Pea Ridge – Mac Game Review
The graphics do a fine job of capturing the feel of the era and area. However, players should be aware that an errant touch can turn the beautiful graphics into a flat, dull map.
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Articles by Jim Cobb
Thirty Years’ War – PC Game Review
An ambitious and remarkable undertaking by designer Miguel Santacruz who continues to tweak the game.
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Battle Academy 2: Battle of Kursk – PC Game Review
‘Battle Academy 2: Battle of Kursk’ offers ease of play and vast replay opportunity, and the feel of the scenarios is historical, perhaps more so than other “grognard†games.
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Making History: The Great War
‘Making History: The Great War’ isn’t going to win any eye-candy awards, but the game provides a superlative experience in learning, creativity and entertainment.
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Warhammer 40,000: Armageddon – PC Game Review
“Warhammer 40,000: Armageddon” from Slitherine captures the flavor and fascination of the Warhammer franchise. No gamer can do much wrong by getting this game.
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Bonaparte’s Peninsular War – PC Game Review
“Bonaparte’s Peninsula War” from John Tiller Software proves that the venerable Tiller system is still one of the best engines around. With detail and accuracy, this game covers a oft-overlooked but important part of the Napoleonic Wars.
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Four Expansions for Europa Universalis IV – PC Game Review
An overview of four expansions for Europa Universalis IV: Conquest of Paradise, Wealth of Nations, Res Publica, and Art of War.
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Making History: The Great War – PC Game Preview
Preview of Muzzy Lane’s ‘The Great War.’ Graphics and mechanics are similar to ML’s WW2 games, but play is different, reflecting how different the world was in 1912 and giving players a believable historical context.
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Civil War II: The Bloody Road South – PC Game Review
“The Bloody Road South” expansion allows “Civil War II” players the option of playing seven shorter scenarios of varying length instead of the entire war and offers a few enhancements to the original.
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Fantasy Kommander: Eukarion Wars – PC Game Review
“Fantasy Kommander – Eukarion Wars” is a turn-based wargame set in a fantasy world. It has some innovative units and magic spells, but the graphics are so 1990s.
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Battle Supremacy – iOS Game Review
“Battle Supremacy,” a WW2 tank game for iOS7, is a hybrid between arcade and simulation, with incredible graphics.
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Diadochoi Wars – PC Game Review
“Diadochoi Wars” from HPS Simulations stands “head and shoulders” above all other Ancient warfare games, with superb graphics and a fine AI.
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Ancient Battle Rome – iOS Game Review
The iOS game “Ancient Battle: Rome” proves the clever design can beat bloated, expensive and inaccurate games.
Read MoreCrisis in Command 2: Drive on Moscow – iOS Game Review
“Crisis in Command: Drive on Moscow” gives players a feel for the opportunities and frustration on the Eastern Front in an extremely accessible manner. With special rules adding spice, it is a worthy successor to “CiC: Battle of the Bulge.”
Read MoreEspana 1936 – PC Game Review
AGEOD’s “Espana 1936” PC game captures the essence of the Spanish Civil War and offers hours of play, despite having just two scenarios
Read MoreBattle Academy: Rommel in Normandy – PC Game Review
“Battle Academy – Rommel in Normandy” is the most exciting and intriguing campaign so far in the “BA” series. The scenarios are not only tense but evocative.
Read MoreScourge of War: Brandy Station – PC Game Review
Civil War gamers should definitely take a look at “Scourge of War: Brandy Station.” There’s a learning curve, but the game does a good job of modeling the battle in which Union cavalry of the Eastern Theater came into its own.
Read MoreAssault Wave – iOS Game Preview
‘Assault Wave’ may appear to be an arcade-type product, but all iPad gamers should watch for its summer 2013 release; several layers of options give it much more depth than is apparent at first glance.
Read MoreSteam and Iron – PC Game Review
“Steam and Iron” is without doubt the most accurate, comprehensive and detailed of any World War I naval game on the market. It is short on fancy graphics but long on historical detail.
Read MoreMarch of the Eagles – PC Game Review
Paradox Interactive’s PC game “March of the Eagles” combines depth of play with diversity of nations and cultures to provide a grand strategic Napoleonic game that is second to none.
Read MoreBirth of Rome – PC Game Review
With a greater variety of nations, scenarios, troop types and options, “Birth of Rome” is even more interesting than its predecessor, “Alea Jacta Est,” which was no slouch of a game itself.
Read MoreTank Battles North Africa – iOS Game Review
The iOS game “Tank Battles of North Africa” offers a large number of scenarios, a variety of missions and three levels of difficulty for high replay value in a game that is easy to learn but has a strong “just one more turn” appeal.
Read MorePanzer Corps: Grand Campaign ’44 West – PC Game Review
The “Panzer Corps: Grand Campaign ’44 West” computer game offers players 14 linked battles, from Anzio to Eindhoven.
Read MoreSquad Battles: First World War – PC Game Review
John Tiller’s “Squad Battles: First World War” takes the series a step higher. Designer Edward (Volcano) Williams utilized 10 years of research in creating this tactical-level game of action in the Great War.
Read MoreAlea Jacta Est: Roman Civil Wars – PC Game Review
‘Alea Jacta Est’ is a big, wonderful game that puts all other Ancient-period games in the shade, but players need to assimilate a great deal of data.
Read MoreCivil War 1863 – iOS Game Review
‘Civil War 1863,’ an IOS game from Hunted Cow Studio, while not rivaling many of its PC counterparts, is an enjoyable game and presents players with interesting tactical challenges, at an excellent price.
Read MoreCombat Mission Fortress Italy – PC Game Review
‘Combat Mission: Fortress Italy’ gives PC gamers a host of options and elements to consider, but this actually aids players by forcing them to focus on tactics, as in ‘real-world tactics.’
Read MoreStrategic Command World War I: Breakthrough! – PC Game Beta Preview
A report on the beta version of Strategic Command World War I – Breakthrough! calls it the most comprehensive World War I computer game yet, with scenarios from Africa as well as the Eastern and Western Front and more.
Read MoreCombat Mission: Fortress Italy – First Impressions
A ‘first impressions’ report on the highly anticipated ‘Combat Mission: Fortress Italy.’ A few features include new, more open terrain, early war vehicles, Italian Bersaglieri, US Rangers, Luftwaffe field units, and the Hermann Goering Division.
Read MoreGary Grigsby’s War in the East: Don to the Danube – PC Game Review
‘Don to the Danube,’ an expansion for ‘Gary Grigsby’s War in the East,’ presents 10 scenarios set in the southern portion of the Eastern Front of World War II.
Read MoreBattle Academy on iPad – Mobile Game Review
The popular ‘Battle Academy’ from Matrix/Slitherine makes the leap to the iPad without losing any of its features. It is virtually the same as the PC version but can be played on the go.
Read MoreCombat Mission Touch – iPad Game Review
‘Combat Mission: Touch’ distills the essence of a fine wargame system into a highly playable portable format for iPad2
Read MoreBattle Academy: Operation Sealion – PC Game Review
‘Operation Sealion,’ based on the hypothetical invasion of Britain by Nazi Germany in World War II, is the most challenging, innovative and enjoyable expansion so far in the ‘Battle Academy’ series.
Read MoreVictorian Admirals: Anthology – PC Game Review
With a canny AI and streamlined UI, Victorian Admirals: Anthology is an intriguing addition to the catalog of Totem Games’ late-19th-century naval wargames, but it lacks the customization features of earlier titles in the series.
Read MoreUnity of Command – PC Game Review
The graphics in the “Unity of Command” PC game of the Eastern Front won’t win any beauty contests, but the game provides a great historical feel, good campaigns and a brutal AI to challenge players.
Read MoreBattle Academy Expansions – PC Game Review
Jim Cobb takes a look at the two expansions for Battle Academy (previously Battlefield Academy) and likes what he sees.
Read MoreCrusader Kings II – PC Game Preview
A preview of Crusader Kings II says the new game should be a worthy successor to Paradox’s 2004 surprise hit, with improved graphics, a greatly refined military element and more.
Read MoreSengoku – PC Game Preview
With Sengoku, Paradox Interactive turns the attention of its Europa Universalis system to the two-hundred year struggle between clans to establish the Shogunate of Japan.
Read MoreDogger Bank – PC Game Review
The second ship expansion to the Jutland series, ‘Dogger Bank’ ups the detail and excitement.
Read MorePride of Nations – PC Game Preview
With ‘Pride of Nations,’ AGEOD has stepped into the world of grand-strategy gaming and may have hit the jackpot, with depth like ‘Victoria II’ and PBEM deeper than ‘Diplomacy.’
Read MoreShip Simulator Extremes – PC Game Review
From piloting a small dinghy to a monstrous cargo ship, ‘Ship Simulator Extremes’ has it all.
Read MoreBronze – PC Game Review
“Bronze” is a good, challenging beer-and-pretzel game set in the Ancient World. It shows good research and offers great replay value, though it suffers from substandard graphics and lacks PBEM and Internet play.
Read MoreDecisive Campaigns: The Blitzkrieg – From Warsaw to Paris – PC Game Review
A review of the PC game Decisive Campaigns: The Blitzkrieg – From Warsaw to Paris says it offers great replay value through clever variants and action cards, but the interface could be smoother.
Read MoreJohn Tiller’s France ’14 – PC Game Review
Although based on HPS’s successful Panzer Campaign series, France ’14 is more than Panzer Campaign in a spiked helmet – units types have been remade significantly.
Read MoreCommand Ops: Battles from the Bulge – PC Game Review
The graphics and sound may be bland, but this review says Command Ops – Battles from the Bulge sets the standard for all World War II tactical games.
Read MoreIronclads: Schleswig War 1864 – PC Game Review
This review of Ironclads: Schleswig War, a computer game covering the often-ignored conflict between Denmark and the German Confederation in 1864, praises its graphics, AI and realistic physics but notes that it only covers part of the naval war.
Read MoreMatrix-Slitherine Merger – Armchair General Exclusive Interview
David Heath of Matrix Games and Ian McNeill of Slitherine talk about their companies’ merger, in an exclusive Armchair General interview.
Read MoreIronclads: High Seas – PC Game Review
This review of Ironclads High Seas PC game of naval combat in the American Civil War praises its great graphics, challenging AI and realistic physics.
Read MorePT Boats: Knights of the Sea – PC Game Review
A review of PT Boats: Knights of the Sea says it has great graphics and challenging AI but the interface is complex and . . . there are no PT boats in the game!
Read MoreFor the Glory – PC Game Review
For the Glory is a product that is more than a mega-patch but less than a new game, one that delivers plenty of new options for Europa Universalis II while keeping the original game’s user friendliness.
Read MoreElven Legacy: Siege – PC Game Review
Elven Legacy: Siege continues the excellent Elven Legacy system with a new campaign and characters in which players must achieve primary and secondary objectives.
Read MoreWorld War 2: Time of Wrath – PC Game Review
World War 2: Time of Wrath improves upon its predecessor, WW2: Road to Victory, but still needs some tweaking to reach its full potential – An Armchair General review.
Read MoreWar Plan Pacific – PC Game Review
Sound general quarters! War Plan Pacific, the latest naval grand strategy war game from Shrapnel Games, is reviewed onArmchairGeneral.com.
Read MoreWorld War II General Commander: Operation Watch on the Rhine – PC Game Review
World War II: General Commander Operation: Watch on the Rhine brings new dimensions to Battle of the Bulge computer games, according to this review. Graphics are both elaborate and useful, and the editor is a historian’s dream.
Read MoreJutland – PC Game Preview
This preview of Jutland, the soon-to-be-released second game in the Distant Guns series from Storm Eagle Studios, gives gamers a peek into its detailed graphics, dynamic environment effects and well-researched ship characteristics.
Read MoreSupreme Ruler 2020 – PC Game Review
Armchair General reviewer Jim Cobb files his latest report on Supreme Ruler 2020, one of the most strategic and in-depth world simulation games to come around in a long time.
Read MoreThe Mexican American War – PC Game Review
The Mexican American War by John Tiller explores a challenging subject usually overlooked in PC games, the U.S. war with Mexico, 1846-48. Its seventy-plus scenarios also cover the Texas Revolution.
Read More1914-Shells of Fury – Game Review
Is this latest submarine sim worth raising your periscope for? Dive here for our review.
Read MoreGreat Battles of Rome Review
Trace the evolution of Rome, from its humble beginnings to its tragic Civil Wars. Perhaps not the definitive historical analysis, but certainly fun!
Read MoreBlitzkrieg II: Fall of the Reich Review (PC)
Escape the wrath of the Red Army as the Eastern Front collapses. Jim Cobb reviews Blitzkrieg II: Fall of the Reich. Click to read the verdict.
Read MoreMaking History: The Calm and the Storm – Recon (PC)
Wouldn’t learning be more fun if it involved simulating global wars? Jim Cobb writes up our preview of Making History: The Calm and the Storm, a title that does just that.
Read MoreEuropa Universalis III – Recon (PC)
Guide European nations through their history and exert total control over their destiny. James previews Europa Universalis III.
Read MoreEuropa Universalis III – Recon (PC)
Europa Universalis III appears to be a gamer’s game instead of a historian’s test tube. I recommend gamers to have both versions, one for the historical approach and the other for a more wild and wooly experience. Paradox has once again listened to its customer base and responded favorably.
Read MorePacific Storm – Recon (PC)
CDV, Buka Entertainment and Lesta Studios have combined to produce Pacific Storm, a game that combines high level and operational strategy with tactical and arcade play. Such an ambitious project deserves a serious-look-see.
Read MorePanzer Command – Game Review (PC)
Matrix Games and Koios Works have targeted beginners and casual gamers with Panzer Command – Operation Winter Storm. Using almost the same scale and general approach as Combat Mission, the newer game may walk and quack like the older one but it is definitely not a Combat Mission duck.
Read MoreRush for Berlin – Game Review (PC)
This game won’t win any awards for historical realism (it takes place in an alternate history) but this shouldn’t stop you from giving it a look. The graphics alone are worth the price of admission to this RTS title.
Read MoreAmerican Conquest: Divided Nation – Game Review (PC)
Somewhere between historical simulation and lite recreation, American Conquest: Divided Nation may leave you feeling divided over the success of this game to do either.
Read MoreMoscow ’41 – Game Review (PC)
Moscow ’41 is a hidden jewel of the Panzer Campaigns series, despite not having the glamor of titles like Stalingrad or Normandy. The most interesting scenarios may be work to finish. However, the creativity and inventiveness in applying new concepts in a very difficult environment stand out as some of the best work Tiller and friends have done. Schnapps all around!
Read MorePrussia’s Glory – Game Review (PC)
This system… remains the only one that accurately portrays the pace and factors of 18th-century European warfare. Strong words for a strong game.
Read More1848 – Recon (PC)
ACG looks at an upcoming game that explores a time in history that is rarely explored in PC games to find out if it’s worth putting on your list for the year.
Read MoreBattles in Italy – Game Review (PC)
Battles in Italy recreates the Italian battles faithfully but does so in an extremely accessible manner. The situations are fascinating and well-balanced. This game represents a significant advance in a fine series.
Read MoreStrategy: Blitzkrieg II
Armchair General gets an advanced look at Blitzkrieg II, and passes along some military wisdom to help you suvive the game. The battlefield is a dangerous place, and this RTS title from CDV is not your average “bum-rush” to victory game. You will need to use real tactics rather than be the fastest mouse pusher…
Read MoreReaching Towards Realism: A Survey of World War II Tactical 3D RTS
This is part of an informative look at the influx of World War II-themed RTS games and their effect on strategy and wargames as a genre. Are RTS games the path all wargames will eventually go? Read on.
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HistoryNet
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- This Patient Rider Spent Months Retracing the Pony Express on Horseback
- 10 Pivotal Events in the Life of Buffalo Bill
- During the War Years, Posters From the American Homefront Told You What to Do — And What Not to Do