At a glance...

Previewer	Platform	Publisher	Developer	Players	Release Date
Matt Bailey	PC/Mac	Paradox Interactive	Paradox Interactive	1-32 (LAN, Online)	14th August 2009

Hearts of Iron III preview

Paradox Interactive are known as a publisher with a big stable of strategy titles under their belt, but at heart they are a developer from Sweden, and Hearts of Iron is one of their own series. We rather liked the last one, Hearts of Iron II, when it came out in 2005, as well as its expansion, Doomsday, and four and a half years later we're looking at the sequel, the aptly titled Hearts of Iron III.

Before we look at what's different, let's see what's remained the same. Hearts of Iron III is still a rather heavy strategy game. As a World War II RTS its unlike most you've ever played, except of course, the previous Hearts of Iron games. It sees you picking a nation and controlling every aspect of it, from diplomacy to technology to the military decisions themselves. You're the President/Prime Minister and their cabinet rolled into one.

In fact, one of the first areas that has changed in this version is the level of depth, which has increased, with even more micro-managing taking place. To help you take control of your country without having to do everything, there's a full hierarchy in place for units, so you can take control of the higher level ones, allowing the AI to manage the minions below. Thus you can set objectives without having to control every officer on the battlefield. In fact, Paradox are aiming to make the game more accessible altogether. There's a new tutorial in place to guide in players, but the main focus is on the new quick starts. These allow you to pick a side and concentrate on a particular area, such as warfare, allowing the AI to take over politics and other areas. How accessible a deep strategy game like Hearts of Iron III can become remains to be seen.

Another important change is the introduction of a brand-new graphics engine. Built from the ground up, it introduces 3D visuals to provide a clearer view of the action, and a more attractive view of the battlefield, but without getting in the way. The new engine has allowed for a larger map with many more individual regions now featured, offering more tactical variety for each world power. There's more units too, with a particular aim of historical accuracy, which should please fans. Combat is improved too, thanks to the way your computer-controlled opponents react more realistically.

Hearts of Iron III also places an emphasis on three key factions; Allies, Axis and Comintern, or Communist International. Your country will find itself drifting towards one of these three depending on your actions in the game, such as the conflicts you take part in and the diplomatic moves you make. Forming an alliance with Germany will send your nation towards the Axis. Some countries will, of course, already find themselves defined by one of these labels, such as the Soviet Union, but some of the smaller powers of the time could find themselves amongst any of the three given your own decisions.

The latest title in the series is once again offering up large scale multiplayer battles, with the hope of making the experience of connecting to others easier, and the gameplay itself a bit more forgiving. However, we've yet to see the multiplayer component, and hope to try out this and more when Hearts of Iron III is released on PC on 14th August.

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