Matrix Games Forums

Please forgive me but is this playable without the main/core game please?

Hi and welcome,

Yes, the Desert Storm expansion is a standalone DLC; you can play its scenarios (and the tutorials) without owning the base game.

Cheers Dimitris, I want to try this game but the core is expensive if it's not for me.
Is there a good starter standalone you'd recommend or is it just down to personal scenario taste?

I'll let others chip in as I really cannot recommend one over any other.

It may depend on your personal taste of period/conflict, but Northern Inferno is a good what if, and it has scenarios from pretty small to complex and exercises all the different varieties of combat. Interesting what if?

Chains of War is good if what you like is to play with the newest up to date platforms and technology, and has the feature of you taking different sides in various scenarios (Northern Inferno you are always NATO).

Silent Service is strictly submarine warfare. If you love subs that's for you. Advantage - you have few units to manage - many times only 1. Disadvantage - limited variety of missions (missions are all different but you are always a sub).

Any will get you started at the same price. Hope that helps.

Cheers Ultradave

Should also have added Shifting Sands - Arab-Israeli conflicts over the years. Heavy emphasis on air warfare (but not completely), and the drawing points here might be 1) subject matter, 2) evolution of air warfare over the years.

And you've obviously already looked at Desert Storm. I have it but haven't played any of it yet.

For someone starting out I'd recommend Northern Inferno or Chains of War for the variety they both provide. Also, not other point. You can play any scenario individually, without following the campaign storyline. Helps if you get frustrated not being able to "pass" a certain scenario.

Northern Inferno bought, here I go on the learning curve tutorials [:)]

This playthrough may be helpful if you get stuck somewhere: https://forums.spacebattles.com/threads ... no.362211/