Hell Let Loose, a tactical team-based World War Two shooter from Black Matter and Team17, is a difficult game to review. The visceral combat that Hell Let Loose tosses players into can be a harrowing and thrilling experience that rivals the best modern shooters can offer. But, as a more realistic take on online warfare, Hell Let Loose requires that players put in the effort to make those experiences happen. A game of Hell Let Loose is a much bigger commitment than a match of Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War. Whether or not this game will make a good fit may well depend on whether or not players are willing to put in what it takes to get the good out.
Hell Let Loose drops players into massive battles set during the final years of the Western Front of World War Two. As either US or German forces, players will fight across massive maps based on period photographs in 50 versus 50 matches to capture sectors and eventually the opposing headquarters - but this isn't Battlefield 1 or Battlefield V. Gameplay is tactical and slow, with close cooperation between players in a squad, and squads on a team, being far more important than an individual's shooting skill. On top of that, Hell Let Loose includes a robust strategic layer, with player commanders coordinating attacks, support players managing team supplies, and recon and armor units adding scouting and firepower to the mix.
Dropping into Hell Let Loose is daunting, and the uninitiated can spend a lot of time running to distant objectives or dying to unseen assailants, but if players can take the time to get familiar with the game's intricate systems and mechanics, there is a deeply tactical and strategic war game waiting to be enjoyed. Other recent games like Enlisted offer a more causal mass combat experience, but Hell Let Loose is on another level. In a good game players will see squad leaders barking orders, players calling out enemy positions or coordinating a flanking move, artillery supporting advances and defenses along entire sectors, and will find themselves a cog, as one of 14 playable roles, working for something greater. Anyone who sticks with Hell Let Loose will recognize the grandeur of the game as soon as the smoke clears on a desperate engagement, only to realize that a dozen more await in the same match.
Technically, Hell Let Loose looks beautiful, but the visuals come at a cost. Even on beefy machines there is occasional slowdown, especially in wide grassy areas. There are also reports of occasional bugs, but nothing game breaking occurred during the review period.
When things are running smoothly, the monstrosity of modern war is on full display. The scale of Hell Let Loose's maps and the slow pace of gameplay are significant factors. Watching the battle slowly move through a devastated town, seeing distant enemies flit from covered position to covered position, and watching tanks and trucks maneuver into position while tracers kick up dirt is as thrilling as any scripted moment in a Call of Duty campaign, though WWII Vanguard may challenge that. Audio is similarly well executed, though there is a difficulty in pinpointing where incoming fire is originating from that can occasionally cause problems.
If players are looking for a quick fix of World War Two shooting action, then Hell Let Loose won't be for them. The pace, length, and harsh combat conditions dictate that players dedicate themselves to teamwork and victory. If players are willing to communicate over voice, work together to achieve local and broader objectives, and have the patience to play slowly, Hell Let Loose can be amazing. It may not happen every session, but a full game of Hell Let Loose with a dedicated, communicative teams is a must-experience gaming moment for any fans of tactical shooters.
Hell Let Loose is leaving Steam Early Access on 27 July 2021. A Steam key was provided to ScreenRant for the purposes of this review.