Overview

In the past few months, great changes have come to World War II Online. The developers, Cornered Rat Software, have released new equipment and made big steps forward in revamping the gameplay.

Last time we wrote about World War II Online, CRS had just released the anti-tank rifle (ATR) unit on the unsuspecting masses. Despite dire predictions of doom and gloom from the tankers, the ATR has generally turned out to be somewhat of a dud, as it was in real life. It is not, however, without its uses -especially in the early stages of a map, which are dominated by lightly armored tier 0 tanks. The British A13 and Vickers, as well as Axis tanks in particular are vulnerable if hit in the correct locations. Almost all French tier 0 tanks are too heavily armored to be penetrated by the ATR reliably, but they do have a weakness in the form of open driver's slits, permiting the rifles to kill at least the driver and thus immobilize the tank.

New since then is a vast array of equipment. Tier 1 anti-tank guns (ATGs) are available to both sides, as are tier 2 tanks and tier 2 fighter aircraft. The Axis have been re-inforced with the PaK38 5.0cm anti-tank gun, while Allies share the 6pdr/M1 design, a 57mm gun identical for both French and Brits with the exception of coloring and optics. These guns are heavier and more unwieldly than their predecessors, but make up for it with a much bigger punch.

The tier 2 tanks for Axis are the Panzer IV G and StuG III G. The French have gotten the Sherman M4A2 via Lend-Lease, and the British have the Crusader III, which is armed with a 57mm gun capable of superior penetration than the Sherman's 75mm.

Finally, in the latest patch, are new fighters for the flyboys. France has imported the Lockheed 322-15 (also known as the P-38F), the Royal Air Force has yet another Spitfire, this time the Mk IXc variant, and the Luftwaffe has received its long-awaited Focke-Wulf 190A fighter.

In a surprise for Christmas, CRS also released the first air transport, the Junkers Ju-52 which serves in all air forces in a provisional measure. The transport can carry any kind of infantry, but as a second bonus, paratroopers are available!

However, as significant as these tangible upgrades are, they pale in comparison to the gameplay upgrades: destructible bridges, attack objectives, and mobile spawning.