Game Reviews for Cossacks: Back to War

Load the cannons, saddle up and call your men because CDV are taking you and your army �Back To War�. The incredible �Cossacks� series has another hit on its way with this new stand-alone expansion pack �Cossacks: Back To War�. With 101 new missions, 2 new nations, enhanced online gaming ability and much more, it�s not your every day expansion pack. For those unfortunate few who have yet to experience what Cossacks have to offer, then I suggest you do something about it and grab a copy for a taste of the best military strategy series ever to hit the PC.




You are now the Commander of 20 rival nations battling it out in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. If you thought war couldn�t get any better the last time you played Cossacks, then you are dead wrong. If you want a real challenge then forget games like Command And Conquer and try on this for size, spectacular battles with up to 8,000 units fighting at once, 4 difficulty levels, 3D landscapes, 7-player online gaming with 3 multiplayer modes, pre-rendered graphics resulting in smooth 3D animation, a complete historic encyclopaedia, a hierarchy with over 300 upgrades, map editing ability, huge maps, online championship system and heaps more.




For those of you who love a good strategy game, then look no further. Cossacks: Back To War has got to be one of the most difficult and challenging military games I have ever played. You cannot just buy this game and get stuck right into it, you actually need to learn and practise before you even have a chance of becoming victorious in war. With the ability to have 8,000 units fighting for you on a huge 1024x768 pixel map you need to be aware of everything around you, there is always so much going on, whether it be glorious sea battles that lead to cannon balls flying around like bullets or even a land battle featuring a few thousand men on horses, it is sure to leave you mouse clicking up a storm as you grit your teeth with the will to win.




The intriguing and true historic storylines not only captivate your imagination but also educate you at the same time. You are finally given a chance to see what war was really like because each nation has a unique army that offers different levels of strategy as you learn to master each one to become the ultimate General. Extreme detail has been moulded into each unit, especially the old school battle ships and buildings. The sound reels you in and helps add tension to the game, like when a cannon ball hits the side of your ship and you hear the wood shatter as the ship explodes.




The game play itself is still fun and creative. It runs a little like a mix between �Settlers� and �Command And Conquer�. Like in all strategy games you must learn to survive by collecting resources, in this case food, wood, stone, gold, coal and iron. Once collected you must build up the base defence as well as a huge army to fight by your side. Anyone who has played any strategy game is sure to get the hang of it without trouble. I would not recommend this as the first strategy game you ever play, it�s just a tad complicated. Cossacks: Back To War also carries with it some unique game play features that really set the standard for other games like squad formations, proper music for your nation and more.




If you are a serious gamer and love this gaming genre, then you simply cannot go past Cossacks. If you are sick of usual military strategy games that get boring after the first mission, then Cossacks is for you, because there are so many options that I guarantee you will be hard pressed not to have a grand gaming experience. This particular game does not contain any campaigns, only an extended tutorial; this game is more focused on intense missions, just a warning. If you are looking for campaigns then you should look out for �Cossacks: European Wars� and it�s expansion pack �Cossacks: The Art Of War�. This game is time consuming and you may be forced to spend countless hours building the perfect army, but in the end, it is all worth it when you crush your opponent. Overall, 8.5/10.