Over the Top with a World War II RTS
I had the honour of reviewing the Complete Collection of Sudden Strike 4 a good few years ago, and now the next instalment in the franchise has hit the Xbox. Going by the snappy title of Sudden Strike 5 (bet you never saw that one coming, eh?) it is the work of Kite Games and Kalypso Media. The question is, can it reach the same level as the previous game, or should we just fire that one up again? Pull on your uniform and grab your weapon, we’re going over the top!
We’ll start with the story and in Sudden Strike 5 here there is a choice to be made: when you start a new campaign game, you need to pick a side to fight as. The choices are the Allies, the Nazis or the Russians, and the campaign arc is different for each side you pick. Don’t expect anything too historically accurate, mind, but it is all perfectly fine in keeping with the setting.
Presentation and Scale
Presentation wise and for those blessed with the eyes of hawk, the news is good. Sadly, for us older folk, it is less so. You see, trying to find your troops amidst a very busy backdrop is not easy, and even sitting with my nose practically touching the screen, I can still barely make out what is going on. Thankfully, the maps that we fight on look very lovely, and while it is possible to zoom the camera in, you do lose a good view of what is happening on the rest of the map, so swings and roundabouts.
But keeping in terms of how it all looks, and the various tanks and aircraft are all done to a high standard, fitting in with the period, which is World War II in case I haven’t made it clear. Buildings and bridges are destructible, and the course of many a battle is determined by who can control the terrain.
Sound is also very good, with the ambient noise all being war related: gunfire, screams, plane engines and so on. In fact, if you take your eye off the ball (usually because you’ve seen something shiny) then the sound of gunfire and tank shells is usually your first hint something is going on. However, there is no music to be heard, but at least the soldiers you command are very vocal, and shout in the language you’d expect – “Angriff” when you are playing as the Germans, for instance. The voice acting in the briefings is also pretty authentic sounding.
Modes of Play
Moving on to the actual gameplay and the first thing to notice is that there are three main ways to play. First of all, there is multiplayer mode, and this is where I began. However, despite trying multiple times, I was never able to find a match online. This makes it pretty hard to test, as I’m sure you can appreciate, and so this area remains unknown, obscured by the fog of war. You can play the multiplayer mode against AI opponents should you wish, but to be honest, that is what the campaign mode is for!
The second mode is called Skirmish, and puts us into a series of challenges against the AI. I didn’t find this mode too appealing, as the lack of a story, basic as it is, makes it feel a bit dull. In fact, the best thing you can do with Sudden Strike 5 is hurry along to the main game in town, the campaign…
Kicking off a new campaign, there are a few choices to make. As mentioned earlier, there is the choice of which team to play for, and once you’ve chosen that, you then need to choose which General you want to have leading your troops. Each General is a well known figure from WWII, and they break down into three basic types: Offensive, defensive or tactical. Each class of General has their own abilities that can turn the tide of a battle in your favour, so pick the one that suits your playstyle. Personally, I am usually offensive, including in the game, so that’s the road I mostly went down.
Control Frustrations
The campaign comes across as a series of objectives to try and fulfil, from defending areas to capturing key locations, and it is here where the wheels sadly start to become detached from the chassis.
You see, the main problem for me is the control method. I’m sure, on a PC, that the controls work beautifully with keyboard and mouse, but they are very poorly optimised for an Xbox controller. Trying to select a group of soldiers is challenging enough, let alone getting them to do what I want them to do. And don’t get me started on occupying buildings: I can get the troops in there all right, but getting them out again? Yeah, that’s a whole other story. Further, trying to get them to attack is tricky until you learn that for some reason, Y is the attack button, whereas A, the classic ‘confirm’, doesn’t seem to do much.
A Rough Ride Through the History Books
If I’m honest, that is Sudden Strike 5 in a bit of a nutshell – lots of good ideas, ruined by poor execution.
It pains me to say it, but Sudden Strike 5 is about as rough around the edges as you are likely to get. And the controls don’t make things any easier. Yes, the maps are decent, and there is plenty of content to get involved in, but if you want to play a WWII real time strategy game, I’d stick with Sudden Strike 4…
Important Links
Sudden Strike 5 Deploys on Xbox, PS5, PC in 2026, Closed Beta Registration Opens – https://www.thexboxhub.com/sudden-strike-5-deploys-on-xbox-ps5-pc-in-2026-closed-beta-registration-opens/
Sudden Strike 5 Marches Onto The Battlefield – https://www.thexboxhub.com/sudden-strike-5-marches-onto-the-battlefield/
Buy from the Xbox Store – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/sudden-strike-5/9MTH2F1Q4PZJ/0010
There’s a Deluxe Edition too – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/sudden-strike-5-deluxe-edition/9PCS191Z2BLR/0010
