Matrix Games Forums

Well, I have played enough of it to give my appraisal.

It's worth the money I paid.

The game is documented well (the parts I've read) and the tutorials are very good, taking me through what I needed to know to pick it up and run. It looks fantastic and plays very well.

The AI seems to be more than adequate. I'm having my arse given back to me. It is only my first game and I'm not fully up to speed with the engine. But I am playing the AI on the easiest level and it looks like I'll be having big chunks of humble pie.

Whether the AI is good/adequate will probably depend on the gamer. I'm not a very good strategist. I love strategy games, but they've tught me nothing. I still go charging in like a bull in a china shop. I created an opening to Krasnograd and went flying through with my armour and cavalry...flanks so weak a breeze would blow them over.

The AI seems to know when to make hedgehogs (bloody difficult to break down...nay impossible!). It reorganises it's forces to exploit break throughs rather than hammering away at a wall...but still hammers away to keep your forces tied down. It uses (excellently) the odds system (no surprise I suppose) and constantly attacks managing overruns where I struggle to get a fight going, nevermind an overrun!

I'm not so sure about blown bridges. I've blown bridges only to see that I can cross anway (I'm sure). I've got to read up on partisans and interdiction to get to understand them better...they don't seem to do an awful lot. There is a movement penalty for them...but I'm not entirely sure of the consequences...the AI still seems to move units through these areas at ease.

This is in no way a personal endorsement of the game...I am a pretty bad player so me having a challenge against the AI does not mean the AI is great. It means I'm finding it challenging.

As for the 1 scenario thing. Sure I'd have liked more. But I have to be completely honest and say I will get my £40 worth from it.

By the way, I think I've read SSG coming in for some criticism in the past for their maps and/or icons. I think they are brilliant. Again, that's not to say some people might find them difficult to read.

In short, I think the whole game is a very polished package and a great game and I'm glad I purchased it.

Congratulations to SSG and thank you for providing me with some entertainment.

And thanks to those who answered my questions on AOs and MVs.

Thanks Judge! I think you are being too hard on yourself though. I have read tons of your posts and I have even bought several games based on your analysis and not once have I been sorry. You and me play a lot the same way. Those parts made me laugh and see myself too. [;)] [X(]

Well...I just know me I suppose. Nice of you to say so though.

All I can say was I was very dubious about buying the game because of my experience (or lack of) with Korsun Pocket and the 1 scenario issue.

Now I can add that I am happy with my purchase and look forward to more in the series. You have Battlefront and I don't...so I'm not sure what you will get from this. I do know the AOs are ace...a very good idea implemented excellently...a bit like GG WBTS has leadership, initiative and commitment to battle...those made that game and AOs make this one.

Good for you - you didn't sound convinced at all at first, but coughed up the dough, played the thing and come up with some positive comments. Don't see that too often.

I like it too - probably not quite as much as DBWWII series, but that's just mostly 'cos I'm used to them I think. Definitely prefer this to BF though.

Well after reading the information post that Chris pointed me to, Battlefront won't be played anymore if I end up buying this game. It falls way short of what Kharkov has to offer.

Have you printed out the two reference cards for help on the symbols?

ORIGINAL: Noakesy

I like it too - probably not quite as much as DBWWII series, but that's just mostly 'cos I'm used to them I think. Definitely prefer this to BF though.

DBWWII, I'm drawing a blank here...

Decisive Battles of, you guessed it, World War Two (ie, Korsun, Normandy and Italy games).

OK, got it. Actually got all of them. [;)] Even the Denepr addon. Sometimes the abbreviations just don't jive with my brain. Old age.

ORIGINAL: LarryP

OK, got it. Actually got all of them. [;)] Even the Denepr addon. Sometimes the abbreviations just don't jive with my brain. Old age.

It's a pet peeve I have, when at first mention of a title, the writer uses abbreviations. I don't mean anyone specifically in this topic, because people do it all the time.
It's accepted writing form to spell out these things when they are first mentioned and to use abbreviations thereafter.

ORIGINAL: LarryP
Have you printed out the two reference cards for help on the symbols?

Yep, printed them off, very helpful even though I'm relatively used to the way SSG do things (as boredstiff says, it was the Battles in Normandy/Italy, Korsun Pocket, The Ardennes Offensive and Across the Dneiper - I really love those games).

I've printed them off...they look great and are very helpful...great reminders.