Isonzo

The third installment in the WW1 series does not disappoint with recognizable gameplay in a new format, considering the battlefield has moved to Italy. It looks graphically neat, the authenticity is evident and the gameplay can be very hectic. At the same time, though, you have to expect a relatively steep learning curve and somewhat clunky controls on consoles. Nevertheless, Isonzo is a shooter worth mentioning.

Isonzo is the third act of the WW1 Game Series franchise developed by Blackmill Games which, even without proposing major changes compared to Verdun and Tannenberg, proved to be a good tactical shooter that evokes the battles on the Italian front. Its biggest problem, however, is an imperfect technical optimization, but also the low amount of playable content such as maps and modes.

Isonzo may be fascinating for people who enjoy historical settings in an FPS. Unfortunately, gameplay wise is far from perfect and it needs way more content to captivate its players.

Isonzo injects some much needed verticality and colour into attritional World War I conflict. The class types allow players plenty of ways to contribute, although online competition can feel like a meat grinder. A way to gradually introduce new faces would've been very welcome, although there isn't that much to Isonzo as a package. For offline combatants, the bots do provide a more forgiving opposition, if a touch predictable. Online with strangers, I struggled to find organisation amongst players. Still, there are moments where it shines with a mix of tension and victory. More maps are forthcoming and it is cheap which could entice someone to give it a shot.

Isonzo is a decent game. Solid in many areas, but never one to show off, the title delivers a good gameplay core, and offers it up at a reasonable price. Performance problems aside, good gunplay and interesting maps are enough to make the experience worth it, at least in the short term. A campaign or a large pool of maps could certainly enhance the value of the title, but even without it, you have a lean, satisfying experience that will be especially appealing to anyone with an interest in the First World War.