One of the greatest things about writing about the nerd culture industry is having the ability to have direct communication with some of my favorite developers. As Kalypso is nearing up for their upcoming release of Sudden Strike 5, I had one simple question for them which they turned into nothing short of a challenge declaration…

And I accept.

So what is the Sudden Strike series to those who might not be aware? It’s a realistic, Mil-Sim like real time strategy game set in the darkest days of World War Two. Sounds awesome, right? Well it is! The mantra of the series has never been to collect resources, build a massive base, then send wave after wave to destroy your opponent’s. No, it’s a thinking man’s strategy game.

See, most real time strategy games rely on a heavy focus of micro managing that would simply piss off any office environment. Like, seriously I don’t have to control EVERYTHING in my base. I don’t mind controlling resources and development of my faction, but dear Lord it just gets too much to juggle for anyone wanting to just focus on core gameplay. That’s what makes Sudden Strike different.

The series focuses on tactical combat where sending your limited forces into a head on attack will lead to their certain destruction. It’s a slower game that rewards strategic thinking in contrast to how many clicks you can make per minute to micro manage each individual unit. Each soldier, tank, and artillery piece is worth absolute gold, and if you lose them it’s tough to get them replaced. That’s what makes the game so different and amazing compared to other RTS games. Not only do you have to watch out for your units’ health and positioning in combat, but you have to keep an eye on their supplies too.

Each vehicle has two bars underneath their heath bar that shows their current ammo stock and fuel level. If you have a Tiger 1 in extensive combat without getting a supply crew out to refit them, you could find your monster of the battlefield reduced to nothing but a sitting duck that can’t move or fight back. Trust me I’ve been there. Just like in real life combat, a commander isn’t focused on how to better defeat his enemy, but how to keep his troops supplied better and longer than the opposition.

In the skirmish mode where I’ve spent most of my time in the series, your goal isn’t to necessarily steam roll through the opposition with brute force, but to capture and cut off their resources. It’s a methodical approach to combat that I really appreciate, because it feels like something straight out of the war journal of Rommel fighting in the deserts of North Africa. If you choke off the opposition’s ability to supply their units, you’ve already won the battle. 

Now, where does the challenge made to me come in. On their social media, I asked a question concerning the gameplay of skirmish mode, and in return I was issued the challenge of war. Am I a strong Sudden Strike player? Nope. But will I become one? Absolutely. I picked up Sudden Strike 4 again in anticipation of the sequel releasing on PS5 sometime this year. It’s going down, and I simply can’t wait to learn the finer details of this legendary series.

For the latest and greatest in nerdy culture, keep it right here with your pals at the Pixel Parlor!