FINAL FANTASY TACTICS - The Ivalice Chronicles
FINAL FANTASY TACTICS - The Ivalice Chronicles
Game
Game2014
Battle Academy 2: Eastern Front
Developer Slitherine Ltd.
Sequel to its successful predecessor, Battle Academy 2 moves the action east – to the bloodied plains of Mother Russia. When a gritty new look, great new features, and random mission generation meet battle-proven gameplay you can be sure of a turn-based strategy classic! From the Steam store page
153 reactions from 2 sources (Steam reviews, Lemmy) · newest Sep 5, 2026 · last updated Oct 9, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
94
LovedLoved
143 positive · 9 negative
95% range 89–97%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 143 | 9 | 0 |
| Lemmy * | 0 | 0 | 0 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
1 newer reactions are still waiting for a label.
Steam's own rating
Very Positive
224 of 243 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What people are saying
Summary pending — the reactions are listed below.
Reactions
60 of 153 · most liked firstFirst Impressions Launch Review (5hrs): Note: I have not played Battle Academy 1, so I won't be comparing the two. The first thing about Battle Academy 2: Eastern Front that caught my eye was the spotting system. Infantry units can hide in forests, buildings and fortifications, from which they can only be seen if enemy infantry moves into an adjacent space, a rare scout unit moves in, or they open fire on an enemy that gets too close. Infantry are also equipped with a limited number of…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I can't count the number of strategy games I buy hoping that it will satisfy my everlasting hunger for great TBS gameplay. Too often I am disappointed. The games are either buggy (HMM 7) or the graphics are cluttering the overview (AoW3) or the learning curve ensures that you will definitely not have any FUN for the first 500 hours of gameplay. (Distant Worlds: Universe). Then there are the games that just aren't very good at all and make you wonder why anybody bothered to go through the…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is a fun and interesting wargame as long as you are not too big on accuracy, and are not a grognard, such as I am (Since 1973). I bought this game with the expectation that it was close to Combat Mission, which I had owned and played a number of years ago, but was disappointed to find that a lot of the realism I saw in Combat Mission is simply missing from this game. Some examples: I am well into playing the Barbarossa campaign and I have only had a single indirect fire weapon, a mortar…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The developer provided a key for the purposes of this review. Battle Academy 2 is without a doubt a brilliant game. I've been playing it on the road for work and it has been consistently compelling and engaging. Most of the battles last about an hour, which is perfect for those moments in between pressing responsibilities. It's a Slitherine game, and though in the past its games have been known for their impenetrable 'hardcore' factor, BA2 is rather accessible. I'm convinced that over the…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Battle Academy is a mix of Close Combat and Combat Mission, packed into a much more simple game. Don't be fooled by the simplified graphics, the game has some excellent combat mechanics which allow players to apply real-world tactics of fire and maneuver. In my opinion, the best additions to Battle Academy 2 were the addition of Skirmish Mode as well as Cooperative Multiplayer. I'm glad Slitherine has finally listened to its fanbase and added these two much-awaited features. After all these…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Fun, enjoyable, excellent replay value... the list goes on! Initially the borderline cartoonish look of "Battle Academy 2" didn't appeal to me, however once I started playing I was completely hooked. I actually managed an eight and a half hour stream, a good portion of that was spent playing "Battle Academy 2". For those of you familiar with "Pike and Shot" this game does have some similarities, particularly troop placement. Although at first the artwork didn't appeal to me, after my first…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Battle Academy 2 is one of the modern classic beer and pretzels wargames. It's ideal for beginners as well as experienced players, and while grognards may only play it with the curtains closed and everyone out of the house, they will enjoy it. It's the second game in the series, which started with western Europe and North Africa, and in this game branches out to the Eastern Front. Some UI elements are streamlined, and of course there are new units and terrain, but it holds to the same level of…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Battle Academy 2 is an accessible tactical wargame. The turn-based combat system is solid and rewards the player for thinking. Scenarios can be either be large and take an hour to complete, or very small and take 15 minutes. The campaign scenarios are well crafted and offer hundreds of hours of gameplay. The in-game skirmish generator is also well-done and offers much more replayability. This game great for PBEM multiplayer and it's easy to find matches, even in 2017. I dislike how the…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Hello all, As a fairly active wargamer for the last 15 years, I would recommend Battle Academy 2 to both the avid (yet time constrained) wargamer, and for someone looking to dabble in the brilliant world that wargaming is. This is not a Gary Grigsby's War in the East or War in the Pacific style wargame - it is not daunting and it is not deep. They key here is that it is accessible and fun for everyone. A few quick examples: 1. The scenario design is good, with significant variety between…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Battle Academy 2: Eastern Front Review. This actually would definitely be the best game of the Battle Academy Series. I would rate this game at 8 of 10 stars. First off, you must like the subject matter and genre to thouroughly enjoy the game, although you might aquire a taste after having played it and studied the history as well. The game strong point is the challenging AI, I find it so well programmed that it is very entertaining finding a way to victory, hard to survive poor decisions…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →like wargames? you will probably like this. kind of plays like combat mission, close combat, and x-com in a blender. deep gameplay, you wouldn't guess by looking at it. random map generator is great. only negative is i wish the multiplayer had the option of staying in game inbetween turns so you don't have to go in and out of the battle to make your next move. other than that the game is fantastic
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Debated about posting my first review but this game absolutely needs it. If you are looking for a good eastern front game with a half decent AI, that has turn based strategy-look no further. This is the game for you! Pros: The sound effects and music are first rate. I love the simple but effective graphics this game has-the vehicles and units are accurate down to the ski-infantry Russian units. Even on my low end computer the graphics are pretty good with burning vehicles and dead soldiers…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →not worth more than ten dollars,sound FX lame, graphics sucked, and animation was crap. voice overs where suprisingly good.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Just wanted to test play for a few minutes - but I could not stop playing until I had completed the first scenario. This is always a good sign! Simple graphics, easy to understand rules, fun to play!!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →If you liked Battle Academy 1, you will really like 2. Lots of improvement, AFVs can take damage now, you can use smoke, and much more. Thus far I'm enjoying it quite a bit.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Battle Academy 2: Eastern Front is a turn based tactical strategy game from Slitherine (how has JK Rowling not sued these guys?) set in WW2. You are given relatively small maps and set unit numbers and must direct your units to capture objectives and satisfy other mission criteria to complete each level across a number of campaigns, pitting the forces of the USSR against the Third Reich. There's no problems at all with the premise of the game... the problems are more to do with specifics of…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I've logged 18 hours on this game so far and plan to get to 100 in the next couple of months. I simply can't get enough of this World War 2 tactical sim. It has it all: Every flavor of infantry and every type of Tank, Assault Gun, and APC. It even allows you (and the AI) to call in Artillery Strikes and Air Strikes. While it is turn-based IGO-UGO, units belonging to the player who is not moving get reaction fire, so moving up to the enemy's position is tricky. You need to maneuver properly,…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Fun game. It's very easy to learn the basics, but on the other hand the missions are quite challenging. No technical problems so far. Totally worth its money. Until the 19th of september the game is on sale for a reduced price.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Satisfying the Strategic "Itch"... For decades now I have been looking for a game that can and will hopefully match up with the game called "Steel Panther" that was created for Windows XP and to this day, I have been looking for the game that can hopefully and willfully match up to the game itself, I do not care for the graphics. That is something that doesn't make a good game in my opinion. I loved everything that Steel Panthers brought to the table. I believe that this game is almost hitting…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Don't like the3D effect, don't like the cartoons, don't like the interface, don't like the placements of units, don't like the voice-overs, don't like the way battles are run, don't like the silly way war is portrayed (ok it's a game), and can find nothing redeeming whatsoever. Sorry! Anyone who wants a WW2 turn-based wargame might like to check out Panzer Corps by Slitherine.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Gameplay and reality reduced to the level of Nintendo... Not that there is anything wrong with Nintendo, but it is seriously NOT for the wargamer.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Even better than the first one, now vehicles can be damaged instead off being either dead or alive. Also unit info is more detailed, and while in game, when selecting units, you can see the thickness of the armor on the different facing of the vehicles, instead of just a number based on how strong the armor is. If you liked the first one, you will love this one !
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →If you like "comic books" and military turn base this game is for you. Has plenty of game play at 3 levels . you can play both Russians and Germans depending on campaign. I have 205 hours at this writing still playing first play through. has lot of types of battles such as snow ,city open field . a bit pricey for me so I waited for a sale and is well worth the money vs game play . I have the first one also loved it with lot of extra Free down loads " this one have not seen them yet or…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Over the years I have played many strategy games, and this is one that is not just good, it’s fun. As I’m interested in the eastern front and this game surprised me, it does a good job in characterising some of those conflicts.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →[Fanatical | Steam] Tabletop Battles Bundle (Close Combat series and more) | €1.50 / item or less. A BYOB bundle with each item you choose priced at €1.50 or less. This is a particularly good deal if you're interested in the classic tactical wargame series Close Combat as I don't think these games have ever been bundled at a price as low as this before. Pick from: Battle Academy Battle Academy 2: Eastern Front Close Combat - Gateway to Caen Close Combat : Panthers in the Fog Close Combat:…
unlabelledView post →Just occasionally a WWII strategy game comes along that ticks all the boxes; BA2EF is one of those classics. Do you remember Eastern Front and Western Front from Talonsoft back in the early noughties? Well BA2EF mimics these excellent games in many ways, but obviously modernises them at the same time. Historical realism is the major goal of the devs and is to be applauded, hence we have a game that is suitable for both the historical wargamer and newcomers alike - the latter will learn from…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is a fantastic deep strategy game. It uses a cell shaded comic book look that works really well with the overall presentation. The AI is devious and on point, and I can see this being a constant addiction over the coming months. Highly recommended. 9.5/10
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →If you came of age in the era of Squad Leader (or its advanced form) then you will find this is as close as you're going to get in the current incarnation of tactical war games. Battle Academy is not as deep as ASL, but it sure has a similar feel. If you are newer to turned-based tactical war games then there is no better place to start than Battle Academy 2. The design of the game makes getting into the fray relatively easy, but it at the same time allows you to discover the depth of the…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is an awsome strategy game. If you are familiare with BA1 you will be pleasently suprise. Simple but deep gameplay. Good editor, easy to mod. BUY!!!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This a great little, simple game. Can get a little addictive! But in a good way. Turn the difficulty up to get some really nail biting battles. If you're a fan of tabletop wargaming IRL, this is a great little game to pass the time between real games!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Enjoyable to play but DLC's are too expensive. There's more reasonable alternatives out there. My advice... shop around. If you do feel like a dabble don't be enticed to add to the basic game. Don't get me wrong... it's very playable with just enough accuracy to satisfy the most. Recommending it is problematic but I'd have to give the basic game thumbs up.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I have played the first Battle Academy since it was first published, and loved it (I eventually even modded Squad Leader-like counter units for it and played it in 2D mode like traditional board war game). I bought the BA2 much later and played it for a while, liked the improved engine but dropped it soon as East Front battles were not really that interesting for me. Only recently did I take a look at the new mods and army lists released on publisher forums, and was surprised to see the…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Great game and better than BA1. Flawless performance on Mac. Wide variety of campaigns with good random battles available. Also a good number of user-generated scenarios, many of which are very good. Good replayability. Worth the high price tag.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Battle Academy 2 is on sale at www.matrixgames.com for the duration of the weekend starting Friday 25th until Monday 28th Buy @ Matrix, register and get the steam key in www.slitherine.com/my_page/steam_serials
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Battle Academy 2: Eastern Front is a masterpiece of strategic warfare bringing turn based combat to undreamed of heights of adrenaline thrilling gaming. Gameplay and interface is one of the most intuitive and easy to learn systems i have ever played. There are tons of optional pop up tips to show you how things effect each other and if that was not enough there are pop up boxes when clicking on troops or the landscape showing things like damage such as tank weapons disabled after being hit by…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Great, simple wargame. Not as in depth as some others out there, but good enough to satisfy the craving for strategic wargaming on a late night. I dont like the price tag, but I have had some fun playing so far.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Battle Academy 1 series are great games, easy to learn and fun to play. It can be quite challenging at harder levels, watch out for those Tiger tanks! This version continues the tradition into the Easter Front and has an excellent feel about it. Watch your men gain experience and cry when they die!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I love games where you get to configure your force prior to the scenario, this is one of them.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →So just finished playing the 2nd mission, couldn't even get through it. I had strategic postioning. The logic of this game is as follows. If my unit is in the house at a 53% cover rate and shooting at a unit cqb at a cover rate of 23%. The unit at 23% as a better chance of killing my unit at a 53% cover rate. Perfect sense no???. Well here is the kicker full on arty barrage fire in the midst of enemy tanks and light armour. Only destroys 1 unit out of 8. Okay!!.. The final blow I have an AT…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Great straight forward small unit tactical game with nice depth to it. This takes the original BA and goes to the Eastern Front with a more gritty sound and feel appropriate to the times. Wasnt entirely sure I liked BA and BA2 initially. But the more I played them, the more I felt they scratched that tactical itch in me that wanted a reasonably accurate combat game. Well worth the money. And if you catch them on sale like I did, it makes your tactical buck go even further. So pick the game up,…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →OVERALL: 7/10 BA2 is an extremely easy, straightforward, and somehow addictive game loosely based on WWII Eastern Front battles. This is NOT a wargame. This is not a simulation. Once that is clear, you can have some good fun with it. PROS: + You can pretty much delve in without reading the manual, and it’s easy to get better at it fast + the UI is alright, no headaches there + Many scenarios, battles, mini-campaigns to keep you entertained in a non-stressful way for many hours, the DLCs are…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →After 3 crashes (!) I managed to complete campaign level 2 (offline play so hours played are incorrect). But not as I wanted. I managed to get a hold on the 3 capture points so I was counting down the turns with NO enemy in sight. Very last turn, the enemy suddenly jumps out of one of the 100 houses and re-captures one that was necessary to successfully complete the mission. I was like DUDE WTF I walked through 70% of all those stupid buildings without seeing any enemy!!! So yes I got screwed…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Actually both games Battle Academy and Battle Academy 2: Eastern Front are quite similar in terms of gameplay. The difference between them only some better graphical presentation in case of BA2, and some additional features and units. It's worth to buy both games becase they content isnt overlapped. BA2 is a continuation of historical campaigns BA1, but in more advanced graphical form. Game itself good for beginners, it teaches gamer how it's better to manage troops on battlefield.…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Not much diffrence between this and BA1,I bought the 2nd one first.The Graphics are the Only negative function here,if you can call it that.Get past the GFX by zooming far out use Top Down view.Close Combat players will like this view:).Its cheap,for me in sale £7.99 on Bundlestars...Thats why i didnt mind purchasing the first one the next day also in same sale.Cant go wrong when you purchase these titles like this.Anyways if your a TBS player too then youll also be used to looking past the GFX…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →the best turn-based strategy & tactical war game i have ever played
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is the closest that any game has come to creating a hybrid of real-time and turn-by-turn wargame action. It is brilliantly designed. It includes as much detail as a die-hard grognard could want, but has the playablity that appeals to more casual gamers.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Originally, I didn't like the game but that's because I didn't really understand how everything worked. At first glance, you think the game is simple because the graphics aren't amazing and it seems kind of weak - that is totally not true at all. I did the tutorial, but that didn't really help. In fact, it was painfully vague. I looked up the handbook online to explain things and that helped a lot. I played a few games because I was craving a good tabletop wargame substitute and this honestly…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Excellent turn based game similar to Steel Panthers with a surprising amount of depth. I wish there were more campaigns available.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →If you like tactics and deep strategy on the Eastern Front, this game should be in your collection. The campaigns are fun, but the multiplayer is where this game reveals its immortality. I found myself reading old WW2 tactical manuals and then using those tactics to my enormous delight. "Use a volley of smoke to mask your AT gun positions... when crossing a bridge, infantry should storm across boldly and establish a bridgehead for the armor support to follow." This game is a good balance…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A lot is packed into a deceptively simple interface. Gameplay may appear basic, but there's a lot of data being managed for every move, every shot, every unit. It takes careful planning to be successful and even then units may perform unexpectedly. Easy to learn but takes some time to master, and even then there's no guaranteed wins. I've really enjoyed this game. There are many campaign scenarios packed in (I also bought the Kursk DLC). Most of these are relatively well balanced, although a…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I was a massive fan of BA1. It did everything right and didnt try to do anything too fancy. WHat it did, it did very well for a turn based tactical game. BA2 does not try to change anything. It knows exactly what it is. The maps are intense and the units are all well designed and balanced. Its great playing as the germans for a change too. The entire campaign is just pretty overkill and very long. One of the best new features is the fan made maps and how easy it is for you to just install…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Best casual WW2 game. Too bad there are not more campaigns. I played Battle Academy 1 as well. Also good but primitive graphics. If you like basic move and shoot tactics you'll like this.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Very very fun game. Rewards good moves, Punishes mistakes.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I enjoyed this pretty similarly to the original Battle Academy. Pros I think the basic game + mechanics are very good and there is an excellent variety of units (each with their own strengths and weaknesses), and of course each mission makes you think about how to use your troops, when to tell them to hold fire (if you are on the defensive), when and where to use resources like artillery support etc. Think there are some minor improvements/additions in BA2 though it is still very similar…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Definitely does not work with Mac Catalina. NOR on Big Sur.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →fun strategy game
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Very good game, simple but effective. A very good initiation game to enter the world of wargames.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →buy this game as soon as possible... it just feels new and wonderful, i love it!! oh, and i just bought a lot as gifts for my friends too :D (on sale). Try it! its really deeper than it looks (i play arma, achtung panzer, close combat, etc.. ) Cya ; )
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Awesome game. Improved from BA1 (also a great game) by including skirmish mode. Gives the game unlimited replayability. This game is a hybrid of Panzer Corps and Battlefront's outstanding Combat Mission games. No brainer to pick it up if you're a fan at all.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Simplicity meets complexity in a splendid duo. At first look, this game is a simple grid-based turn-based strategy game -- move your units and shoot the bad dudes. At second look, it is an encyclopedia on armour penetration at different ranges. At third look, it is the logistical puzzle of keeping your troops in fighting condition while providing support via call-ins. The more you keep looking, the more aspects you realize. This creates an experience that is deep and immersive, while being easy…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
Posts are quoted from public profiles with links to the original. Want yours removed? Contact us.