Matrix Games Forums

Looking at the sale and after being impressed with Kharkov:Disaster on the Donetz, I'm very tempted to get Battles in Italy and/or Battles in Normandy

I was hoping I could have peoples impressions on both games.

Thx

I bought Battles in Italy, because people said it had the most User scenarios available.. it does!.. first scenario i played (instead of the base game missions) was kharkov.. it was a lot of fun... one reason I didn't get Kharkov, is because there was no user content (I think, just one scenario)

ORIGINAL: cmurphy625

one reason I didn't get Kharkov, is because there was no user content (I think, just one scenario)

Same reason I didn't get it... even on sale. Although, I think they are getting ready to sell another scenario for the game.

I know it did sound cheap of them to do it, but it is a great game and there are very good mechanics.

I have to be honest, I got my moneys worth from it and more.

Hoping for some more feedback on BiI and BiN

BiN has a demo if IIRC
Maybe by giving it a try you could see if the system feels OK for you or you have been "spoiled" by the new Karkhov system.
BiN and BiI game systems are very similar to each other
Cheers

ORIGINAL: JudgeDredd

I know it did sound cheap of them to do it, but it is a great game and there are very good mechanics.

I have to be honest, I got my moneys worth from it and more.

Hoping for some more feedback on BiI and BiN

They are both very good games. That is if you like a boardgame feel to your computer games? They make me think back to the "Golden" years of board games. They are pretty much historical in their content and easy to play. I've never regretted buying them years ago!
The only thing that I would take them to task on, is their victory conditions. But it's their idea of what it takes to win....Good Games though and worth the money.

As for the game engine, they are almost the same. BiI was released later and has a few improvements and enhancements.

BiI also has the largest number of user made scenarios of the series.

Some don't realise, you need to use armour and infantry in cooperation in their historic roles to get a victory.

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BIN - The best depiction of DDay through to the breakout on PC. Though due to the system the German AI will be highly fluid, the overall progress of the campaign will adhere to historical bounds. Playable only as Allies vs Axis AI if solo.

BII - Only played Sicily. The battleground here is too open for the system to cope in this version. If you own Kharkov definitely wait for the ATD expansion as the Sicily campaign also included is a much better experience and a thoroughly competitive campaign played vs the AI as either side.

Hope that helps.

BiN is a fantastic game. It was one of my first digital purchases from Matrix and I absolutely love the game. I think the AI is very good for a game of this type, the mechanics are good and there is a ton of content for it. I recommend this game as a must buy!

BIN and BII are excellent games. AI is competent just with a moderate setting.(There are more difficult settings) Plenty of possibilites as both the Axis and Allies.

Strongly recommend both.

Similar to Battlefront, KP and ATD.

I have Kharkov and notice it appears similar to the above but unit values and game play are quite different.

Have owned BIN and BII since inception, still return to them when need arises.

So you can only play the Allies against the AI?

No. you can play as Allies or Axis with the other being AI.

ORIGINAL: sulla05

So you can only play the Allies against the AI?

You can play as the Axis vs Allied AI in BiN and BiI but the AI doesn't attack on a broad front very well.

However in the new to come AtD the AI fights very well as either side in Sicily. It's a real pleasure to see the Allied AI invade!

Still not purchased one of these yet.....I keep going to the Buy page, then turning away!

Note to self...must try harder to spend my money! [:D]

Original: JudgeDredd

Still not purchased one of these yet.....I keep going to the Buy page, then turning away!

Note to self...must try harder to spend my money!

Especially when there's a sale on!... Sales help promote 'impulse buys'.. Plus you don't want that 'guilt' you'll feel after the sale, if you didn't buy it before the sale ends. Then you'll be wanting for another year.

Let's see if I can help you some more - you've certainly got me on a roll in plastic modelling right now so I owe you one [;)]

Battles In Normandy

Setting: All 5 invasion beaches await in a first ever for PC war gaming at the regimental scale.

Allied Initial Concerns: How do I position and bring to bear my massive naval armada's firepower so to obliterate as many German strongpoints along the coast as possible in order to minimize the murderous effect in die roll modifiers they offer against an invading force? If I fail against one particular sector, can I afford to forego another in order to soften it up more? If I fail miserably should I delay my landings?

Next Agenda: What to do with the 82nd, 101st, 6th Airborne and Commandos who have prelanded and will appear differently each time the camapign is re-started?

D+0: In which order and in which hexes should each beach land? Can I achieve a breakthough anywhere so early on? What losses can be deemed acceptable?

Ashore: Have I broken through the Orne? Should Caen be more than a hinge? Can I link up at the Vire? I have some divisions as reinforcements coming through! Look at that German AI plug those gaps! Am I using air interdiction to best effect? How can the SS seemingly be everywhere at once?

And on top of all that, 32 turns later - you still get the revised Ardennes Offensive to play! BiN's nearly 6 years old now to be sure but its one of the few PC wargames I've ever enjoyed playing from start to finish.

Nice Gamespot AU review here BiN Review

Ouch...that's sealed it then.

And by the way, lookout for my next model...P51 Mustang 1:48 scale! Almost finished

i almost cracked after watching the longest day last weekend - the para drops, the beaches, the follow up attacks, very, very nearly did it.

Like you, buy screen, check price, check vat, check screenshots again, hover over buy - very slowly back out of buy screen and do something else!!

and now ive read the gamespot review goddamit - must not buy or must buy and talk Judge into a PBEM!!!!!

I did it the other way around. Purchased BiN some years ago and recently picked Kharkow. My first impression was that the engine took a formidable step ahead. So if you're going for BiN now, it probably will feel vice versa.

Ok - I sucked it up and bought BiN. Will probably get BiI in January

Started it up and it looks kind of neat...hope to get into it soon.