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They are going to be pleased with Combat Mission 2, the Sacred Grail of tactical combat. But does that mean you have to imagine your men based on the three pixels that are supposed to depict them with sounds that easily match what a Spectrum was capable of 20 years ago even if it serves you with great gameplay? Not at all. Rejoice, we will tell you why every gamer should try Combat Mission: Barbarosa to Berlin, and not only strategy fans, because they have it since the day it was available.
Gameplay
To summarise it in one sentence and not better than the publisher itself, Combat Mission: From Barbarosa to Berlin is "a hybrid turn-based/real time 3D simulation of WWII tactical warfare of the Easter Front from 1941 to 1945". Yes, turn-based/real time is possible and that's one of the many elements that make Combat Mission what it is. Orders are issued to your computerised troops during one minute, followed by either the AI or your human opponent planning their turn, and carried over during the next phase, in real time. The principle is not new and first appeared in Computer Ambush on Apple II and in more recent productions. Compared to the real time of Close Combat, it brings what the depth of the game requires in planning and thinking, and still doesn't sacrifice realism as does, in a way, the traditional turn-by-turn gameplay.
From Barbarosa to Berlin is the sequel to the original Combat Mission: Beyond Overlord, the critically and publicly acclaimed game that started it all. The improvements are impossible to count, not least being the improved graphics engine. It surely can't compete with the polished Medal of Honour, or with the honestly pixelized Battlefield 1942, to say the least, but adds numerous effects and enhancements to an already convincing experience. Snow, rain and blizzards all have an impact on visibility, and therefore on line of sight and ability to spot and identify enemies (misidentification being one of the improvements over the original), but also on ballistics and penetration variables. Yes, penetration. Armour penetration algorithms where even the amount and density of the armor element that is pushed into a vehicle from a penetration is now calculated and modelled realistically. Add to the mix identification by sound, true 3D line of sight, unit morale and leadership parameters and the adjustable waypoint movement system, accurate orders of battle and meticulously differentiated vehicle and uniform models or paint schemes (an imminent patch should correct some of the "minor" countries, specifically a patch to add missing countries) to wrap it up.
During each turn, during the order phase, you are able to issue a variety of commands to your troops, ranging from the straightforward move to the more dictatorial human wave command, where troops walk and then run towards the objective, totally ignoring cover and not doing much shooting, but yelling loudly. The result is often a slaughter and, at best, surviving units are disorganized for the rest of the game. The waypoint movement system gives you the freedom to issue a chain of orders for delicate sequences that the execution phase will unfold with realism, the result on the field being troops behaving like they would have in the real word. Or close to.
The game includes single battles and operations, where the action spans over multiple theatres, which are actually sequences of battles that let you replay an important historical or geographical milestone. Your forces remain on the map, you get reinforcements, weather changes, and day turns into night but without any significant change of experience for your troops: do you really think an average conscript becomes a sniper after barely hitting a tree five feet away with his bazooka?
The period covered in Barbarosa to Berlin includes most of the countries that were involved in the conflict: Russia/Soviet Union, Germany, Finland, Italy, Romania, Hungary and Poland (as a Soviet satellite army). All scenarios let you chose between allied and axis sides, resulting in a very different gameplay, and increased replayability.
The variety of topographies and settings are impressive and offers diversity: from barren landscapes to the dense city of Berlin you will test your skills in very different environments. Few games can entertain players for more than two years without using the multiplayer option, as the original Combat Mission has proved to deliver. Would that be not enough for some, battles and operations can be designed, modified, and customized with the built-in editor or, more casually, with the Automap creator.
Graphics
Well, graphics are dated but you already know this. Let's take another route: the goal of the developers was to "create the most historically accurate, enjoyable and authentic wargame to date". Do graphics serve the purpose? Yes, entirely. Is it a shortcoming? Depends on your state of mind: read the publisher statement again and see if this quite bold, but true, statement thrills you. In any case, if you have the guts to endure it, download the demo of TacOps, the unclaimed king of "true" computer wargames and you will understand that 3D supporting gameplay and depth like it does in CM:BO is an achievement and a blessing compared to the hand-made realisation of most (all?) of the best wargames.
Sound
Great sound even if there is no music. How could a musical theme underline what a player should have been supposed to feel playing Combat Mission? Anger, pain, joy, jubilation, frustration... If you happen to like the game you will feel those, in any particular order, and few scores are capable of matching your state of mind during the course of an entire game. But sound effects largely compensate for the lack of music. Some are truly memorable and create a unique atmosphere.
Multiplayer
Combat Mission endorses opposition, being human or AI, in a pure form: the other side you need to defeat. Accordingly, the maximum number of players in a game is no more than two but this doesn't deserve the purpose of an historic tactical wargame based on WWII. You can play by email or enter the opponent's TCP/IP address for a more direct confrontation and enjoy more wicked reactions to home brewed tactics.
Conclusion
Combat Mission is far from what we are used to playing, for most of us. It is what the developers wanted it to be: authentic, enjoyable and accurate. Does that sound boring? Trust me if you can overcome the less than average graphics and spend a minimum amount of time in discovering its magic, you will find a gem.
A last warning for European players: whereas the game is sold online on Battlefront.com for most of the planet, they need to wait until the regional publisher, CDV, releases it and will have to nevertheless suffer from a few cosmetic changes you may imagine in a game featuring SS during the WWII. So, take the opportunity to call your best friend in the States to have it shipped to you.
