Holdfast: Nations at War's latest update has done more than its developer advertised.
Anvil Game Studios recently launched its latest update Holdfast: Nations at War, which added new character classes, animations, and other new ways to enjoy the game.
Here is a summarized list of features that the game's latest update has in store and if it improves the game.
Holdfast: Nations At War Linebattle 2.0 Update Details
Anvil Game Studios mentioned in its blog post on Steam that it had made a handful of additions and improvements to Holdfast: Nations at War. According to the developer, the update gave players some free cosmetics, new character classes, features, and much-needed improvements to how the game can be enjoyed.
To start with, Anvil added two new character classes to choose from: the sergeant and the rocketeer. The former is the missing link between the officer and rank and file classes, wherein players playing as sergeants can give orders to other players. However, instead of a musket that comes with the rank and files, the sergeant uses a long spontoon to damage enemies, turning him into a pikeman.
Meanwhile, the rocketeer, a class once exclusive to the British, has been reworked and is now available to all factions in the game. According to Anvil's patch notes, this new character class specializes in using rocket launchers, which can deal as much damage as regular artillery, but with a more unpredictable path.
The sapper and carpenter classes also received new abilities with the update. The former can now build ammo depots for players to replenish their ammo reserves. However, with the game providing players with 60 shots, Anvil decided to reduce the available ammo players have when they spawn into a match to balance it.
Meanwhile, carpenters can now go into a berserker-like frenzy with their two-handed axe by pressing their ability button, allowing them to swing their axe in additional directions while being faster than usual and taking less damage from firearms. To balance this, the update made carpenter players unable to switch to another weapon while this ability is still active.
Anvil also redesigned how players will spawn into the game. Thanks to the update, Nations at War will feature the same spawning mechanic as its World War 1 counterpart, Frontlines, wherein players can spawn as a squad on an officer's flog forward position, reducing the footwork players must do to get to the action.
Another neat thing about the spawn redesign is that squadmates can spawn into the game as many times as they want until the enemy destroys the forward position.
Linebattle 2.0 also comes with five new maps to fight on, which consist of the Al Kimar Pyramids, Avignon, Pillerone Pass, Vanoise Heights, and Hudree Marsh.
Furthermore, Anvil added new and improved animations and audio that make the game feel more immersive and lifelike.
Speaking of immersion, new character customization options were also added with the Linebattle 2.0 update. Not only can you choose what kind of uniform your character is wearing, but you can also choose one face from a variety of mustached, bruised, and wide-eyed faces.
Most people start with two faces, but as they gain to level up their character, the number of faces available to be chosen will also increase depending on the level attained.
Last but not least is the game's optimization for low to high-end PCs, which loads the game faster and provides players with more opportunities to achieve performance-graphical fidelity balance.
Did The Game Improve?
Playing the game a handful of times showed that it did improve with the update patching things up. Rockets are now more frequent thanks to the Rocketeers' specialty, and sergeants help with cavalry units trying to flank infantry positions with their weapons and diving in as a substitute to an officer when they fall in battle.
The spawning redesign does cut back on the running, but it is a bit deceptive on Anvil's part. To spawn in a forward position takes one reinforcement point, but you need to spawn at base camp first to do so. This rule means that you have to spend two reinforcement points to get into the game and to the frontlines.
With Nations at War having a game mode called "Army Battlefield" that is sensitive to reinforcement points, using up two could lead to a quicker defeat on the field. As such, to make the most out of the new system, you have to make your way to the frontlines on your own on foot first, do whatever you can, and die. After that, select one of the forward positions available to spawn to save you the time of running back from base camp to the frontlines.
Sappers and their new ammo depots are a must-have for sieges and drawn-out firefights now that ammo is universally lowered for firearms to balance the game out, though their main purpose is still to knock down enemy walls, encampments, and fortifications.
Carpenters' new berserk ability allows them to defend themselves or press the attack on their own while laying down defensive fortifications and encampments.
The new animations and audio add an extra dose of realism and coolness to the game's historical mix. Not only do muskets sound like the real thing, but watching your character reloading them feels like it's done by elite soldiers.
This update also made it possible for surgeons and rank and file soldiers to heal wounded soldiers and fix or detach their bayonets, respectively.
Previously, these could only be done while standing, which exposes them to enemy fire.
The new battlefields are a sight to look at if your computer is capable of handling an extra high graphics quality, which the game's new optimization allows.
Verdict
Aside from a smudge due to the game's new squad spawning mechanic, Holdfast's LineBattle 2.0 did improve Nations at War's gameplay to the point that it feels so much different and better than before it came out.
If you're a fan of muskets, historically accurate long reload times, and the Napoleonic Wars, try Holdfast now. You won't regret it.
