Interview with Mario Croll

It’s hard to pin down a number of hours that the game will take, because it’s so open-ended. Here’s an example of what I mean: on one map, “Joe” the gunrunner (I won’t give away his real name, don’t want to spoil the game for you), asks you to kill off his rival. If you do it, he’ll sell you any weapon he has available and pay you a handsome sum. However, when you meet up with his rival, the rival says “Tell you what, you let me go, and I’ll pay you the same, leave Joe alone and give you another job to make more money.” So it’s up to you; do you take the quick route by killing the rival? Or do you keep him alive, finish the mission he gives you, and see what Joe has to say after all this? Or do you ignore them both and move on to another task? Whichever you choose, it’s going to open up more “routes” through the game and the final objective of avoiding nuclear annihilation. 

IGN preview

"I have no idea why there aren't more games like Nival's Silent Storm. It combined the same great turn-based, tactical gameplay that we loved so much in games like X-COM and Jagged Alliance with a brilliant physics system and some amazingly destructible environments. Throw in plenty of RPG elements, a great graphics engine and set it all in a World War II setting and you've got a game that seems like a sure winner. Though the model is rarely copied, fans will have the chance to experience the same great action when Nival releases the sequel, Hammer and Sickle, later this year." 

GameSpy preview

“All these strategic decisions have a profound impact on the way the game is played - even on a tactical level. There's still plenty of combat, but while in a war I might think nothing of taking down a house to wipe out a squad of troopers, now everything I was doing had consequences. I simply couldn't destroy everything I came across because it might have drastic consequences down the road. Kill the wrong NPC and suddenly a source of weapons or information is no longer available. Destroy a house belonging to the English Ambassador and all of a sudden the polizei presence on the street gets amped up considerably -- not a good thing for a spy who eventually wants to come in out of the cold.” 

GameZone Preview

"Because of the versatility, excellent attention to detail, and enjoyable exploration of the game world Hammer and Sickle is going to be a strong contender in the role-playing genre. Even players who are not fans of the traditional turn-based, action point systems will find something to keep them interested. The developers have put a lot of effort into designing a system to allow the plot to evolve because of the player’s actions, not force the player’s actions like many games. It is a fine distinction, but it definitely adds a sense of empowerment to Hammer and Sickle. You aren’t just playing a game. You are in command of the game in many respects. And with the new Cold War ready to boil over into a new age of conflict and strife, this isn’t the kids table. Inside the world of Hammer and Sickle you’re playing with live ammo." 

GameMethod Preview

"Hammer & Sickle is easily the most promising turn-based strategy title on the horizon, easily rising to meet its real-time strategy counterparts. Hammer & Sickle hopes to provide a unique blend of stealth and strategy with its highly dynamic enemy intelligence, focus on stealth, and deep turn-based combat system. The game’s turn-based mechanics, which account for numerous types of movement, attacks, and stealth maneuvers, are incredibly versatile. The unprecedented depth, quality, and freedom of gameplay ensure a challenging, yet rewarding experience. Slated for a release in early 2006, Hammer & Sickle will certainly start the year off with a bang."  

GameSpy preview

“Naturally, it's far too early to tell whether Hammer & Sickle will live up to its promise. For all the fun we had with Silent Storm, it was the RPG aspects of that game, particularly the characters, dialogue, and storyline, that made it less fun than it should have been. That makes it good news that Nival is focusing on beefing up the aspects of the game that kept Silent Storm from being a classic. The bad news, though, is that Nival doesn't have the most stellar track record when it comes to RPGs. Lets hope they can pull this one together, though, because, let's face it, they had me at "Cold War."” 

GameSpot preview

“While we weren't able to see a great deal of Hammer & Sickle, what we did see appeared to be very promising, indeed. The game has apparently already been completed in Nival's homeland of Russia, so the North American version is currently being localized. The game already looks excellent, and without the distraction of panzerkleins, it should offer a much more tense and realistically paced challenge befitting the Cold War era. Hammer & Sickle is scheduled for release later this year.” 

DailyGame preview

“Hammer & Sickle is a nice (and welcome) surprise from CDV and Nival. The mix of stealth and action game play, without an over-reliance on one or the other, leaves the game very open-ended and will allow players to enjoy it several times and have a fresh experience every time. The game has a lot going for it in the game play department, and we hope to see more in the coming months.” 

Armchair Empire preview

“With the combination of a lot of cloak and dagger aspects, as well as the more contemporary setting of Hammer and Sickle, RPG fans could have a neat little treat in store. In the meantime, we’ll just have to wait for the game to be completed to see if it all comes together well.” 

Firing Squad preview

"It remains to be seen if Nival Interactive can deliver the RPG aspects with the same detail and polish that the combat is done. We hope that they won’t omit, say, a quest reminder. Currently, there are rules for leaving maps – sometimes you can’t go because there are enemies nearby, but most often the player has a task to accomplish and this isn’t always very clear. Overall, though, we have little doubt that Hammer & Sickle is shaping up to be one of the dark horse hits of the coming year" 

Game Daily preview

"The graphics and andimations look very good, making the in-game cut-scenes very engrossing, especially given the Russian setting and timeframe, both relatively untouched by many games. Missions are generally open-ended and the game is dependent on how a player chooses to solve each scenario. Stealth and patience are key factors and are greatly encouraged. Turning a mission into a bloodbath will lead to major repercussions, as your cover is blown and enemy units will seek to hunt you down. All things considered, this could be one of the most unique games to come along in a long while." 

Game Over preview

"If this were a game review I’d recommend Hammer and Sickle to anyone who plays squad-based strategy games and certainly anyone who liked Silent Storm. I should probably also add that I thought that the difficulty level of this game was quite high, even on the ‘easy’ setting. Maybe I’m just a moron at this sort of thing, but I found that the computer has a much greater feel for action point usage than I do. So, while I have sort of this half-assed plan of running down an alley, hopping a fence, going prone, and firing my rifle, the reality runs me out of action points just as I climb over the fence leaving me completely vulnerable. Meanwhile the computer can step forward the perfect amount, get off a shot, and still get back behind cover for its turn runs out. At any rate, if you’re going to skip the strategy – go at every mission with guns blazing – you’re probably going to die a lot. Careful planning is the rule, and if you’re in the mood for it as I was it can be a heck of a lot of fun.”