Best Matrix Game

[PunkReaper]

The time has come to buy a new game. I have Carrers at war, John Tillers Campaign series, BOA, Campaigns on the Danube, Conquest of the Agean and Crown of Glory, but I was wondering if there was any sort of concenus as to which of the Matrix games was the best, in terms of gamplay, ease of use and replayability.

[a white rabbit]

..t3..

[JudgeDredd]

I suppose the obvious question is "Depends on what you're looking for"?

I'd suggest Guns of August. Interface and gameplay is "different", but once used to it, the game is very, very good. I wasn't even interested in WWI, but it's a great game. AND cheap as chips!

[PunkReaper]

I'm not particularly worried about the subject matter. I prefer Napoleonics but EiA may be some time off. I like chips [;)](not crisps) so I'll look at Guns of August, but people seem to enthuse about War in the Pacific?

[DuckofTindalos]

That's because WitP is the best of all Matrix games. The forum is by far the most active, and the level of support the most comprehensive.

With that said, it's a tough game to get into. Very complex and time-consuming.

[Neilster]

ORIGINAL: Punk Reaper

I'm not particularly worried about the subject matter. I prefer Napoleonics but EiA may be some time off. I like chips [;)](not crisps) so I'll look at Guns of August, but people seem to enthuse about War in the Pacific?

WitP? I hope you're not doing anything for the next 6 months or so; excellent and detailed game that it is. Have you got TOAW 3?

Cheers, Neilster

[anarchyintheuk]

Best in gameplay? Not WitP
Best in ease of use? Not WitP
Best in replayability? Maybe WitP

Best Matrix game? WitP

[PunkReaper]

Find the propect of WitP a bit daunting as I have a life that must be lived and an ability to concentrate that is reducing with time. Anything a bit simpler but satisfying?

[Hertston]

I doubt you'll find a consensus. WitP is, indeed, probably their best game, but you have hit the nail on the head regarding it. Actually I think it's pretty easy to get to grips with (relatively speaking), but the necessary time investment to actually play it is huge.

Of those games I have (of which Guns of August isn't one, so can't comment on that) I particularly recommend either of the AGEOD games (Civil War and Birth of America) or Tin Soldiers: Caesar. You'll get your money out of Flashpoint Germany, too.. and TOAW 3 has to be the king of replayability. All depends what you want, really. [:)]

[Dixie]

I have WitP, Flashpoint Germany, Carriers at War and Guns of August. 

Of those WitP is my favourite by far, but the detail can be overwhelming at first.  However if you can invest the required time there is (in my opinion) nothing to beat it out there.
Flashpoint Germany is a game I like a lot, probably because of the subject matter [:)]  It did take me a while to figure it out and adjust to the system, but less than it took for WitP
Guns of August is an interesting one due to it's different subject matter.  It's more complex than Flashpoint but simpler than WitP.  The air and naval combat is (rightfully) abstracted so the focus is on the ground slogging.  There's some interesting features in there with diplomacy and research for example.

Is there really any such thing as a Matrix game which has ease of use though? [:'(]

[jvgfanatic]

Okay, I'll bite. ease to get into and fun to play? Well, that would be Gates of Troy and Sparta. Both are deceptively deep because they are so easy to pick up and play. They look great (secondary) and play like butter. I've (nearly) all the games listed so far in this thread and those two stand above just for those reasons (ease to get into and fantastic gameplay).

Oh, and don't even get me started on how replayable these are

[Kuokkanen]

ORIGINAL: Dixie

Is there really any such thing as a Matrix game which has ease of use though? [:'(]

Yea: Steel Panthers World at War (SPWAW), and what I have read so far, maybe Gary Grigsby's World at War (GGWAW or WAW).

What comes to SPWAW, it is tactical level war game that covers all fronts of 2nd World War. SPWAW itself is heavily modified version of Steel Panthers 3 and plays much the same way as the first Steel Panthers from 1995. Even though there was some 50+ page manual with it, I learned game by gut feeling becouse I didn't understand english back then as well as now. I have a feeling that SPWAW can be learned same way, but in addition there are good gameplay manual, other manuals and community support. In addition WHOLE GAME is available FOR FREE! In addition there is commercial version of the game that includes something called Mega-Campaigns. I have an impression of those, that player is button that someone else plays (moves) in strategic scale and player fights it out in tactical scale (feel free to type better description). Even after several years and outdated graphics, SPWAW remains as best war game in its class!*

In GGWAW player plays with entire nation through entire WW2 in less than hour. Game is user friendly and designed for beginners. Or that is what I remember reading about it... [8|]


*That means tactical level, turn & hex based war game of 2nd World War

[ravinhood]

Steel Panthers W@W is by far the best Matrixgames and it's free. Next would be Spartan by Slitherine, but, Matrixgames sells it at their store. I can't see WitP being their best game because it by far is not their best selling game and I would bet nickels and dimes on that. It's too complex it takes to long to play it and only a diehard groghead would buy and play it. I wouldn't play it if they gave it to me free. I have PacWar that is free also and I don't play it either. Monster games are just not that popular and not the greatest games in history of gaming. What I'm real happy to see is no one mentioned COTA. haha

[PunkReaper]

War Plan Orange seems interesting, who does it compare to WitP.It looks like a choice between Guns in August, Flashpoint Germany or War Plan Orange...any guidance?

[anarchyintheuk]

What jvgfanatic said.

[PunkReaper]

ok back to the drawing board......maybe now between Gates of Troy, Spartan or Tin soldiers:Caesar?.Not that I'm indecisive or anything[:D]

[Widell]

I'd go for TOAW III, SPWAW, maybe AGEOD although I don't have that one myself yet due to, like yourself, having a life that make me loose focus on gaming. The reasoning behind this bold recommendation is that with TOAW III you can decide how much time and effort you want to spend as there are, literally, hundreds of scenarios. Same goes for SPWAW, while WITP (another great Matrix title, so don't get me wrong here) will require you to not have a life outside of the hex based Pacific

Again, my 2 cents, and you will probably get a bunch of other advice as well. When I need another game fix from Matrix, I usually check out a lot of the AAR's and the level of the discussion on the forums. It'll guide me to a game and a set of gamers I like at least 9 times out of 10....

[Bodhi]

ORIGINAL: ravinhood
What I'm real happy to see is no one mentioned COTA. haha

There's little point recommending something he already has.

[JudgeDredd]

There is always COTA which has a fantastically revolutionary continuous pause system and great AI....oh, wait...did someone already mention COTA?

Seriously, COTA is a great engine. It doesn't have a campaign which is unfortunate, but does have some very good scenarios, a great AI and great maps. Also, a very powerful editor (although you will need to be cleverer than some to use it).

[ravinhood]

ORIGINAL: Bodhi

ORIGINAL: ravinhood
What I'm real happy to see is no one mentioned COTA. haha

There's little point recommending something he already has.

Lol that never stopped people before. I've seen gamers ask for a new TURN BASED GAME and people would still say HTTR/COTA lol And what do we all know? That COTA is a ki........ well we all know what it is.