Recently, I had the opportunity to try out a PlayStation game called Otherwar, which is designed as a combination of strategy and action with base defense elements. At first, it seemed interesting to me, as I always like to give new games a chance and see what they offer, but after a certain amount of playtime, I realized that it wasn't really my style.
Otherwar is focused on linear missions, setting up defensive structures, and precise planning, while I personally enjoy games that offer an open world, exploration, and freedom of movement. There is none of that here; the game keeps you within strictly defined boundaries and requires you to play by its rules. My experiences during gameplay were mixed. On one hand, the graphics and atmosphere are solid, and the feeling of defending your base and having your tactics determine the outcome of the battle can be satisfying. On the other hand, I missed what I love most about video games: the feeling of freedom, exploration, and discovering new locations.
It quickly became monotonous for me as I felt like I was constantly repeating the same type of mission, with no opportunity to take my own path or discover something beyond the set boundaries. As for a recommendation, I would say that Otherwar could be interesting to players who enjoy strategy games and the tower defense genre, especially those who like planning and enjoy challenges that test their resourcefulness under pressure. Such players will likely find much more enjoyment in this title than I did.
However, if someone, like me, prefers open world games, RPGs with a lot of exploration and freedom, I think they won't really enjoy Otherwar. In the end, while I appreciate the effort put into the game and see who it might appeal to, it didn't leave a special impression on me personally. I prefer when a game gives me space to carve my own path and explore the world at my own pace, and Otherwar simply does not go in that direction.
A copy of the game for review purposes was provided by the publisher Take IT Studio! Sp. z o.o.
