Iron Harvest: Operation Eagle, the first full-on expansion for the Iron Harvest an RTS developed by King Art and published by Deep Silver, this game is based on an alternate reality of post-WWI in which mechs become heavily involved. This is a classic real-time strategy title in which mechs, I mean who does not love some mech action, are the star of the show in this reality after the world war. This expansion adds even more elements to the base game with a new playable faction named the Usonias, these alternate reality version of the US in which they are a powerhouse from staying out of the great war while having a playable campaign of seven missions based around this new faction. This is also accompanied by newly developed units that add a lot to the experience in general.
One of the biggest additions to this expansion is the airship units that are added to all factions in the base game and the Usonias. These airships come in several different forms and variations that can be used to try and take over the battlefield. These units are based around three different variations from the gunship, airlift, and sky bike. These different units have their advantages on the battlefield from the gunship is used as a beefy air cruiser that is a slower unit but deals a significant amount of damage. Then there is the sky bike that deals less damage than the gunship but can maneuver more effectively to move around the battlefield quicker. While the last aerial unit, the airlift, gives the player the ability to transport the infantry units around the obstacles on the map as up to five of the infantry units can be put on the airship at once. All these units add variation to the battlefield from the slow-moving gunship that can take over a section with its powerful cannons. Then the sky bike allows the player to take over multiple sections quicker with a nimble unit. While the airships effectively allow the player to maneuver the infantry units in different manners to take over the battlefield. These aerial units were a good addition in changing up the game, however, there are some issues. I noticed that with the campaign the enemy would throw obstacles such as anti-air cannons to ground the aerial assault. However, when it comes to multiplayer the player is on their own to figure out how to deal with the new aerial units. As at times, this became frustrating in having to deal with the new aerial units as other factions.
The campaign is based around William Mason as he fights to gain control in Arabia based on his fathers’ orders that he receives. While his father, Admiral George Mason, wanting to focus more on growing an empire with Usonia wants the oil that will bring more power for Usonia. While there are some references to characters from the base game one does not need to play the base game to understand the story. This expansion campaign can be enjoyed on its own as it feels like its own self-contained story with the Usonias. To start, you fight alongside the tribes, with Princess Sita al Hadid who is the leader of the tribes but also the niece of the king, to take down the ruling king. Although she is an ally, she is not so sure of being involved with Usonia feeling they could have motives she does not entirely agree with. The missions involve the tension between the father and son dynamic with George and William as they have different ideals with where Usonia is heading and the weary alliance with the princess. These three figures make up the hero figures that are controllable with George Mason has a giant airship that oversees the battlefield, the princess Sita is a cunning mobile spy-like figure, and William is a traditional man on the ground fighter that helps with this suit on the ground.
The missions are broken up into objectives that are needed to be accomplished as these create different stages of the mission. These range from stealth missions to full-on attacks on enemies that need to be accomplished to have the next objective to finish the mission. This is where strategy comes into play in deciding how you as the player want to accomplish these objectives in the way that is most effective for your play style or scenario you are put in. This is a bit different from other campaigns in the base game that became too linear at points with more intimate battles.
The campaign of Iron Harvest: Operation Eagle added enough to the experience that I wanted to finish and engaged enough to see it through the end. With the use of the newly added aerial units and story-based around the Mason’s and the Princess, the campaign added enough for a fan of the base game. A player that enjoyed the base campaign will find much joy in the variations that come with the Operation Eagle campaign involved around the Usonias. While the aerial units were a great addition to the new faction of Usonia not enough was added to the other factions. While Usonia has become a fun faction to play as the other factions were ignored and that is felt when playing the game as more needed to be added to other factions from the base game. Overall, the campaign kept me engaged and wanting more, however, the expansion needed to give some more love to existing factions to compete with the new Usonia addition.
Score: 7/10
Check Out the Iron Harvest: Operation Eagle Steam Trailer:
Iron Harvest: Operation Eagle DLC is available for PC via Steam for $19.99. You need to have the base game in order to play.
Steam Review
Gaming has always been an outlet for me to interact with different people and explore all kinds of possibilities. I play a wide variety of games always willing to try different mechanics and storylines that developers are trying to create for their games. I grew up delving into MW2 and World of Warcraft, I miss the Wrath of The Lich King days, and as I have gotten older I have found a love for RPGs and strategy games, my favorites being The Witcher 3 and Total War. Always looking forward to the next great game.
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