Periscope Games, $30. World War II Rating: 4.5 Stars
The Basics: Post Scriptum is an ambitious and detailed first-person shooter computer game. It emphasizes accurate depictions of infantry and armored combat, complete with real-life limitations and difficulties.
The Objective: Set against the backdrop of the European Theater, Allied and Axis teams compete to eliminate each other or to control specific zones on a map that represent where both the Normandy invasion and Operation Market Garden occurred. To accomplish this, team members must communicate enemy positions and strategically monitor their own locations.
Historical Accuracy: Uniforms, helmets, and other field gear are re-created at a level of detail seldom seen in World War II shooters, with visible seam lines and raised “3D” details. The weapons—including guns like Germany’s MG 42 machine gun and MP 40 submachine gun; Britain’s Lee-Enfield No.4 rifle; and America’s M1 Garand rifle—are photorealistic, with firing and reloading sounds as vivid as their appearances.
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Graphics and modeling are strong suits, with breathtaking scenery, characters, and explosions. Tank combat is close to true armored warfare simulation, requiring teamwork and critical thinking for effective battle. Some players might dislike gameplay simplifications—quick revives for fallen players, for example—along with the occasional sluggish movement of characters inside buildings or of vehicles driving over uneven terrain. My only true gripe, though, is the lack of fully destructible terrain and structures, which would add elements of unpredictability to the fighting.
Playability: Players must quickly adapt to complex key controls and in-game menus as they cycle through weapons, tools, medical kits, and other specialized gear. They’ll also have to get used to an unevenly paced style of combat that could be best described as “periods of boredom with spurts of panic.” Matches can last for up to an hour, with clashes occurring at random spots or intervals. Those who favor scenarios similar to real-life battles over simplistic and faced-paced gaming will appreciate what this game is trying to accomplish.
The Bottom Line: Some players might get discouraged by Post Scriptum’s complex controls, clunky character movement, and inconsistent combat, but those hunting for a period-authentic World War II shooter with a mostly unscripted multi-player experience should give it a spin. ✯
This story was originally published in the August 2019 issue of World War II magazine. Subscribe here.
