For players who missed out on the main title, Soviet Assault features the same stellar gameplay from World in Conflict. The tactical RTS battles completely do away with resource gathering and instead give you points to spend on resupplying your army with new units. Though the units are ultimately the same between the main game and the expansion, there’s a broad selection of infantrymen, helicopters, trucks, and tanks to roll into combat with.

Many of the game’s large-scale engagements also give you control of support artillery, which can be called in and directed at different locations on the field. As far as RTS titles go, the action-packed encounters in World in Conflict and Soviet Assault are truly first-rate, even if the latter doesn’t bring anything new to the table in terms of actual gameplay.

With several purchasing options available for Soviet Assault, a straightforward recommendation isn’t as simple as with most other games. Players who already own the main game can pick up the expansion for $20, which feels like a substantial sum in relation to the amount of new content you’ll get for it. Considering Soviet Assault only adds a handful of new story missions and a few multiplayer maps, all but the most hardcore of RTS buffs may find the expense too great for the in-game payoff – even though the new missions are of the same high caliber as the original game. However, if you’ve held off on picking up this excellent game for one reason or another, now is the time to do so. For only $30, the Complete Edition contains the full original game and the Soviet Assault expansion. Aside from being a much more palatable price, playing the two woven together seamlessly gives you the best, most well-rounded experience.

As far as expansions go, Soviet Assault on its own is a weak offering for its premium price tag. It would have been great to see some new units grace the battlefield and perhaps a few more maps or other extras to round out the story missions. Hands-down, the missions, story elements, gameplay, and presentation are immaculately done, but there is simply not enough additional content worked into this package to justify the hefty price when compared to other full-blown expansions. Newcomers should definitely drop the dough for the Complete Edition. I can’t recommend it enough. World in Conflict vets might want to pass on the Soviet Assault expansion, unless they’re chomping at the bit for a little more story and are a willing to top dollar for it.

By Nathan Meunier
CCC Staff Contributor