Nice and Smooth

[Adam Parker]

Well just loaded it and I like what I see.

The map takes up roughly 50% of my screen with tool bars down the right side and bottom, including a mini-map with the obligatory "here you are" rectangle.

But the map scrolls smoothly on my 512mb P4 2.8, mousing to the screen edge.

Toggled hex outlines on and I prefer the look with them visible. I'd suggest re-labelling their description though, from "raster hexes" to a simple "show hex outlines". For a moment there I thought I was invoking some form of reggae setting. I'm expecting many surprises with this game.

Graphics look crisp and colorful (assuming some sort of change from my usual screen res of 1280x1024) and the pictorial icons do sit well with the overall game theme.

But best of all, as others have commented, the interface had me playing within seconds. Whether it's that I've been weaned on TOAW 1-3 and push button commands such as with Panzer Campaigns but things seemed logically arranged to get the basics of a battle going. Left click a unit, right click a target. Click a command and I had land, air and sea battles waging with follow up maneuver. NB: I fully expect much more to this and will need to read about what makes a unit stop fighting, stop moving and coordinate with its friends in vicinity.

Taking a peek on closing the game for today, a 130+ page rulebook seems evenly split between rules and editor mechanics. So I'll print the rules half shortly (Matrix kindly adding print-friendly manuals to its games again).

All up I'm very glad I took the plunge and really look forward to (finally) sitting down to sme fun, thinking, non-monster gaming (has the gaming drought now broken?).

How I found out about this game? Well, I just clicked on Matrix forums and saw a new offering at the top of the releases list.

Get the word out Matrix. I agree with Kipper, this game deserves some careful marketing. Hoping it lives up to my (hours old) expectations!

What the heck. At $44 AUD its well worth the plunge grognards.

Cheers,
Adam.

[Kipper]

Adam, I think you will get good value from this one!