Hearts of Iron IV Reviews?

[solops]

What is the consensus about HOI4 after the latest 1.2 patch? Is it any good? I did not care much for III, though I never played it near as much as I played I and II. About IV, I keep hearing "Oh, this is much better" or "the AI is really bad". What is the scoop about the game as it stands now?

[Ian C]

I have 246 Hours logged on it so far.

Good Points:
-Fun
-Easier than HOI3 to play
-Can successfully run huge campaigns with less micromanagement than HOI3
-Feels more robust

Bad Points:

-AI has criticism, but still early days. Devs have stated that it will be improved, along with the Pacific War for the next patch/DLC
-For some, the loss of a pure flat map with typical NATO style counters is off-putting
-Other bad points are somewhat of a difference of opinion on the forums with 'this isn't realistic enough' to 'this is great'.



I would strongly recommend subscribing to the following on the STEAM workshop. These really improve the game experience.


Historical German Flag
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=698660211

Coloured Buttons makes easier navigation
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=699235856

Strategic View Adjustments   makes easier navigation & it looks superb. Better map fonts.
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=704963980

-RGFX- Improved Battle Plans   makes easier navigation
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=709038882

Enhanced Peace Conference AI - this is included in the new patch but this version is constantly updated
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=707765792


Optional but highly recommended:

More Historical Division Structures (Lite)
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=720763033

AddFewGeneral - lots of German Generals converted from HOI 3, with better Traits and great portraits. Recommended if you play as Germany.
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=746134160

RealCombatWidth - Battalions given a more realistic combat width.
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=759571486


No Experience for Division Design - allows use of saving templates in the Division Designer without experience cost.
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=698620155

No Experience Limits - removes experience cap
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=760214754

no fog of war - removes fog from unexplored regions without reveling enemy forces
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=700611832

More NATO Symbols (Div Designer)
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=701617589


and finally:
Blackice HOI IV -a total conversion mod with heaps more realism and NATO-based counters. Warning: disable all other mods in the launcher before running this.

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=707136443

[Rayfer]

IanC's review is spot on, and I say this having only a paltry 76 hours into the game. I'm still actively playing the game since it came out. 

[FarAway Sooner]

I asked a very similar question a month or two back and got a half-dozen responses or more along the lines of what Ian posted above.

Reading the manual, the HoI4 system looks beautiful, but the implementation (including AI) is still getting some work. 

One note for historical sticklers:  As your tech research opens up the abilities to produce new fighters, major powers get fighters with "their own names" but identical capabilities.  So (hypothetical example) while the Japanese "level 3 fighter" might be called a "Zero" and the American level 3 fighter might be called a "Warhawk", they have the same combat stats. 

Depending on what a stickler you are for historical WW II flavor, this sort of thing could be a huge problem or no problem at all.  That just puts a little specific flavor in the "this isn't realistic enough" debate.

[WallysWorld]

Thanks for the list of mods, Ian. I had a few of them installed already, but your list was much appreciated.

[Ian C]

Thanks for the list of mods, Ian. I had a few of them installed already, but your list was much appreciated.

O0 

[solops]

No NATO symbols? Really?

[jomni]

No NATO symbols? Really?

There are actually default NATO symbols.

[solops]

Well that's a relief. But, also, generic units? So the only difference between countries is in their economies, which all churn out the same generic tanks, planes and boats, just in different quantities?

[SirAndrewD]

Well that's a relief. But, also, generic units? So the only difference between countries is in their economies, which all churn out the same generic tanks, planes and boats, just in different quantities?

They have flavor names and art, but for all intents and purposes they're the same.  A medium tank II is just a medium tank II, even if one is called a Panther and another a Sherman. 

What you can do is modify stats on said equipment in the design phase, so you can increase armor, reliability, firepower ect..  To do this you have to spend the experience points gained from practical combat.

Also, it is to be noted that while there are Nato symbols, there are always 3d models on the map.  The Nato symbols merely show up under the models where the generic symbols were previously placed.  Therefore, there is not a "true" Nato/Counter option ala HoI 3.

[Ian C]

Also, it is to be noted that while there are Nato symbols, there are always 3d models on the map.

The 3D models and buildings can all be turned off leaving only counters. The Blackice mod goes further by enlarging the counters.

Got to: Options /Video and deselect all the 3D options:

No NATO symbols? Really?

Standard NATO symbols are all there to cover all units. What the 'More NATO Symbols' mod does is add specialized unit symbols like Armored Recon Cavalry, Heavy units etc.

[solops]

Sounds like Paradox did their best to muck up HOI4. Thank goodness for modders. Still. the weirdness about the NATO symbols and generic units makes it sound more like Axis and Allies than a real wargame. This may not be for me. Some of the in-game options sound reassuring. I definitely need to know more.  And it sounds as if it will need to be HEAVILY modded.

Strange that Paradox would take a half-step away from their core audience like this. And there are other WWII gaming options.

I shall wait.

[chemkid]

@ian - thanks for your review.

@solops - seeing more of these 'wargamers unite, we're getting older!' threads nowadays it seems paradox is doing the 'paradox' thing with this step in the right direction: towards their 'new and future' core audience (the casual gamer who prefers playing instead of studying ww2 warfare)!
axis & allies all the way, yeah!

:(

[sandman2575]

Sounds like Paradox did their best to muck up HOI4.

Really don't see how anyone can reach this conclusion. To all appearances, Pdox was very deliberate in how they approached HOI4, having learned some hard lessons of many things that did not work in HOI3. They took their time -- instead of rushing the game out the door in 2015, as originally projected, they stepped back and put in another year plus of further development and fine-tuning.

I think HOI4 is a tremendous achievement. It's flawed, undoubtedly. Above all the AI needs a lot more work. But to compare HOI4 to HOI3 is to see how Pdox made a lot of smart decisions about how to improve an already great franchise.

[sandman2575]

@solops - seeing more of these 'wargamers unite, we're getting older!' threads nowadays it seems paradox is doing the 'paradox' thing with this step in the right direction: towards their 'new and future' core audience (the casual gamer who prefers playing instead of studying ww2 warfare)!
axis & allies all the way, yeah!

:(

Hearts of Iron was never billed as a hardcore, John Tiller / Gary Grigsby type simulation with ultra fidelity to historical detail. Nor do I think it can be said to appeal to 'casual' gamers. It's far more complex -- and indeed, much more attentive to historical detail -- than it's getting credit for here. Calling it "Axis and Allies" is selling short in a pretty unfair way, IMO.