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21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
State of the Art, July 30, 2004
Fun:3.0 out of 5 stars
This review is from: Combat Mission: Barbarossa to Berlin (CD-ROM)
Rated 3 for fun, and 5 for overall value.
Prospective buyers are urged to check out the reviews of professional game reviewers for an indepth look at this game. I liked the game well enough to design several scenarios for it, which are included on this retail version, so take my comments with that in mind.
Combat Mission marks a new state of the art in computer wargaming. This game can best be likened to the old Squad Leader and ASL systems that many wargamers grew up playing from 1977 and on into the 1990s. Apparently some people still pull out the maps and counters and ten pounds of rules, but for many of us, CM is a fine substitute.
This game is superior to Close Combat and Steel Panthers in many ways. Firstly, the 3D world makes the action seem much less like a board game. Bear in mind the graphics are dated and clunky, but there are some pretty immersive effects as well, such as camera shake and tracer effects. The game itself is played, however, in simultaneous turns - an innovative method that was attempted by some board games but considered tedious. CC relied on real time which represented an unrealistic burden on a player forced to give orders to large numbers of units without pause; SP relied on alternating turns and allowed artificial methods of drawing fire and other "gamey" play. Both games relied on a dull top-down view of the proceedings.
Where CM shines is in replayability - with an ability to create random battles and maps at the click of a mouse. The scenario designer is given complete freedom to make use of any of the ingame resources to create situations of his choosing.
Drawbacks are lack of a campaign and no ability to import maps and men from one battle to the next with ease. Also, some interface problems, such as lack of convoy movement for vehicles.
Most realistic armour modelling ever attempted in a computer game, with realistic ballistics and penetration info.
Fully moddable sound and graphics, and can be done without special software of any kind.
Overall, the best tactical level WW II game on the market, and perhaps ever to see the light of day to this point in time.
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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
This is for all who ever wanted to be a squad leader but didn't want to get shot at, September 7, 2005
Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars
This review is from: Combat Mission: Barbarossa to Berlin (CD-ROM)
This is the kind of game most die hard boardgamers from the 70's and 80's have been looking for. Anyone who's played Advanced Squad Leader will find all the elements that they've enjoyed in that boardgame in this PC game.
Real life tactics will win. Careless recon, poor flank security,
improper use of terrain, insufficinet prep fire, no concentration of force will lead to disaster.
Combined arms tactics are a must. Drive your tanks into a built up area without infantry support and see them get ambushed. Pre plot your artillary on likely avenues of approach and watch the enemy walk into your deadly barrage. Watch the tide of battle turn as a brave veteran
anti tank team takes out the enemies supporting armor.
Hunker down in a bunker impervious to artillary and blast away at oncoming Russian infantry masses. Watch your Tigers take out T-34's at stand off distances.
Make sure to keep a ready reserve, and sometimes you are short of troops and simply have to juggle the troops you have, rushing them from one threatened sector to another, but don't push them too hard or they'll break.
It's like fighting a real life tactical level battle from the safety of your chair.
This is a game for would be thinkers and tacticians out there.
Great Stuff.
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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic strategy wargame!, December 1, 2003
This review is from: Combat Mission: Barbarossa to Berlin (CD-ROM)
CMBB continues the Combat Mission franchise on the East Front. It covers, as the name specifies, the German invasion of USSR in 1941 through the end of the war. With Germans, Finns, Romanians, Hungarians, Soviets, and Poles as the nationalities, and weak 1941 tanks through 1945 heavy tanks, and terrain from the Arctic Circle to Sevastopol, there is a lot of variety. Between having easily-made scenarios and computer-generated Quick Battles, it is difficult to see ever getting tired of the game.The game itself is a WEGO game -- each side plots its move, then it is shown as a movie. A big battle could have a lot going on, so the ability to watch it from different angles and rewind is very useful. The game focuses on creating a realistic playable game. The game is rather simple to play, but at the same time it can be very difficult. So, it is more of an intellectual challenge than a reflex game. An interest in WW2 history is optional, and certainly not necessary to enjoy this exceptional game.
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