To Buy or not To Buy

[JLPOWELL]

Cant' say I recomend buying based on the current product (1.04) but there is potential here.

I REALLY wanted to like this game. Initial impression was very good. The programing production quality is significantly improved over ToF The UI is cleaner and game upgrades are handled cleanly and automatically.

Following based on some play time single player mostly the 1939 scenario (played both sides vrs AI)
Other scenarios may be better and the 1939 scenario is pretty good as Allies

This is ToF extra light with extra bad events and AI balance. Better off with ToF or Axis and Allies if you want 'lite'
Very good work on the programing front lots of improvements, on the game design front (looking at the 1939 scenario where Human plays Axis which I expect is would be the most popular scenario) pretty much the opposite unfortuatately.

Cleaning up the events and some modding may get this back on track, but its pretty rough at the moment.
Sorry guys I like the interface etc but the scenario balance at least for the AI is horrible. It may be playable PBEM, but for solo play essentially useless if you play the Axis.

Solo play as Axis 2 of 10 essentially useless to play the AI (Western Allies can't defend themselves USSR gets a thick blanket of extra powerful units having the opposite effect)
Solo play as Allies 6 of 10 based on playing thru about 1943

Events (particularly AI ones) are opaque, totally drive the game and force the strictly historical track (any deviation appears to bring in the more extreme sudden events)

PBEM potential 6 of 10

With some house rules like no invading Gibralter England USA Malta (You can grab pretty much anything you want as GE or IT with 3 AIP and an infantry corps)
Solo Play 2 of 10 (totally event driven. Huge forces 'appear' in Russia for example. Easy to invade anywhere Germany goes wild except in USSR where the AI gets giant piles o tanks (advanced models) sprouting like mushrooms.

If you want to play the Axis 1939 scenario vrs AI; forget it get another game
If you want to play Allies only in 1939 scenario there is some decent play value here.
PBEM untested by me but it looks like it has potential. I expect a bit of 'Germans Go Wild' with out the massive AI only USSR reinforcements however so some house rules would be needed.

[Nimrod 9th]

How good is the AI?: Lots already posted. Pretty good as early war Germany (offense 1939-42). Not so good as late war Germany (defense 1943-1945). As Allies the Normany invasion isn't very good: piece meal and coordination between Canada/England/USA does not happen. I have NOT played as Germany in the 1943 and 1944 scen. My favorite game 1943 as Canada (easy)/England(normal)/USSR(easy)/USA(normal). All Axis on normal. With the same settings I've tried 1942 many times but rarely (note I didn't say never) can I get the USSR to hold out.

pbem?: haven't done it. Looks like it would be good though once early war USSR issues are figured out.

How many times have you played the game?: More than 10 less than 50.

Best thing: The scope (size of map, size/number of units, time to play one game, etc)

Worst thing: AI

Do I recommend it? Depends on what you are looking for. It meets my needs and I like it. I didn't want a complex long to play Hearts of Iron III or Time of Fury.