Sumerian Six
Release Date: September 2, 2024
Strategy, World War II, stealth, tactics, Polish, alternative history, singleplayer
Steam
A tactical RTS, inspired by the popular Commandos series. Sumerian Six takes us to an alternative version of World War II. We command a group of scientists with extraordinary abilities and powers, defeating Nazis and trying to twart the plans of the Third Reich.
Sumerian Six is a tactical real-time strategy (RTS) focused on achieving goals silently. The game allows us to take control of a team of heroes. We use their unique skills to face the overwhelming forces of the enemy. The production was handled by the Polish studio Artificer, known for their work on the turn-based strategy game Showgunners.
Plot
The story presents an alternative version of World War II and focuses on the fate of the Enigma Squad – a unit created for secret missions against the Third Reich. The group members are distinguished scientists who use extraordinary devices and fantastic powers in battle.
The biggest enemy of the Enigma Squad is its former member Hans Kammler, currently working for the Nazis. The antagonist plans to support the Third Reich with a substance called geiststoff, which is as powerful as it is mysterious.
Gameplay
Sumerian Six is a strategy game with action shown in an isometric view and gameplay that encourages stealth and silent elimination of enemies. During the missions we visit various locations, including military complexes or archaeological excavations. We carry out main objectives, as well as side tasks. Over time, we also get the opportunity to develop our heroes.
The key to success during each mission is the proper use of the environment and the skills of the characters in our team. Together with the protagonists, we have the opportunity to avoid the gaze of enemies by sneaking out of their field of vision or by covert elimination using environmental elements (like by pushing the truck onto the approaching patrol). Each member of the Enigma Squad has special abilities or equipment – Sid Sterling can stun enemies with flash bombs, while his sister Isobell can switch places with opponents, opening up new tactical options. They are partnered with characters like Wojtek (he possesses enormous strength), chemist Rosa Reznick (turns Nazis into walking explosives), or psychoanalyst Siegfried von Adelsberg (manipulates the minds of opponents).
Enigma Squad must fight with Nazi soldiers, officers, as well as mutants and heavily armored special units. To defeat them, it is often necessary to combine the skills of the protagonists. The coordination of actions is facilitated by the active pause option, during which we plan movements, and then the characters simultaneously proceed to their implementation.
Videos and Screens
[1:18] Sumerian Six Sumerian Six - Launch Trailer
[6:24] Sumerian Six Sumerian Six - Extended Gameplay Release Date Trailer
The main pros of the game
- Engaging Gameplay Mechanics: Players appreciate the diverse and powerful character abilities, allowing for creative problem-solving and varied approaches to challenges.
- Interesting Story and Setting: The unique blend of WWII with supernatural elements and a compelling narrative has been well-received.
- Level Design: Many reviewers noted that the levels are visually appealing and allow for multiple solutions, enhancing replayability.
- Nostalgic Appeal: Fans of previous tactical stealth games like Desperados III and Shadow Tactics find Sumerian Six a worthy successor, capturing the essence of the genre.
- Character Variety: The distinct abilities of each character contribute to enjoyable gameplay, with some characters providing unique advantages.
- Solid Performance: The game runs well on various platforms, including the Steam Deck, and has quick loading times.
The main cons of the game
- Technical Issues: Several reviews mention bugs, crashes, and memory leak problems that disrupt gameplay.
- Lack of Polished Production Quality: Comparisons to more established titles highlight that Sumerian Six lacks the polish and refinement found in games like Desperados III.
- Enemy AI and Variety: The enemy mechanics are criticized for being simplistic and lacking diversity, which limits strategic options during encounters.
- Difficulty Balance: The game can feel either too easy for veterans or excessively punishing for newcomers, indicating a lack of balance in difficulty settings.
- Inconsistent Quality of Life Features: Players noted various minor annoyances, such as tooltips that persist unnecessarily and unclear character outlines against certain backgrounds.
The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users
- Enhanced Stealth Mechanics: Users expressed a desire for more depth in stealth mechanics, such as light and shadow dynamics, which could add complexity to gameplay.
- More Enemy Types: A wider variety of enemies could enhance strategic gameplay and challenge.
- Character Development: Some players felt that the characters lacked depth and backstory, leading to less emotional attachment.
- Improved XP System: The current XP system lacks player agency and anticipation, with suggestions for a more meaningful skill tree or upgrade path.
- Environmental Interactions: Features like footstep sounds in different terrains and better corpse management options were noted as missing elements that could enrich the gameplay experience.
Summary
- Overall, while Sumerian Six has been praised for its fun gameplay and engaging mechanics, it faces criticism for technical issues and areas where it could improve to match the standards set by its predecessors in the genre.
Summary generated on:
Sumerian Six Summary
Platforms:
PC / Windows
Developer: Artificer
Publisher: Devolver Digital
Age restrictions: 16+
Sumerian Six System Requirements
PC / Windows
Minimum: (30 fps / 720p) Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4 GHz / AMD FX-8350 4.0 GHz, 8 GB RAM, graphic card 3 GB GeForce GTX 780 / 4 GB Radeon RX 560X, 20 GB HDD, Windows 10 64-bit
Recommended: (40 fps / 1080p) Intel Core i7-6950X 4.0 GHz / AMD Ryzen 5 1500X 3.5 GHz, 8 GB RAM, graphic card 8 GB GeForce GTX 1080 / Radeon RX 5700 XT, 20 GB HDD, Windows 11 64-bit