Hell Let Loose

Hell Let Loose is a hardcore World War II first-person shooter featuring large-scale 50 vs. 50 multiplayer battles across iconic battlefields like Omaha Beach and Foy. Emphasizing realism through team coordination, players engage in combined arms warfare with infantry, tanks, supply lines, and tactical communication systems to capture objectives and outmaneuver adversaries in historically accurate settings.

Hell Let Loose: Review

Hell Let Loose is a game that demands your attention, your strategy, and your respect. Set against the backdrop of World War II, this tactical first-person shooter (FPS) offers an unparalleled experience that blends historical accuracy with intense, large-scale combat. Developed by Black Matter and published by Team17, Hell Let Loose has carved out a niche for itself in the crowded FPS genre, appealing to both hardcore milsim enthusiasts and casual gamers looking for a deeper, more immersive experience. This review will delve into the game’s development history, narrative, gameplay mechanics, world-building, reception, and ultimately, its place in video game history.

Development History & Context

Hell Let Loose was born out of a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2017, raising over $220,000 from backers eager to see a new take on the World War II shooter genre. The game was initially released as an early access title on June 6, 2019, coinciding with the 75th anniversary of the Normandy landings. This strategic move allowed the developers to gather feedback and iterate on the game’s mechanics before its full release on July 27, 2021. The game was later ported to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S on October 5, 2021.

The development studio, Black Matter, was led by Maximilian Rea and consisted of a team of passionate developers who sought to create a game that combined the best elements of milsim games like Squad and Arma with the accessibility and polish of mainstream shooters like Battlefield. The game was developed using Unreal Engine 4, which allowed for high-fidelity graphics and large-scale battles.

Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

Hell Let Loose is not a game with a traditional narrative. Instead, it focuses on providing an immersive, historically accurate experience of World War II combat. The game features five factions: the United States, the Soviet Union, the British, Germany, and the German Afrika Korps. Each faction has its unique loadouts, uniforms, and vehicles, adding to the game’s depth and replayability.

The game’s themes revolve around teamwork, communication, and the brutal realities of war. Players are encouraged to work together, using voice communication and a ping system to coordinate attacks and defend objectives. The game’s resource-based strategic meta-game adds an extra layer of depth, requiring players to manage supplies, build fortifications, and call in support to gain an advantage on the battlefield.

Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

Hell Let Loose features a unique blend of FPS action and real-time tactical planning. The game’s core gameplay loop revolves around capturing and controlling sectors on a large, ever-evolving battlefield. Players can choose from 14 different roles, each with its own weapons, equipment, and abilities. These roles are divided into three categories: infantry, armor, and recon.

Infantry roles include the Officer, Rifleman, Assault, Automatic Rifleman, Medic, Support, Anti-Tank, Machine Gunner, and Engineer. Each role has a specific function, from leading squads and providing medical support to destroying enemy vehicles and building fortifications. Armor roles include the Tank Commander and Crewman, while Recon roles include the Spotter and Sniper.

The game’s combat is brutal and unforgiving, with one or two bullets often being enough to take down a player. This high lethality, combined with the game’s large maps and slow-paced gameplay, requires players to be patient, strategic, and communicative.

The game’s UI is clean and intuitive, with a minimap, health bar, and ammo counter prominently displayed. The game also features a unique ping system, allowing players to mark enemies, objectives, and points of interest for their teammates.

World-Building, Art & Sound

Hell Let Loose’s world-building is one of its strongest assets. The game features 17 unique maps, each based on historical World War II battles. These maps are meticulously recreated using satellite imagery, archival aerial photography, and street-level recreation, providing a sense of scale and authenticity that is unmatched in the genre.

The game’s art direction is realistic and gritty, with a focus on historical accuracy. Weapons, vehicles, and uniforms are intricately detailed, and the game’s combat is as brutal and bloody as it was on the day. The game’s sound design is equally impressive, with a mix of ambient sounds, weapon noises, and voice communication that immerses players in the chaos of war.

Reception & Legacy

Hell Let Loose has received generally favorable reviews from critics and players alike. The game’s unique blend of FPS action and real-time tactical planning has been praised, as has its historical accuracy and immersive world-building. However, the game’s high difficulty, slow-paced gameplay, and steep learning curve have been cited as drawbacks.

The game’s reception has evolved over time, with early reviews praising its potential and later reviews criticizing its bugs and lack of polish. Despite these criticisms, Hell Let Loose has carved out a niche for itself in the FPS genre, appealing to players who are looking for a deeper, more immersive experience.

The game’s influence can be seen in subsequent games and the industry as a whole. Its focus on teamwork, communication, and historical accuracy has inspired other developers to create more immersive, realistic shooters.

Conclusion

Hell Let Loose is a game that demands your attention, your strategy, and your respect. It is not a game for the faint-hearted or the casual gamer. It is a game for those who are looking for a deeper, more immersive experience. It is a game that rewards teamwork, communication, and patience. It is a game that, despite its flaws, is a testament to the power of historical accuracy and immersive world-building. Hell Let Loose is a game that, in the words of its developers, “puts you in the chaos of war.” And it does so with unparalleled depth, realism, and intensity. Hell Let Loose is a game that, in the crowded FPS genre, stands out as a unique, unforgettable experience. It is a game that, in the annals of video game history, will be remembered as a pioneering effort in the world of milsim games. It is a game that, in the words of its players, is “the most realistic WWII shooter you’re gonna play.” It is a game that, in the words of its critics, is “a unique, exciting, and extremely rewarding first-person shooter experience.” It is a game that, in the words of its developers, is “Hell Let Loose.”