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Posted on Mar 22, 2008 in Electronic Games, Front Page Features

Sudden Strike 3: Arms for Victory

Passed Inspection: Graphics upgrade from previous installments, really fun and engaging multiplayer Failed Basic: Almost everything else Sudden Strike 3: Arms for Victory is the latest in this venerable real-time strategy World War Two combat PC game from cdv Software Entertainment USA and Fireglow Games. The rust has been knocked off the surface and a liberal coat of paint and shine applied, which give the now-3D soldiers, vehicles, and maps cause to stand tall over the series’ former 2D graphics. However, while the spit and polish is evident, gamers may quickly wonder where the game’s former spirit and gusto went. Gamers have long been bemoaning the sight of one World War Two game after another on store shelves for some time now. Sudden Strike 3 just may be the signal flare that calls for a much-needed rush to aid or end this genre. For the potentially newly volunteered players of SS3, be advised that this series may be a bit different from other RTS games you’ve experienced. First and foremost, there is no...

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Posted on Mar 14, 2008 in Boardgames, Front Page Features

Wings of War: Dawn of War – Game Review

Fantasy Flight Games has had solid success with the Wings of War series of World War One aerial combat simulators. A new wrinkle has been added – changing the setting to World War Two. In Wings of War: Dawn of War, players take on the roles of World War Two fighter pilots in any one of eight nationalities. The game itself is fairly simple. Each player selects a plane and the corresponding maneuver deck. Players choose a scenario that most closely fits the bill, and they’re off! The rulebook includes eight different scenarios with specific victory conditions. The maneuver deck consists of 18 cards illustrating a particular maneuver. Players must choose a marker to indicate whether to take the movement at high speed or low speed – this will determine which set of arrows to use on the maneuver card. Players line up the arrows on the card with those on their plane, and leapfrog the plane to the front of the maneuver card, again lining up the appropriate...

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Posted on Mar 10, 2008 in Electronic Games, Front Page Features

Mount & Blade – PC Game Preview

Thundering hooves, a flashing lance, and nearly a ton of armored man and beast, skewering and scattering a nearly helpless unit of light footmen. Think Braveheart. Think El Cid. Think Kingdom of Heaven. But this time, think that you lead the armored knights in the heavy cavalry charge. Just when we thought the medieval RPG had become as stale as last year’s grog, something new is on the horizon. Mount and Blade, in development by Teleworlds, and to be published by Paradox, is currently in public beta. The game puts you into a first person view of battles across a medieval world of five kingdoms, and nearly a hundred castles, towns and villages. Build your army and fight your way to fame, fortune and glory, in an open-ended, dynamic world. Do you become a bandit, a ruler, a butcher, or all three? The game starts like a conventional RPG with the player creating a character with standard attributes. The player also tweaks starting skills like pole-arms, spotting, and horse...

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Posted on Feb 20, 2008 in Boardgames, Front Page Features

Rheinlander – Game Review

Pitting three to five players against each other, Rheinlander is a race to carve up the medieval-era Rhein River valley into fiefdoms. As play proceeds, players consolidate their holdings into larger realms by muscling out the neighbors. Rheinlander is an excellent game. Players who take satisfaction from teasing a win out of a difficult situation will find themselves drawn to this game again and again. Rheinlander is typical of German-style boardgames in general, and of Knizia games in particular, in that there are usually several appealing options available to each player on any given turn. The style of play in Rheinlander is simple, yet still providing players with layers of potential strategy just beneath the surface. This game should not be seen as a historical simulation, but rather as an interesting strategic challenge. To start, each player selects all the dukes and control markers (knights) of one color, plus three bastion markers. Five cards are dealt to each player. The cards, numbered 1 to 54, correspond to spaces on...

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