Best WWII tactical computer game?

[JWW]

I am looking for turn based with hexes. I prefer counters to 3D or 3D-looking figures.

I have several. Conflict of Heroes. Tigers on the Hunt. Campaign Series Middle East (Not WWII, but another era that interests me.) Flashpoint Campaigns (Cold War, but then I spent five years in Germany during the Cold War.) Battle Academy, some of them. I like them all. But I'm wondering what the best out there is, Matrix or otherwise. And I realize this is a matter of opinion.

By tactical I mean anything from squad to company-sized units. I'm thinking something along the lines of Squad Leader/ASL or Panzerblitz/Panzer Leader, with maybe Panzerblitz as my personal gold standard.

What have I missed that I might really like. I have not tried, for example, the HPS Squad Battles series.

[Kuokkanen]

ORIGINAL: JW

What have I missed that I might really like.

Easy: SPWAW Enhanced. It is SPWAW, patches, Enhanced mod, and then some, packed into one neat installer file. Enjoy.

[Rodwonder]

Steel Panthers... WW2, WAW and MBT...

[Rosseau]

The best free tactical wargames for sure. I would Goggle Armored Brigade for another free but excellent Cold War era game.

[aaatoysandmore]

Mark Walker's "Heroes of Stalingrad". Best out there right now. (course some will say differently Wodin? Wings? The rest of the gang? [:'(]

[Agathosdaimon]

Soldiers at War?

Battlefront?

John Tillers's Campaign Series WW2 - East Front/West Front/Rising Sun - surely this along with Steel Panthers would be among the best there is for tactical hex based gameplay yes?

[76mm]

ORIGINAL: Agathosdaimon
John Tillers's Campaign Series WW2 - East Front/West Front/Rising Sun - surely this along with Steel Panthers would be among the best there is for tactical hex based gameplay yes?

It's hard for me to recommend these because they don't work well with modern screen resolutions--I like the game system, but the hexes/units are too small on modern monitors to be playable for me. I'm sure I'll return to this series once the East Front gets the same treatment that the Middle East got in CSME. First installment due next Christmas, I understand.

[rwenstrup]

I have all the games mentioned...and I would pick Steel Panthers World at War over them all. It has the broadest selection of scenarios, campaign play, etc.
It is true that the display and other minor issues need to be addressed, but these are well covered in the Matrix Forum. The game does work. The good news is that all these games are good games and fun to play...

[Richie61]

My vote would be Squad Battles.

It's a squad on squad game with single vehicles.

Graphics are dated without mods which there are lots of them, but the game engine is powerful.

Gas masks
Control of each squads weapons
LED's
Remote control vehicle bombs
Spot lights
16 titles from WW1 to Modern times, plus add on mods

I really do love the series. You can even try the free Grenada title.


Few mods I have done.

Stock vs my top down mod [:)]

[Tejszd]

ORIGINAL: Richie61

My vote would be Squad Battles.

It's a squad on squad game with single vehicles.

Graphics are dated without mods which there are lots of them, but the game engine is powerful.

Gas masks
Control of each squads weapons
LED's
Remote control vehicle bombs
Spot lights
16 titles from WW1 to Modern times, plus add on mods

I really do love the series. You can even try the free Grenada title.

Few mods I have done.

Stock vs my top down mod [:)]

Compliments to you, and other mod makers, for Squad Battles as they do make the game very tempting!

I have played some John Tiller Panzer Campaign series games, mods are req'd to get better graphics, and while I like the game mechanics the amount of mouse clicks is incredible are the Squad Battle games the same?

[Richie61]

ORIGINAL: Tejszd
I have played some John Tiller Panzer Campaign series games, mods are req'd to get better graphics, and while I like the game mechanics the amount of mouse clicks is incredible are the Squad Battle games the same?

Can't really say as I own 5 of the Panzer Campaign series games and never played them. I think Panzer Campaign games have lots of clicking base on lots of units and huge maps.

Squad Battles does have hot keys and clicking to move, pick which weapon to fire or hold fire ect. I like how I can fire just a MG-42 or rally units with leaders.

[76mm]

Is there a map editor for Squad Battles? If not that is a deal breaker for a tactical game for me.

[Richie61]

ORIGINAL: 76mm

Is there a map editor for Squad Battles? If not that is a deal breaker for a tactical game for me.

No. JT like all his JTS/ HPS games won't release the map editor. [:@]

[Blond_Knight]

I don't remember where it came from but I have a map editor for SB.

[Agathosdaimon]

those squad battles graphics i really like! tiller should do all his games with these types of graphics, with the little 2d image on the battlefield. i would love to see something like this for his napoleonic games!

[Red2112]

I just recently got into Squad Battles (Pacific War) and really like it. Or as stated Lock N Load HoS. JT Panzer Battles series also has some smaller scenarios that are simillar (battalion/regiment) to Squad Battles. The same goes for Campaign Series ME, it also has some smaller scenarios with that battalion/regiment element to them.

Richie61, I think I have seen your work in "The Blitz Club" (Iam new there), above all thank you for your work! Never added mods to any JT titles, is there some sort of guide to adding mods for SB? The Grenada demo looks different graphic wise, I would be happy if other SB titles would look the same.

Thank you.

[aaatoysandmore]

There's no skirmish mode in Squad Battles of the Pacific are there? All the scenarios are static right?

[Richie61]

Hi,

Use the JoneSoft Generic Mod Enabler (JSGME) to launch your mods.

http://www.theblitz.org/message_boards/ ... ?tid=65299

This way the base game files remain as is and you don't over write the stock files.

You can always ask in the SB forum at the Blitz.

Ed

aka Richie61

[Richie61]

ORIGINAL: aaatoysandmore

There's no skirmish mode in Squad Battles of the Pacific are there? All the scenarios are static right?

Yes. I play PBEM mostly. Playing a human really changes the feel of a scenario. I think I have 1300 plus PBEM games under my belt.

[Richie61]

ORIGINAL: Blond_Knight

I don't remember where it came from but I have a map editor for SB.

Really? I would be interested in see that [:)]