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Thinking, not action game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: January 13, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I agree with a previous reviewer that this game isn't a "shoot'em up game". He is also correct that this game has a lot of parallels to board/miniature games in that the emphasis is plotting your actions, and planning your attack. The game does take advantage of the computer to allow hidden units/movement and simultaneous execution of movement.

The graphics don't match the latest first person shooters, but they are very good. The emphasis in this game is on realism- tank detail is exquisite, with different tanks producing different engine noises. Squads react to not only enemy fire, but the presence of officer units.

The controls are awkward at first, but it didn't take me long to get used to moving entire platoons together. Usually, after my initial set-up and opening moves, I have to only make minor adjustments to unit placement and things move very quickly.

If you want continuous action, look elsewhere-if you want a more thoughtful study of the WWII tactical environment, this game is for you.

Game for my 70 year old Dad

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 0 / 16
Date: December 28, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I guess I just like the plug and play shoot them up games. This was just a giant sim game with garphics like Pong. If you liked the old board war games back in the 70's (my Dad played them) then you will love this. If you want to shoot something, you will have to look somewhere else. By the way, I'm a 22 year Veteran as a Combat Engineer. Went to Panama, Kuwait and Bosnia. I had more fun there than I did with this game.

The controls killed me

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 3 / 12
Date: December 15, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Seeing all the 5 star reviews here I decided this would be my next Xmas present. Some hours ago, tough, completely bored, I decided to download the demo to see how good it would be. Boy I was wrong. This is a simply terrible wargame. The graphics are ok and you can zoon right to each soldier's face (Like in the Sims 2) but the way you control your troops just killed me.

Remember the 'planning' stage in Rainbow Six, before each mission, where you would assign starting places to squads, waypoints where to go and etc?

Well, you control your troops like that in this game. Yep, instead of, say, selecting a tank with the left mouse button, and selecting it's target with a right click (Like you do in every normal RTS game) you must first bring up a menu for every individual unit, select the mission you want, assign them waypoints, and then the target.

I strongly suggest you to download the demo from [...] and see if you like this kind of controls, that in my opinion are extremely uncomfortable, before buying it.

Good luck.

This is for all who ever wanted to be a squad leader but didn't want to get shot at

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 10 / 10
Date: September 07, 2005
Author: Amazon User

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.

Man, is the AI in this game impossible or what?!?!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: July 12, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I never really thought I would buy this game. One reason is the I played the demo version and hated it. Why, bad graphics and boring gameplay. Well, as one previous reviewer mentioned, I decided to give the game a second look. I read and read reviews and researched because if I don't I usually buy a game I never play and therefore waste my time and money etc...

Now keep in mind I am not a tactical junkie. I am a RTS junkie meaning I play empire earth, total war series, age of empires you get the picture. So, I got bored with those games to but didn't know why? I mean they were fun and the graphics and ragdoll effects were out of this world but there was something missing and until now I didn't know what it was?

Now I know after going out on a ledge and buying this game. I got it really cheap so I though hey, even if I hate it I won't be out to much. Man, was I wrong! Nothing but praise for this rare gem! What was missing was a nearly impossible, shrewd AI that keeps you on your toes 24/7 or however long it takes you to finnish an operation or battle. Nothing compares to sending your men and tanks in just to find out they are getting slautered by a ruthless computer enemy! Yes, it's that good. This game is for the big boys, diehards and the like. I on the otherhand, am not one of those groups but I still enjoy competing with such a demanding AI that this game offers even if I get detroyed everytime it takes practice to get it right and that's how ever RTS or tactical, turn based game should be but somehow is not.

The graphics are better and better the more i play but that does not mean nothing when you have bad gameplay. That's what's wrong with the gameing industry these day's. They invested all there resources into cutting edge graphics and physics but miss it by a long shot when it come to gameplay. That's why you play the game not for eye candy or rag doll effects? Right?

Anyway, I will end this by saying if you like RTS or Tactical games then you will mostlikely hate this one because it is not a game it's a real battle fought in the greatest invation the world has ever known or will ever known when Germany smashed into the Soviet Union. One more note I will add, if you like FPS along with this and want to try something a little more up close and personal, then try Red Orchastra (a mod for Unreal Tournamnet 2004) I incompasses the major battle of Operation Barbarossa in online multilayer first person mode! Unreal T 04 is cheap now and you can probally get a used copy at the game store for nothing now. Then type in Red Orchastra in the search bar and click on the offical web site and download the latest version of the mod to your UR 04 game directory. You will see that it's basiclly like this game but in first person and fun as all-get-out. See you on the front lines!

Shhhhhhh....I am hunting Tigers.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: June 03, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I enjoy both CM- Overlord and CM-Barbarrosa to Berlin games, I haven't bought the CM-DAK yet but plan on it...too busy on the Eastern Front. We am currently playing a two player (via email) operational game (numerous games linked together as opposed to one single game) The battle of Kursk. So far the swinehund has only advanced 500 meters into my front with the loss of 14 Nazi tanks (4 of them Tigers- MUAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA!). He is not amused.

I hope they do a series on the Pacific War, I would like to see a scenario on Iwo Jima. Be sure to download the demos before you decide to buy to see if you like this type of game and your computer can play it.
P.S. Both my opponent and myself are ex-tankers, so the games have special meaning for us.

Great Game - All that it is cracked up to be!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: May 21, 2005
Author: Amazon User

This is a great game. It is really all that it is cracked up to be. And with all the player created mods and scenarios that are available, it grows beyond what you get when you pay for the game by how much you download. You can go one-on-one with your PC or join one of the many CMBB player ladders and go head-to-head with other players. This is a great "we-go" game.

Fun, but where'd the flyboys go?

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: April 06, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Combat Mission:Barbarrosa to Berlin is a very great game. Even though the graffics aren't the best in the world, the units are all very detailed. The game is also very challenging, and I never get bored of seeing a Flak 88mm set a T34 aflame. You can play out many major battles like Kursk or Stalingrad as either the Axis or the Allies. My only major complaint is the lack of planes. Overall, I give this game 4 and a half stars.

Closest Thing to Squad Leader on a Computer

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: January 10, 2005
Author: Amazon User

For those who have played board wargames, the Combat Mission series is the closest thing going to Avalon Hill's Advanced Squad Leader in terms of comprehensive realism, but it doesn't require knowing notebooks full of rules because all that overhead had been integrated into the system. The developers accomplished this by melding a turn based plot/resolve system with a 3D CAD/CAM engine. After giving orders, watching the simultaneous combat/movement resolution is tons of fun. It works superbly for standalone game, PBEM or two person online play. The Mod community is supporting these three games with lots of additional scenarios and skins too. If you have a serious interest in WW2 tactical combat, (especially armor) you can't live without this game.

I agree with what the other fellas say...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 5
Date: October 01, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Actually, it was what these other guys here said that drew me out to the store to get a copy of this and CMBO. Having just played the demo for CMAK, I can tell ya' that one is absolutely ...well, use your own exclamation for something amazing.

It's not a boring game at all. You shouldn't be at all disappointed. Remember, this is still an early phase game. As the technology and programming advances, so will the graphical detail of the game. And actually, the graphics themselves aren't bad at all. The 3D landscapes are actually impressive. And when you blow up a house or something, it's a nice effect, better than average. If they could just use the exploding tree/flying leaves effect from Sudden Strike/Blitzkrieg!. The way the tanks "brew up" in those games would be a nice added touch to this series as well.

It should be noted that the 3-man squads aren't only three men. At least, not until you start taking casualties. Usually it's made up of about 5 rifles, 1 SMG and some sort of SAW or LMG. I can't guarantee these numbers w/o looking them up. But it's definitely not just 3 guys in strength. You can toggle the 3 man squad option, but I don't know if it goes to one figure or several as I haven't tried it yet.

The only thing that can be seen as a fault to this game, is that many may have trouble winning it using default settings. As stated elsewhere, the AI is pretty sharp. I think you get large counter-attacks, not sure. I never really let them happen. If I'm to attack, I attack hard and keep them under cover. They will retreat and break-and-run, that much I know. They also surrender if you wear them down hard enough. Getting hit with a Panzerfaust or Panzerschreck could count as a counter-attack, I guess.

Anyway, there's a lot that goes on in one of these games that's really a lot of exciting fun to deal with. Try it out and see if you catch the bug.

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