Totem Ironclads, my own humble opinion/review/thoughts

USS Sea Tiger · 10-17-08, 10:03 PM

Hi all

When it came out, I was one of the first in line and had to have this one. I wore out 4 Yaquinto "Ironclads" games and this is the very first ACW naval game since. OK shows my age too knowing that game. That a company in Russia would come to our rescue for us Yaquinto players,, WOW and THANK YOU Totem games!!

This is a turn based game, they move and fire and then you move and fire. Some will like this (especally us oilder game players you liked Yaquinto's ironClads) some will not. Myself, I like it. IT has the feel of the old game I love, but without all the crazy plotting and paperwork. For me a 9.

< A WARNING TO ALL> The Graphics are FAR better than in the demo, Honest, I had the demo, and almost passed on buying the final program as I thought they were so poor. Pl;ease don't think the demo graphics are the same as the game, they are NOT.

The Security system is unique, or at least it is to me. You make a file,, send to them, and in about 12 hours at most (mine took 4) you receive a file back. Drop it in you game file and your sailing. A note here. In my experience, you must create the file on the computer that your game is on and your going to play from. otherwise it did not work for me. Initially I had the game loaded on a memory stick, and it played once, I wnet to a differing computer and it would no longer work. I am no computer wiz, I cannot tell you why that happened just that it did in case you have the same issues.

The program menu is set on a road system. You start as either the Union or Confederate. There is no "easy, medeum hard " level. you learn as you go, or you lose. Relax though, no time to panic. You will quickly understand the navigation system even should you chose not to read the rules. Sailing around the board is a breeze (get it, a breeze) ok bad joke, I did not mean to take the wind out of your sails, sorry.

I chose Confederate , and then promply nearly lost the battle of Norfolk but in the end I forced the USS Monitor aground with a well placed ramming and then battered her to death with broadsides. (Yes, it was a good feeling!!!) I lost all my consorts quickly, and sent her consorts away in flames. YES I SAID RAMMING!. That is fun !!!!, Not nearly as damaging as I thought it would be. Maybe I'll find the area where that damage is controlled and tweek it a bit.

The ship models are crisp and very nice a 9.5 easily, probably a 10 to be fully honest. . A great deal of Time was obviously spent here.

All models are in an .x Format, but I have yet to be able to convert these. My hope is to make add-on ships, just as we have in the SHIII and SHIV. then make add on forts, such as New Orleans and such. If anyone can figure this out let me know as I have many Civil war models for the Inland wars to add. After all, it is the Community that made SHIII and such what a great game it is.

Accurate, I would rate a 8 honestly. OK maybe I am being a rivet counter here so take this wih a grain of salt. In the Battle of Norfolk the Teaser is displayed as a full rigged Sailing ship under steam. In fact she was a converted river tug with cannon. Other historical issues I have. Not until the 1905/6 Japanese war with Russia did ships fight until they sank. In the ACW time era more often than not a ship surrendered, and then drifted off until gathered up latter. It is a rare thing for them to sink when fighting other ships. Sure the Cario hit a mine and sank, and at the Battle of Mobile Bay another Ironclad hit a mine and sank. But in general, they struck colors and that was it for them. Rather than sinking, it would be nice for this to happen, they just stop,, white flag, and cannot be used by either side but would make navigation harder. Thnk of the Union fleet running past Port Hudson, and the USS Mississippi in line, ungrounding and floating about in that narrow part of the channel while the rest of the fleet tried to pass.

What I liked, and I mean really liked, a clean simple system to navigate, fight, speed control and know how much and where your ship will turn. the Damage control was great too, simple to monitor to know the weak areas of your vessle and be able to fight her accoringly. They are to me Excellent. I have yet to figure how to fire guns in the middle of a move as the computer player does, but will learn in time. The game system is simple, yet accurate, and thus makes for a fun fast and furious battle.

All battles and ships thus far that I have seen cover the harbor and ocean battles. There is no Inland river battles.

Now remember this is a company in its beginings and needs our support if we want this to live. I think they have great promise. I hope no one takes the above as complaining as it is not meant that way at all. This is a great game. For us ACW naval buffs, it is the first time ever someone made something for us and I thank them greatly for that. There is GREAT promise here.

I am hoping they can evolve. A pick a battle menu and a create a battle menu is a needed touch. I hope too they will allow the community to add ships and forts.

Overall, I rate the game a 9.3.
Simple and quick to understand, No complex table and keyboard commands to memorize. Great modeling, a rare subject.

thanks for reading

Mike Davis
__________________

Task Force · 10-17-08, 11:52 PM

Hmmmmm, sounds intresting, Demos are not the reel game.

Things are gona be left out/ depleted in a demo.

Maxim · 10-18-08, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by USS Sea Tiger

Accurate, I would rate a 8 honestly. OK maybe I am being a rivet counter here so take this wih a grain of salt. In the Battle of Norfolk the Teaser is displayed as a full rigged Sailing ship under steam. In fact she was a converted river tug with cannon.

To find drawings of the ships of the period of Civil war very difficultly. In archives almost nothing was kept. Therefore some ships in game it is the generalized image. For example, we wished to make model of ironclad CSS Stonewall. Workers of Official Civil War Naval Museum have lead for us the true detective investigation. It was found out, that drawings of this ship were not kept. The similar ship now is in a museum in Holland, but it very strongly differs from CSS Stonewall.

The ships perished from floodings everywhere and always. In real history the USA had a Navy, but Confederation was not. At least the ratio of forces was such, that sea battles were not.

All is very simple. The ships are not divided into compartments, capacity of pumps weak. The shell punches a board of the ship. Through a hole water flows. If it is not enough holes, the pump pumps out water. If it is a lot of holes that the ship starts to plunge into water. All system in game has been created in cooperation with military ship builders on the basis of the general theory of shipbuilding. All pays off under formulas which are used at construction of the presents the ship and guns.

Totem Games

Onkel Neal · 10-18-08, 10:02 AM

Good summary, Sea Tiger.

I think a big part of the appeal of this game will be learning a lot more than I currently know about Civil War naval warfare and warships.

CaptainHaplo · 10-18-08, 10:39 AM

If you need to have a vessel fire mid turn - just hit its stop button. You can also move the rudder or speed control and this will stop ship movement. This will "pause" ship movement so that you can fire your guns. Once you fire, then hit the movement button again and the ship will finish its movement. This is very handy to get in a full broadside as you "pass" an enemy.

NeonSamurai · 10-19-08, 09:35 AM

Stickied

TwistedFemur · 10-19-08, 07:36 PM

I aint shelling out $35 without some screenies. I have the demo and the graphics are horrid

USS Sea Tiger · 10-19-08, 09:07 PM

Hi

I am working all night tonight but i will post pics tomorrow.

Crinius · 10-20-08, 06:08 AM

I just bought it and its great! But Iam having graphic problems. The Sea looks exactly like the sky. I tried different GC drivers but to no avail. Iam having a 9800 GTX2 and Iam running on Vista Home Premium 64 Bit.

Hitman · 10-20-08, 08:22 AM

It really sounds good from your review

If only this game could be done as a real-time one, it would also be a sure winner.

Maxim · 10-20-08, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crinius

I just bought it and its great! But Iam having graphic problems. The Sea looks exactly like the sky. I tried different GC drivers but to no avail. Iam having a 9800 GTX2 and Iam running on Vista Home Premium 64 Bit.

Make please some screenshots and send them to us to the address of support@totemgames.ru

BR,

Totem Games

Crinius · 10-20-08, 11:25 AM

Thx for the reply. Ill do that.

kiwi_2005 · 10-20-08, 07:48 PM

Nice review

Quote:

Originally Posted by Task Force

Hmmmmm, sounds intresting, Demos are not the reel game.

Things are gona be left out/ depleted in a demo.

Some demos are the full version all you need to open it up is by buying the key then it unlocks to the full. Few years back there was a RTS demo that came out it, the devs forgot to lock it so when you finished the 2 mission of the campaign which the game was suppose to end it unlocked to the full. Those who downloaded the demo ended up with the full version!

The demo was taken off the servers after a few days once the devs had discovered their mistake!

Maxim · 10-21-08, 03:44 AM

2 Crinius\

Your problem is solved. Look please e-mail.

Totem Team.

Crinius · 10-21-08, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Typical Russian

2 Crinius\

Your problem is solved. Look please e-mail.

Totem Team.

Thx alot. The game runs perfectly now. Great game, lot of fun. Great support

10-17-08, 10:03 PM	#1
USS Sea Tiger XO Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 425 Downloads: 52 Uploads: 0	Totem Ironclads, my own humble opinion/review/thoughts Hi all When it came out, I was one of the first in line and had to have this one. I wore out 4 Yaquinto "Ironclads" games and this is the very first ACW naval game since. OK shows my age too knowing that game. That a company in Russia would come to our rescue for us Yaquinto players,, WOW and THANK YOU Totem games!! This is a turn based game, they move and fire and then you move and fire. Some will like this (especally us oilder game players you liked Yaquinto's ironClads) some will not. Myself, I like it. IT has the feel of the old game I love, but without all the crazy plotting and paperwork. For me a 9. < A WARNING TO ALL> The Graphics are FAR better than in the demo, Honest, I had the demo, and almost passed on buying the final program as I thought they were so poor. Pl;ease don't think the demo graphics are the same as the game, they are NOT. The Security system is unique, or at least it is to me. You make a file,, send to them, and in about 12 hours at most (mine took 4) you receive a file back. Drop it in you game file and your sailing. A note here. In my experience, you must create the file on the computer that your game is on and your going to play from. otherwise it did not work for me. Initially I had the game loaded on a memory stick, and it played once, I wnet to a differing computer and it would no longer work. I am no computer wiz, I cannot tell you why that happened just that it did in case you have the same issues. The program menu is set on a road system. You start as either the Union or Confederate. There is no "easy, medeum hard " level. you learn as you go, or you lose. Relax though, no time to panic. You will quickly understand the navigation system even should you chose not to read the rules. Sailing around the board is a breeze (get it, a breeze) ok bad joke, I did not mean to take the wind out of your sails, sorry. I chose Confederate , and then promply nearly lost the battle of Norfolk but in the end I forced the USS Monitor aground with a well placed ramming and then battered her to death with broadsides. (Yes, it was a good feeling!!!) I lost all my consorts quickly, and sent her consorts away in flames. YES I SAID RAMMING!. That is fun !!!!, Not nearly as damaging as I thought it would be. Maybe I'll find the area where that damage is controlled and tweek it a bit. The ship models are crisp and very nice a 9.5 easily, probably a 10 to be fully honest. . A great deal of Time was obviously spent here. All models are in an .x Format, but I have yet to be able to convert these. My hope is to make add-on ships, just as we have in the SHIII and SHIV. then make add on forts, such as New Orleans and such. If anyone can figure this out let me know as I have many Civil war models for the Inland wars to add. After all, it is the Community that made SHIII and such what a great game it is. Accurate, I would rate a 8 honestly. OK maybe I am being a rivet counter here so take this wih a grain of salt. In the Battle of Norfolk the Teaser is displayed as a full rigged Sailing ship under steam. In fact she was a converted river tug with cannon. Other historical issues I have. Not until the 1905/6 Japanese war with Russia did ships fight until they sank. In the ACW time era more often than not a ship surrendered, and then drifted off until gathered up latter. It is a rare thing for them to sink when fighting other ships. Sure the Cario hit a mine and sank, and at the Battle of Mobile Bay another Ironclad hit a mine and sank. But in general, they struck colors and that was it for them. Rather than sinking, it would be nice for this to happen, they just stop,, white flag, and cannot be used by either side but would make navigation harder. Thnk of the Union fleet running past Port Hudson, and the USS Mississippi in line, ungrounding and floating about in that narrow part of the channel while the rest of the fleet tried to pass. What I liked, and I mean really liked, a clean simple system to navigate, fight, speed control and know how much and where your ship will turn. the Damage control was great too, simple to monitor to know the weak areas of your vessle and be able to fight her accoringly. They are to me Excellent. I have yet to figure how to fire guns in the middle of a move as the computer player does, but will learn in time. The game system is simple, yet accurate, and thus makes for a fun fast and furious battle. All battles and ships thus far that I have seen cover the harbor and ocean battles. There is no Inland river battles. Now remember this is a company in its beginings and needs our support if we want this to live. I think they have great promise. I hope no one takes the above as complaining as it is not meant that way at all. This is a great game. For us ACW naval buffs, it is the first time ever someone made something for us and I thank them greatly for that. There is GREAT promise here. I am hoping they can evolve. A pick a battle menu and a create a battle menu is a needed touch. I hope too they will allow the community to add ships and forts. Overall, I rate the game a 9.3. Simple and quick to understand, No complex table and keyboard commands to memorize. Great modeling, a rare subject. thanks for reading Mike Davis __________________

10-17-08, 11:52 PM	#2
Task Force Rear Admiral Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: SPACE!!!! Posts: 10,142 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	Hmmmmm, sounds intresting, Demos are not the reel game. Things are gona be left out/ depleted in a demo. __________________ Task Force industries "Taking control of the world, one mind at a time"

10-18-08, 10:39 AM	#5
CaptainHaplo Silent Hunter Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 4,404 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 0	Firing Mid Turn If you need to have a vessel fire mid turn - just hit its stop button. You can also move the rudder or speed control and this will stop ship movement. This will "pause" ship movement so that you can fire your guns. Once you fire, then hit the movement button again and the ship will finish its movement. This is very handy to get in a full broadside as you "pass" an enemy. __________________ Good Hunting! Captain Haplo

10-19-08, 09:35 AM	#6
NeonSamurai Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Socialist Republic of Kanadia Posts: 3,044 Downloads: 25 Uploads: 0	Stickied __________________ SH3 Newbie Guide Links and other helpfull stuff

10-19-08, 07:36 PM	#7
TwistedFemur Frogman Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 302 Downloads: 72 Uploads: 0	I aint shelling out $35 without some screenies. I have the demo and the graphics are horrid __________________ <a href="http://www.dewmocracy.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.dewmocracy.com/images/banner_distortion.jpg" border="0" alt="Vote for MTN DEW(R) Distortion(TM) - Dewmocracy.com" /></a>

10-18-08, 10:02 AM	#4
Onkel Neal Born to Run Silent Join Date: Jan 1997 Location: Cougar Trap, Texas Posts: 21,363 Downloads: 541 Uploads: 224	Good summary, Sea Tiger. I think a big part of the appeal of this game will be learning a lot more than I currently know about Civil War naval warfare and warships.

10-19-08, 09:07 PM	#8
USS Sea Tiger XO Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 425 Downloads: 52 Uploads: 0	Ill post screen shot's tomorrow Hi I am working all night tonight but i will post pics tomorrow.

10-20-08, 06:08 AM	#9
Crinius Watch Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Wilhelmshaven/Germany Posts: 30 Downloads: 41 Uploads: 0	I just bought it and its great! But Iam having graphic problems. The Sea looks exactly like the sky. I tried different GC drivers but to no avail. Iam having a 9800 GTX2 and Iam running on Vista Home Premium 64 Bit.

10-20-08, 08:22 AM	#10
Hitman Pacific Aces Dev Team Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Spain Posts: 6,102 Downloads: 109 Uploads: 2	It really sounds good from your review If only this game could be done as a real-time one, it would also be a sure winner. __________________ One day I will return to sea ...

10-20-08, 11:25 AM	#12
Crinius Watch Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Wilhelmshaven/Germany Posts: 30 Downloads: 41 Uploads: 0	Thx for the reply. Ill do that.

10-21-08, 03:44 AM	#14
Maxim Totem Games Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 228 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	2 Crinius\ Your problem is solved. Look please e-mail. Totem Team.