WWI Tannenberg: Eastern Front

Much like Verdun, its predecessor, Tannenberg offers an authentic and engaging First World War experience. Those who enjoy tactical, more realistic shooters will love it; everyone else should consider giving it a chance, but be warned that the game was made on a limited budget and it shows.

Tannenberg isn't the best looking, most impressive sounding or most accessible game on the market. It is, however, a lovingly crafted, mercilessly authentic take on World War I combat that will leave any history buff breathless.

Tannenberg is a solid and tactical multiplayer shooter with a keen eye for historical accuracy. Lower budget production values aside, M2H have done an excellent job of recreating the realism of being entrenched in the Eastern Front and the constant danger of being caught in No Man's Land.

At a glance, Tannenberg might appear like a dated first-person shooter, but playing in the authentic world that M2H and Blackmill Games has recreated is an experience that history buffs and fans of the genre will enjoy and appreciate. The game plays as well as other shooters on the PlayStation 4, so long as you’re willing to get down to the bleak grittiness and utter chaos that defined the First World War.

Despite being rather rough around the edges, Tannenberg’s unique nature breaks from the trends of most AAA first-person shooters today. It’s hardly what I would call a “good” game, and the console version needs a lot of work to feel like more than just a quick PC port, but in spite of all that, I enjoyed the time I spent with it. It was a refreshing breath of fresh air, something just a little bit different. To that end, I commend the development team for not making yet another action-packed blockbuster-style FPS. While it’s not going to replace my old multiplayer standbys of Warzone or Destiny 2, Tannenberg is a game I’d definitely consider going back to if I’m craving a bit of a different approach. I’m just hoping for a bit more polish and console accessibility by the time I return to the Eastern Front.

Unstable framerates, pop-ups and brutal aliasing – this console port of a decent shooter should have been scrapped.

I often feel uncomfortable playing military shooters. Is it really morally acceptable for me to be having fun in a virtual playground that depicts a real life conflict in which thousands lost their lives? I don't know the answer, but thankfully Tannenberg never forces me to consider this ethical question. Tannenberg has some good ideas, but it's a slightly dull online FPS that never really gets going. As a budget multiplayer shooter there's some satisfaction to be had, but overall this is a far too limited and sluggish experience.

Tannenberg is not a game for everyone. There is a lot to take issue with, from long load times to low player counts to disruptive glitches. But the historical accuracy, attention to detail, and map design are all phenomenal. When everything comes together, Tannenberg is likely one of the best ways to experience the terror and bloodshed of the first World War. Unfortunately, there are still several things preventing the game from being everything it should be.