I backed this game in 2019, so I joined a bit late. The game was rushed, I'd argue the time they needed to finish the game would've been another year, possibly two after the actual release date. I was there for the alpha, beta test, and release date. I've since scrapped my last review as I feel it praised the game too much. The developers seem to be good, hard working people but unfortunately their business practices aren't the sort I'd recommend to people.

With that said what was ruined?, Combat in the game is a good start. During the alpha test you could expect to see late game "Super Units" like the Kaiser or Tur mechs if you rushed building a mech factory and saved the resources. A high risk, high reward bit of a game play for the turtle type players like myself. Imagine using only experimental units and using the bare minimum tech 1-3 units in Supreme Commander. They have since the beta ruined that method of game play by forcing you to build both a barracks building, and a mech factory, then you'd upgrade both of them all of which costs resources *building the buildings, then upgrading both require resources* , then you can save up a lot of resources to pay for a single super unit... in other words you most likely will not see super units used in multiplayer games as they're inefficient and impractical to use. I should mention infantry are cheaper, faster, and have far more utility than mechs anyways so it's almost like the point of the game (the mechs) have been invalidated.

In short I am displeased with the game, it's very disappointing, and I have not even received my backer rewards (the physical items such as a mech figurine among other trinkets) , which were >promised< to be given the day of the release of the game. I understand that the lunacy revolving around the pandemic is a fine excuse for the delay, but excuses aren't worth much to me or any of the other >very patient might I add< backers who paid forward and have subsequently been left out, I do however know the worth of the items I >paid< for which I do not have on the day they were promised, $120 U.S.D.

With all of that in mind, I would recommend you stay away from Iron Harvest unless you see it on sale for under $20 U.S.D. it'd be worth the price at that point, don't bother purchasing the Rusviet Revolution DLC, and certainly only pick up the Usonia DLC if it's under $10 U.S.D. the prices are ridiculous.

Oh I should also add I've spent some time on the Discord server, mentioning how I feel a bit disgruntled about how the backers who have spent over twice the price of the current game on products they have yet to receive, ought to receive the DLC for free as a show of good faith and good PR practice, and I've been berated by an insulting moderator, I won't name but let's just say he has used some f"owl" language.

To better make my point, Imagine this:
You walk into a restaurant. You ask for a hamburger, some french fries and a drink.
You're given the drink, and given fries that are not properly cooked. You're waiting for your hamburger, patiently for many minutes, finally you get annoyed and ask "Where is my hamburger?", at the same time, people who have just gotten into line are receiving a hamburger, fries, and an apple pie. You're told all sorts of good excuses, like "one of our employees caught the flu, and isn't feeling well." , which you sympathize with, but then you keep waiting and being told the flu caused delays. You're then told that you >might< get the burger in a little while. You wait a few more minutes, then you ask if it's ready now, they tell you now you might get it if you wait 3 times as long as you already have.

You >might< get what you paid for if you wait roughly 10 times the length of time everyone else waited, and they paid for things they're getting for half the price you paid, plus a bonus.

Does that seem like good business practice? Does that seem like you care about your fans / playerbase / customers?

This is all a metaphor for how I was promised an assortment of physical goods, and have now waited nearly an entire calendar year for the goods I was promised, and the best they can tell me and the other backers is "Ooooh we're getting around to it!, just be patient, don't want more than what you paid for, even though you've waited an entire year for these products we >still< haven't got a shipping date for, pay no attention to the fact we promised we'd ship it all together on September 1st of >last year<".

In all seriousness, anger aside, I ask anyone, any person, who reads this. What would your policy be?, People who took a risk, the people who are essentially your investors, whom you made >promises to<, have been more than patient enough, waiting for the products, would you just.. keep them waiting? With no major updates, no compensation for their time?, no attempt to keep a strong relationship with those who helped you get your feet off the ground?

Sincerely, to the developer team. I want you all to know I don't hate you. I hate that you don't care about the backers or your more loyal fans.

Do. Not. Buy. This. Game.