Short-take game review
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2022 6:46 am
Good gosh, I don't understand why the average Matrix wargamer is not singing the praises of this new game. Well, maybe they are too busy playing it. 
It might be because we've gotten spoiled by the recent releases of DB: Ardennes Offensive and Campaign Series: Vietnam.
I've been a customer since the SSI days, and this one is so deliciously different than the 100s of wargames I own. I purchased the devs' previous effort, Desert War 1940-42 on release, but the mega-stacks and UI scared me away initially. Well, I'll be re-visiting that game. Anyone who enjoys that one, this new iteration is a no-brainer.
Let's just say my cognitive abilities have dropped a bit since the old days, but this thing is imminently playable after an initial test drive. Without reading a word of the manual, I was able to modify existing scenarios and create a new campaign and play it without a hiccup. I thought the DB:AO editors were good - and they are - but this one is so intuitive, and with the map editor, Kursk is a distinct possibility.
Granted, I haven't tried programming the AI yet; but this game is as close to an easy-to-use Eastern Front sandbox as anything I've ever imagined.
There are a few caveats, and they may be significant ones, depending on the player's tastes:
1. The map graphics are workmanlike, and they belie the depth and detail present in the game. One must be willing to dig into the interface a bit to discover all the nuances.
2. Unlike DB:AO, which models Tiger and Panther armor values (despite being an operational-level game), this one settles for attack and defense factors. But in fairness, there's still a decent amount of chrome on a unit-by-unit basis.
3. The spot-on historical accuracy of the map, OOBs and scenario design *may* not be as detailed as some would like, but it sure is flexible!
So far, it's a fast and smooth-playing gaming experience, and a wargaming system with lots of Leg!
Best wishes to all.
It might be because we've gotten spoiled by the recent releases of DB: Ardennes Offensive and Campaign Series: Vietnam.
I've been a customer since the SSI days, and this one is so deliciously different than the 100s of wargames I own. I purchased the devs' previous effort, Desert War 1940-42 on release, but the mega-stacks and UI scared me away initially. Well, I'll be re-visiting that game. Anyone who enjoys that one, this new iteration is a no-brainer.
Let's just say my cognitive abilities have dropped a bit since the old days, but this thing is imminently playable after an initial test drive. Without reading a word of the manual, I was able to modify existing scenarios and create a new campaign and play it without a hiccup. I thought the DB:AO editors were good - and they are - but this one is so intuitive, and with the map editor, Kursk is a distinct possibility.
Granted, I haven't tried programming the AI yet; but this game is as close to an easy-to-use Eastern Front sandbox as anything I've ever imagined.
There are a few caveats, and they may be significant ones, depending on the player's tastes:
1. The map graphics are workmanlike, and they belie the depth and detail present in the game. One must be willing to dig into the interface a bit to discover all the nuances.
2. Unlike DB:AO, which models Tiger and Panther armor values (despite being an operational-level game), this one settles for attack and defense factors. But in fairness, there's still a decent amount of chrome on a unit-by-unit basis.
3. The spot-on historical accuracy of the map, OOBs and scenario design *may* not be as detailed as some would like, but it sure is flexible!
So far, it's a fast and smooth-playing gaming experience, and a wargaming system with lots of Leg!
Best wishes to all.