World War II Online

World War II Online: Battleground Europe is a combined arms MMOFPS set in, believe it or not, wartorn Europe during World War II; oh, and it's online. Unusually for an FPS it originally eschewed the later stages of the war, this however has changed slightly.

There are three factions. The British and French versus the Germans. The British and the French are unified under one command system, with the French having more brigades in total then the British.

Gameplay takes place in a single game world, which is a 1/2 scale map of Western Europe. It is the largest MMOG game world map, at over 350,000 km, with most play occurring in a 30,000 km central area in which most capturable cities, airfields and ports have been placed. Two alternate servers are available for training events and beta testing the next version respectively. A campaign starts off in a vague interpretation of the Battle of France.

A unique feature of the game is the command system, which is entirely player run and implement their own rules, regulations and protocol. This is monitored by the developers and helps create two very differently run sides. A High Commander will typically move brigades, lead assaults/defences and monitor supply levels. You don't need to worry about this unless you plan to become a High Commander.

The first-person aspect of the game could be said to combine elements of Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45 and Battlefield with little focus on realism. Did I say little? I meant a LOT! There is no Regenerating Health or First Aid Kits or even a Medic class. One shot from anything will normally kill or severely wound you. The Collision models for vehicles are very well detailed and calculate velocity, drop, angle of impact and such.

Official site.


 * After Action Report - Frequently in the forums. There is an ingame AAR as well which displays your mission type, kills, damages, time, place of spawn and the place of despawn.
 * All There in the Manual -
 * Bomb Whistle - The Stuka.
 * Bottomless Magazines - Averted. Everything has a limited amount of ammunition but played straight with truck s which can still somehow hold enough supplies to resupply an entire army. The rifleman classes have ammo boxes to replenish other infantrymen.
 * Brits With Battleships
 * Crew of One - Averted, a player can fill a position on a tank, plane, ship or even an anti-tank gun along with other players if they so wish. If you don't you can access all positions but are at a disadvantage.
 * Fackler Scale of FPS Realism - One bullet can pulverise your persona, a shell can explode your engine and a bomb blow your boat up. You'll die a lot.
 * Gaming Clan - There are player created squads in the game. Many have a structure seperate of the High Command, and occasionally hold conventions.
 * G-Rated Sex - In the 1.31 patch, Ragdoll Physics were introduced; before this, an infantry player could die in a somewhat compromising position with another player.
 * Not to mention the sheep.
 * Gauls With Grenades - A rare video game example.
 * Highly-Conspicuous Uniform - The French Commander uniform. The cap isn't too bad but the trousers are bright white jodphurs.
 * Hyperspace Arsenal - Averted mainly because you can only use the weapons you spawned with. Even then a soldier only carry his primary weapon, pistol, various grenades and a knife.
 * Hold the Line - Quite literally as well
 * Instant Death Bullet - Death comes usually unexpectedly and quickly, with no idea where the lethal bullet came from.
 * Insurmountable Waist-Height Fence - You can't jump over them or jump period, due to realism. Justified given the size of the map, you can walk around it.
 * Military Academy - the Officer Candidate School for both sides. This is maintained by senior staff officers and you need to pass it to 'become' an officer.
 * More Dakka - Taken to extremes.
 * My Car Hates Me - Occasionally a bug causes the engine of a StuG assault gun to not work at all, even if it was working fine a few seconds ago. Of course Sods Law wishes it to happen just when you're facing an enemy armoured column.
 * Nazis With Gnarly Weapons
 * No Swastikas - So the game can be sold in Germany, no swastikas are allowed in the game or on the forum. However, in a possible attempt to Get Crap Past The Radar, the crossroads look suspiciously like swastikas on the game map.
 * Older Than They Think - The game was released in 2001 and was in development since 1999.
 * Only Six Faces
 * Ragdoll Physics - Introduced in 1.31.
 * Redshirt Army - Played with as most players that choose to play as a paratrooper are new players that after seeing paratroopers in the media. Hilarity Ensues when they realise they aren't actually the cavalry.
 * Tank Goodness - They aren't called armoured brigades for nothing, you know?
 * Urban Warfare - Antwerp, Brussels, Amiens, Essen, Frankfurt. You get the picture.
 * With large towns completely overhauled for 1.31
 * Video Game Caring Potential - See a squad of infantrymen pinned down by enemy tank fire, and you just so happen to be in a fighter with twin .50 cals?
 * Video Game Cruelty Potential - See that paratroop transport plane loaded up with bright eyed new recruits, and you just so happen to be in a fighter with twin .50 cals?
 * World War II - Self explanatory.