't like RTS games because they are too hectic and stressful for me, especially in PvP. I became interested in this game by watching PvP tournaments and loved how the battles looked and the different matchups and specialties of the decks, so I bought it myself. Played a bit but eventually uninstalled because it was still overwhelming. The PvP community went on to SD:2 but I didn't like the changes but still craved playing something like it while watching more PvP content. So, installed Normandy again and this time, it got it's hooks deep into me and 400 hours later, I still very much enjoy it.
That is mostly thanks to how customizable the Skirmish mode is. Even 1v1 against AI is often too much for me (and other reviews also talk about micromanaging hell) because there is too much to pay attention to across a map and you would have to jump around with the camera keeping track of everything happening. I also like a slower pace and less units so I ended up playing with an AI companion, against 2 AIs on 1v1 maps (the game automatically adjusts income so there aren't twice as many units on the small maps. Also works for 2v1 and similar tilted matchups). I also put in 3000 Points target score, only 250 points to start with and a 50 Minute time limit so I can actually develop some tactics beyond an initial rush and enjoy more of the Phase C units (no, I'm not a King Tiger enthusiast). Setting income to Low means the longer games don't become an attrition hell about who runs out of units last. You have to pick and choose what to buy from your deck for the current situation. Okay, so that's the pace that works for me. How am I still having fun after 400+ hours?
I play random maps, with a random faction but my own decks against random factions and I only reroll factions if it rolls the same faction for both on one side. Sometimes I stick to a faction because I want to refine a deck but usually this combination of randomness ends up producing seemingly endless variations of challenges. The AI companion picks a side, so you can't even pick the side that would suit your deck better. And since you always play a random quadrant of a map it kind of quadruples the map pool. Huge forest area but a tank heavy deck? Well, make it work! Sometimes the rolls are in your favour and you get a faction with long range guns on an open field and get a somewhat easy win but often enough, you have to struggle a bit, especially when your AI companion collapses. Turning around a match that seems lost and you're pushed back almost to your land spawn feels great, even if you can only push it back to a Draw.
I know this is a very niche way of playing this game and most people probably scoff at it since the AI isn't very challenging (under utilises Arty and Air, keeps charging into choke points, "forgets" a lot of units behind the front line but so does your AI companion) unless you let it have a lot more points but it works perfectly for me in a way no other real time battle game has so far. It's just the right mix of stress/struggle but knowing what I'm doing and making a lot of small choices to get the job done with some micro but I don't need to flit around the map to micromanage everything. Although you can do great things with micro in this game. Cheeky faster tanks peeking around a corner and retreating again before the enemy Tiger can shoot back, Getting in and out of buildings with infantry to avoid incoming explosives or flamethrowers. It's like candy for my brain and I use these battles as a reward for doing something hard or taxing beforehand or when my brain was underutilised throughout the day. I guess for some people a game of chess would do that, for me it's this. So my mental health thanks the devs for this game and making the Skirmish mode this configurable.
Steam User 14
It's alright, but it feels too arcadey. I personally prefer more realistic games like Call to Arms: Gates of Hell.
Steam User 5
Split up in sections for more pleasant reading or reading of specific sections.
Introduction:
After a good 1000 hours in the game, I think I'll write my first real steam review. Not because I think this game is in dire need of publicity in !any! form, but because it's also just too good to be ignored and forgotten of after it's successors SD2 and WARNO.
Own feelings of the game:
For me, it is the perfect WW2 RTS and could've been even better, if there had been a bit more love for this game in terms of development. I honestly hate modern DLC policys, but I'd love to have more SD44 DLC's just for the game to keep getting updated. We could've had so many more maps and divisions, it's a shame.
SD44 got abandoned more or less two years after release, which basically is a joke for a game that good.
Despite that it's well rounded, has instinctive hotkeys for RTS fans, and units are quick to react to actions taken.
Game mechanics
I personally was opposed to learn the game at the start, because it seemed so stressful and complex. Turned out it just was the right amount of everything. Like many strategy games it takes it's good time to really learn it , and that's okay. But if you overcome this initial hurdle, it's only getting better and better from then on.
The micro is easy to learn, hard to master. The macro is crazy in terms of possibilites.
The scale is just perfect. If you lose a valuable unit, it actually changes the outcome of the game, your resources are limited, as is the scale.
In SD2 it all loses it's individual worth and the map and scale overbloat to the point, that same levels of micro as in SD44 are not possible anymore. Someone that has good micro can still be a bad player because he knows nothing about cost efficiency or battle tactics.
The game is actually pretty balanced on a high level of player proficiency with slightly better Allies, nothing too crazy. Ranges, Vision, movement and fighting works extremely good down to 2-3 slight bugs or errors that don't affect everyday gameplay. One of those problems being the vision mechanics connected to hill maps.
It seems to be a bit random what one can see and what not, and there's not a reliable tool or mapmode, that let's you get more insight in that regard. You just roughly know: "Yeah this tank is looking barrel down the hill he should be able to shoot." but it's speculation in the end. Other than that among 1-2 minor errors its every aspect is astoundingly fleshed out, maybe somethings more or less not even on purpose by the developers.
The frontline system being a much better choice than the flag system, that SD2 utilizes. Not leaving winning or losing points to your map side or placement, but simply by the percentage of the map controlled.
Graphics/Sound
The graphics and sound are not even standing out for a game that was made in 2017, however it has it's own charm. It's got more of a cartoon-ish look as in SD2. The portraits of Generals and Soldiers are stylized in the same way. The 3D effect are less fleshed out as in SD2.
But as someone who values practicality and a good running game more over being overpolished and bleak, I really like SD44's graphics. It's nothing crazy, but that also means the game runs on nearly every computer and it's not distracting.
One major Pro also being the design of counters in this game. Obviously the scale is too big for most of the models to actually be visible, but you can see the counters and change their size. The color scheme is made for good distinction of foe and friend. Overall a well rounded part of the game, that trades practicality for a deceiving facade.
Concerning sound, that is quite solid in my opinion, theres also a good community mod, that put more emphasis on realistic and more diverse weapon sounds, which takes around 2 minutes to download.
SP Campaign:
Sweet little campaign with actually hard scenarios, even for seasoned players. It's apparent, that this campaign received the most love out of most game aspect, considering it got a ton of scenarios and maps, that are not even playable in MP.
Community
I also started playing, when the community was already basically dead, desoite it theres still a sworn-in group of hardcore fans, that play it regularly. If you wanna get in there just search: in the steam groups.
This fact makes casual games easy to set up and fun to play, because everyone knows the rules and at least somehow knows to play. The games can be balanced for a optimal experience.
In conclusion, I hope this game would reach a wider audience as it is vastly underrated and basically only got forgotten because of the fast release of it's (imo weaker) successor. It's wort the money and even worth to play if you will be too late to witness any multiplayer games. I liked the campaign aswell, even though I only play MP nowadays. So treat yourself to this game, maybe when it's on sale if you're not sure, and try it out. Every RTS player with a bit of patience to learn will have his joy with this game.
Steam User 8
As a fan of Company of Heroes over the years, I recently started getting into Steel Division. I really like the more realistic nature of this game, also the unit variety through many divisions. Heartily recommend to anyone who likes WW2 RTS games, also check out Steel Division 2 for sure.
Steam User 1
it is good game prefect in any thing 2 is so expensive
Steam User 1
great War Game
Steam User 1
nice combat tactical aproach.Feels a bit like close combat.