Strategic Mind: Spirit of Liberty is the latest entry to the Strategic Mind expansive franchise. Developed by Starni Games, this game manages to capture what made the previous games great, all the while improving many aspects of its gameplay, graphics, and sound. This Strategic Mind: Spirit of Liberty review will delve further into those parts of the game. Let’s begin.
As someone who thoroughly enjoys turn-based games such as the XCOM series and Hearts of Iron IV, Strategic Mind: Spirit of Liberty definitely managed to scratch my itch of longing for turn-based games. Although not as well-known as those two series, I think some great moments within this game are simply brilliant and compelling, which I’ll discuss further down the line.
Strategic Mind: Spirit of Liberty is available on Steam for $12.99.
Story: Finland’s Monumental Defense
Just like the previous Strategic Mind titles, Strategic Mind: Spirit of Liberty also takes us into the thick of World War II, and this time we are seeing the war through the Finnish army’s lens.
In Strategic Mind: Spirit of Liberty, we are at the helm of the Finnish forces, where we must fend off legions of Soviet soldiers and Axis Powers in a legendary story of perseverance. Not only that, but we must survive brutal battles during a historically dark period of the World War II era, and strategize defensive warfare tactics in a fight to protect the citizens of Finland from annihilation.
Personally, I admire the way that the developers try to depict World War II through a perspective that’s rarely available in modern media, be that in movies or video games. The Finnish Army we’re playing is resilient and tough, bringing the gritty reality of World War II more apparent in Strategic Mind: Spirit of Liberty.
Demolition Infantry Does Its Job.
Gameplay: Complex War Machinations
After seeing Strategic Mind: Spirit of Liberty‘s story, it’s time to look at the gameplay mechanics in this part of the review. Several major things are intriguing, and I will discuss them in two parts: The turn-based mechanism, and the units that are available in your arsenal against the Soviets.
Battle Units
One of the focal points of Strategic Mind: Spirit of Liberty is the battle units available to players during every campaign. Fortunately, the game offers many mechanics to keep this part of the game fresh.
On the battlefield, we have several unit types that we can control: Artillery, Tanks, and Infantries. Each of them practically follows the same set of rules, but they have different roles within Strategic Mind: Spirit of Liberty. For instance, Infantry is better suited for close-range encounters against other Infantry, while Artillery is better against a Tank or Infantry unit, lastly, Tanks can be dangerous to everything including the enemy’s Tanks.
Moreover, we can spend resources to upgrade and outfit the early Finnish armies with the latest firepower to match the pace of World War II to keep the edge balanced towards you. With this mechanic, you can equip your Infantry to use Molotov cocktails or anti-armor rifles to fight the enemy’s Tanks. Not only that, but you can capture Soviet vehicles to bolster your ranks, and even the odds with British Bombers, Dutch Fokkers, and US fighter planes.
Lastly, Strategic Mind: Spirit of Liberty has the Heroes system as well, in which we can call upon the aid of historic heroes to overcome insurmountable odds. If you’re looking to inflict damage from afar, this game has the legendary Simo Häyhä, the deadliest sniper of World War II history, and many more Heroes that can join your ranks as you progress through the campaign.
Battle Against The Soviets.
Turn Systems
Another important aspect of Strategic Mind: Spirit of Liberty is the complexity of its turn systems. While it’s not as simple as XCOM’s turn system, the game does not confuse the players by trying to be as complex as possible.
With the game’s Turn system, we must gain an edge against the enemy in all aspects. For that purpose, we can use reconnaissance to gain enemy intel before battle and consult our HQ to discuss the optimal approach to nullify the ever-advancing Soviets. Personally, I think this aspect is great, as it gives an additional layer of depth to Strategic Mind: Spirit of Liberty’s gameplay.
Moreover, we can try and implement incendiary shells to maximize damage, and call in air support to both spot enemies from afar and rain death from above. In addition, the day-night cycles mean that we can wait for the perfect time to strike with day-night cycles that present strategic advantages.
Strategic Base.
Graphics and Sound: Mixed Bag
To close this Strategic Mind: Spirit of Liberty review, we’ll take a closer look at the graphical and sound aspects of the game. I have to say, while adequate, there are some parts that I find jarring and outdated.
The good news is that the sound design is great, and there are no major problems that I encountered during my playthrough. The soundtrack that complements the gameplay is solid, as with the sound of battle coming from the Tanks, Artillery, and Infantry attacks. However, the bad news comes from the graphical standpoint: It’s quite lacking. The cutscenes, while indeed not the main point of this game, still feel wooden and lifeless, and the sub-par voice overs do not help conceal that fact.
Still, I have to compliment the developers regarding the battle’s graphics, as I believe it’s a pretty accurate depiction of what happened in the Finnish defensive battles against the Soviets, from the units, down to the terrains, there are no major complaints or problems that I found during my time playing Strategic Mind: Spirit of Liberty.
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- An Airstrike.
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- Simo Hayha.
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- Battle Within A City.
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- A Tank Marching Forward.
Strategic Mind: Spirit of Liberty is reviewed on PC with a review code provided by Hyperstrange.
