Review - Classified France '44

Developer: Absolutely Games

Publisher: Team 17

Available on: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC

Reviewed on: PS5

It’s not what you have but what you do with it. World War II video games are a dime a dozen, even in 2024. However, it isn’t what you have but what you do with it. Hearts of Iron IV has you command any nation and Sniper Elite 5 puts plays as a sniper behind enemy lines. It’s a genre players have plowed through on multiple occasions, from Medal of Honor to Call of Duty. Some may be tired of the genre. However, World War II was the largest conflict fought by mankind, meaning there are plenty of stories and experiences left to tell. 

Classified France ‘44 may sound like a generic title in a genre bloated with games, but its adoption of the X-COM formula makes it a special strategy title with hours of enjoyment. It is another World War II game in a long stretch of World War II games, but what it does with the genre is exciting and satisfying, even if there are a few technical blemishes. 

By Air, Sea, and Land

Europe is to be liberated but the mission to do so is extremely dangerous. The Allies are launching Operation Overlord, the largest amphibious assault in military history. In a coordinated assault, the Allies will drop over France and storm the beaches in an effort to establish a foothold in France and begin the march of liberation across Europe. The eyes of the world are up on the Allies. Failure means certain doom. 

Throughout France are pockets of organized resistance, working to disrupt and cripple the Nazi War Machine in any way possible. They know the countryside and find innovative ways to keep the Nazis on their toes. As a special unit dropping into France, the goal is to link up with The Resistance and cause maximum disruption before the Allies arrive. This is Classified France ‘44. 

A Few Good Men and Women

Classified France ‘ 44 is a tile-based turn-based strategy with some XCOM elements woven in. The primary goal of Classified ‘44 is to cause maximum disruption across the region in the days leading up to the Battle of Normandy Beach. To do this, players embark on various missions, maintain relations with different resistance factions, and maintain their teams. 

Maintaining the team happens during base camp. Conversations among the team give the game a lot of character but also level up their attributes. Classified France ‘44 has a surprising amount of character, making it harder to see these men into battle, especially on the more dangerous missions. Players can also sort their teams in Basecamp and acquire new weapons from the different resistance factions. As fondness grows with a faction, the equipment and cost improve. 

Taking on the Enemy

The heart of Classified France ‘44 is its turn-based tactical gameplay. The expected rules apply but there are different mechanics to work with. The biggest mechanic is morale. Morale is the fortitude that each unit possesses. The morale is displayed as a gray bar below the red bar. If a unit is attacked, morale may be affected more than health. As the morale bar decreases, the combat effectiveness of a unit is decreased. If morale breaks the unit’s turn is skipped and they'll be unable to return fire. Adding to this is the fear of friendly fire. You can take a shot on an enemy but if a friendly unit is close enough, they'll suffer the effects of a reduced morale.

Tools of the Trade 

There is plenty of customization with the combat. New weapons and personnel can provide different attributes and abilities to combat. Each unit used has their own skill tree to level up. Likewise, if they get hurt, they need to be placed back at Basecamp to heal. Unlike XCOM, there is no permadeath. Players can, however, increase the difficulty and go for harder missions. The campaign for Classified France ‘44 is designed to be played multiple times with several different endings. Each character has their own story to tell as well. 

There are three different missions: stealth, ambush, and all-out combat. Stealth puts players in a position where stealth is absolutely important and needs to be maintained at all costs. AMbush has platers use stealth until detected. When detected, the units go loud with their weapons and explosives. Combat is self-explanatory. There are no stealth or knife attacks. It’s war. 

Turning and Burning

The combat is absolutely fantastic in Classified France ‘44, and with the character of the units, it’s a cinematic and solid game. My actions had weight and meaning and I was careful to ensure everyone survived. Fighting the Germans was a thrill. The game felt a little like Tarantino's Inglorious Basterds but more like this year’s movie, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. Players are bound to have hours of fun in the race against time before the Allies storm the beaches. With multiple endings and difficulties, the game is loaded with replay value. 

If there are any setbacks to the experience, it’s more technical. The game doesn’t allow me to zoom in on the small details. The kill cam often has a marred camera angle. The framerate can drop a bit from time to time. The U.I can feel a bit cluttered and the text rather small.  However, considering this is from a small team with a unique take, these are mere blemishes on an otherwise very strong game.

This is Classified

Classified France ‘44 is an extraordinary game in that it puts more heart, character, and flair into a WWII game than others recently. Its focus on brotherhood and a strong turn-based tactical combat experience make this one a win for the boys back home. The World War II genre isn’t going anywhere, and games like Classified France ‘44 are carrying the genre.

CLASSIFIED FRANCE '44 IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Classified France '44 was reviewed thanks to a key through Press Engine.