This is a marvelous gem of a game, polished and visually stunning. Easily GOTY material right here. I am also happy to see it still being actively developed since version 1.0 was dropped. I look forward to its future developments, especially any DLCs.

My advice? Take it slow and enjoy the scenery, let the soundtrack immerse you while watching Dave dive into the organized chaos that is the Blue Hole.

(Update: Dec 1st 2024)

Game is still great, with even more content being added past release!

The shift from 2D to 3D really changes the entire dynamic of this gem of a game....and what is most important is that it was integration done right. Developers are active and have a clear roadmap and they listen to feedback. Numerous customization options available for a player to tailor to their needs; from unlockable skins to various equipment.

Buy this game now, or wait until 1.0 launch in Spring 2020. Either way, you will be guaranteed a pleasant experience in tens or hundreds of hours worth per dime paid.

Update: It has exceeded all of my expectations. Props to these guys.

Underrated game of 2017.

Developers roadmap for this game. http://www.holdfastgame.com/News/Post?p=1027

TL;DR - 8/10 for me due to my bias towards ship to ship combat (a strong point for this game) and me getting used to the feel and flow of it after 5-6 hours.

7-7.5/10 for anyone else who can't stand the melee and the other problems this game currently has but appreciates the games' positive points.

Pros:

• Pretty nice graphics, you can still run this game if you have intel HD graphics like I do.
  
• IMPROVED gunplay mechanics over NW or other games. Actual bullet drop, bullet velocity, range indicators in killfeed. All tweakable by admins for their own servers.
  
• Sailing+ship combat is fun and working as a team is rewarding when handling all the aspects of a ship.
  
• Servers have good latency but lag can never truly be eradicated in any games that you have played over the years.
  
• Developers are always contributing and talking with their community on the forums. Keep in mind this is a small 7 dev team and half are always behind-the-scenes.
  
• LOTS of options in the menu, from customizing your HUD to detailed graphics options to name changes.
  
• Violins! Rowboats with lanterns! Ships have cool destruction mechanics+animations.
  
• Good variety of classes such as carpenter, violinist, adept sailor, sailor, marine, customs, drummer etc. Accurate uniforms.
  
• Playerbase amount is very strong at day one, give it a few weeks and we shall see how it goes.
  
• Not as expensive as most Early Access titles tend to be. IT was 19.99 euros for me unless you are a dolla/pound boi.

Cons:

• Hitboxes...and especially melee needs lots of work, this is probably the single biggest complaint of players so far. The developers put it at their top priority but regardless, it will put a lot of people off if you wish to buy this game because you are better at melee than shooting.
  
• FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, THE AMOUNT OF FRIENDLY FIRE THOUGH! ESPECIALLY BRITS vs. BRITS, LIKE COME ON YALL ARE RED AND STAND OUT! AND CHECK THE FLAGS OF THE SHIP BEFORE FIRING AT IT WITH THOSE CANNONS! Teamkilling could be improved I suppose :c
  
• May not be optimized for some peeps, even if they have beefy specs. Buy at your own risk if you want stable 60 fps.
  
• For the sake of this review, I will state the obvious that essential elements of the game has not been added yet, such as cavalry or even an arty class...or other 'quality of life improvements'. Do not worry about this because this is still alpha and they have shown their progress on the roadmap towards adding them very soon! However, this is still considered a con of the game for those of you who like getting their content and as such can put you off of purchasing.
  
• Contrary to what I said above, lag+melee at current state=spam fest and block has delays so not the wisest choice of defence right now...better to run and reload somewhere safe.

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Scenario one: If you have invested enormous amounts of hours into NW (1.5-2K+) and have gotten bored of it, then I do recommend this game for ya. Most regiments have completly transferred to Holdfast, though many still won't let go of NW roots, which is perfectly fine.

Scenario two: You are doubting about the price of the game, in that case just wait for a sale. The longer you wait, the better fixed the game will be.

Scenario three: You are a player who has never played any Napoleonic Wars esque games. I suggest you be cautious when buying Holdfast (it's a new game) and instead follow its development. There are plenty of other games such as Napoleon Total War that can give you your enjoyment.

Scenario four: A veteran NW player who expects this game to be the spirtiual successor...eh I mean a matter of perspective really but it doesn't hurt to wait until it's more polished...unless your buddies don't play NW and only holdfast now :c

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My final score: 8/10.

Most likely the score of others: 7-7.5/10.

I regret not buying this game earlier, but I regret even more for not playing it as much as I hoped it would be for me.....

....nevertheless despite my lack of time playing this game (6.6 hrs as of writing this), it is excellent for those who have an interest in physics, mathematics, but most importantly of all, SPACE!!!

I cannot stress how educational this game actually is, seriously it can actually help you do better at school (even though I don't take physics :P); can make you feel as if you work at NASA!

DO MIND one thing however...this game has a steep learning curve. Be prepared if you wish to dive into rocket science/physics. :)

Well then...

I couldn't have been bothered to buy this game for a year and here I am...enjoying this excellent game, trying all I can to get no citations at all, and eventually 100% it.

Yes buy this game, it teaches you a lot about ethics and choice when you are struggling to earn money to feed your family/pay the bills and not to lose your job at the same time.

Glory to Arstotzka.