I originally wanted to start this review with: who didn’t grow up with Garry’s Mod? But then I realized that the game came out in 2006, and a large portion of readers probably didn’t grow up with Garry’s Mod at all, but with Minecraft instead. But for the boomers among us: today we’re discussing a World War I game with elements of Garry’s Mod. Think chaotic, humorous, unpredictable, and of course, sandbox gameplay. That brings us to Over The Top: WW1, developed by Flying Squirrel Entertainment and published by GG Publishing.
Chaos on the battlefield
Over The Top is an action game about the First World War, built around fully destructible battlefields where chaos reigns. Explosions tear through the terrain, fortifications collapse and the frontline can change from minute to minute. The developers themselves describe it as a game that transforms the grim setting of the Great War into a hectic playground of destruction where plans rarely survive first contact. Matches can be played with up to 200 players at the same time. That creates a large scale and chaotic First World War atmosphere. It really gives the feeling of a massive WWI battle. You fight between trenches and muddy battlefields, all set on historical locations from the First World War.
First impression
When you start the game, you immediately notice that it looks quite detailed. Especially the historical uniforms and weapons feel authentic, which will certainly appeal to the real history fan (nerd). At the same time, the faces are somewhat caricatured, but in a fun and still realistic way. When you launch the game for the first time, you end up on a kind of training ground, your camp. Here you can immediately test how the game works. I made good use of that and immediately collected my first achievements, literally. You can happily mess around with your shovel and tools. Building trenches, placing defensive structures, everything is possible. I immediately noticed that this is also the perfect toolset to mess around with your friends.
One small detail that I personally really liked: you can play the piano in the camp. I do have to admit that I kind of missed Erika.
Gameplay and sandbox freedom
As I mentioned earlier, you can build trenches and place defensive structures. That immediately gives a bit of that Battlefield vibe. This is strengthened even more by the fact that you can use vehicles such as tanks and airplanes. Because of this, you immediately notice that the game creates a real sandbox feeling. The choice is completely up to you and your friends. Will it be serious fighting, or will it mostly be fighting, laughing, and completely “over the top” messing around? Later on, in one match, I even ended up in a sort of pit with a group of players who were mostly trolling, in a fun way, and enthusiastically roleplaying. Moments like that really give the game its own charm.
The game also makes use of a destructible environment. Explosions can completely change the terrain, and this mechanic is used well. In addition, the weather is dynamic. Day and night, different weather conditions, and seasons create variation in the maps. You can fight on multiple maps that are playable at different times and in different seasons. You can also use a map editor that allows you to create and share your own battlefields.
Classes, factions, and bizarre weapons
Like in many shooters, you also have different roles here. You can enter combat as a rifleman, build as an engineer, clear trenches as a flamethrower soldier, or call in airstrikes as an officer. Each class has its own task on the battlefield, and there is plenty of room to improvise. You can choose from three factions: France, the United Kingdom, and Germany. Each faction has eight different classes. As in most games, you unlock new equipment and customization options while playing.
The game is therefore pure chaos. You use all kinds of historical weapons and vehicles to completely blow your enemies away. But the game also contains a few bizarre items that make you wonder how someone even came up with them. For example, you can hit enemies with a baguette, and you can play the bagpipes to boost morale.
Performance and downsides
I have to honestly admit that I really laughed like an idiot at the chaos in the game and the chaos my friends created. That resulted in some genuinely great entertainment. But there are also a few small downsides. Sometimes you notice that the frames suddenly drop out of nowhere. Fortunately, this does not happen very often, and if I die because of it, I can usually forgive the game. I also had to get used to the controls. Running sometimes feels a bit clumsy, and aiming can feel somewhat slow. That can occasionally be frustrating. On the other hand, I do understand it. Maybe it is a deliberate choice to make the fighting feel more realistic. Aiming at longer distances sometimes feels a bit inaccurate as well. But honestly, I do not know if that is because of the game or because I am slowly starting to become a boomer.
Conclusion
Over The Top: WWI is a unique mix of a historical WWI shooter and the chaotic sandbox freedom that many players will recognize from Garry’s Mod. The combination of destructible environments, massive battles with up to 200 players, and the freedom to build, use vehicles, and simply mess around with friends provides a huge amount of entertainment. The hilarious and memorable moments especially stay with you for a long time. The game really shines when you play it together with friends and fully embrace the chaos. At the same time, there are a few small downsides, such as occasional frame drops and controls that sometimes feel a bit stiff or inaccurate. Over The Top: WWI may not be the most polished shooter, but it is a game that knows exactly what it wants to be: a chaotic, humorous, and sometimes completely absurd sandbox war experience. For players who enjoy experimenting, laughing with friends, and not taking everything too seriously, this game can deliver a surprising amount of fun. Personally, I would actually have loved to play this game during that period when we all had to stay inside. I will not call it by name, though, because I am not sure how Google reacts to that word these days.
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