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Too rigid, too complicated

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 11 / 15
Date: January 04, 2006
Author: Amazon User

This game is enormously overrated. First of all, you have to have the time and the energy to master the complexities of the rules. Then you are pretty much limited in what you can do in terms of winning the game. There is apparently only one major way (with minor variations) to win as Germany, for example, and you have to be able to figure out the formula for doing so. Once you do that, there's nothing left to do for the next game. You've passed the test; now you can graduate. That's what it feels like. So you're hemmed in by the complexity and the rigidity of the game. It really isn't a great deal of fun.

A Great Strategic Game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 10
Date: August 21, 2005
Author: Amazon User

After reading all the reviews you get the feeling this is a love it or hate it game, but that isn't the whole story. Yes there is a 120 page manual that comes with the game, but there are also two tutorials that show you how to move and how production works. Once you have learned these two you can begin to play without reading the entire manual. If you have some experience playing computer war games you will find learning to play this one intuitive after a few trys.

Production is not unchangeable at the begining of the game. You adjust production each turn. In fact you are prompted in the tips section for the Germans to disband the carrier fleet that is in the pipeline.

As one reviewer stated there is endless variety in this game with five sides to play against an AI that is top notch. I have played the German side five times in a row and I am just now begining to hang past '43 with some chance of surviving the Allied invasion. For those of us who appreciate logistics the game offers in-depth supply scenarios. As for PBEM vs Multi-player, there is still a vast gaming community dedicated to PBEM play for many different games.

Approach this game with your filters removed and you will find a rewarding gaming experience. I loaded it on a five year old Dell Desktop with 512MB of ram and besides adjusting the display from 800x600 to 1024 before starting the game, I haven't experienced the first problem with the game. Another good job Mr. Grigsby.

NO, JUST NO

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 8 / 10
Date: November 18, 2006
Author: Amazon User

The name "Gary Grigsby" sold this game for me. I gotta say this is just not up to my expectations. I cut my teeth on "War in Russia," way back when. I'd play WIR(if I had a copy) over this any day. Contrary to many reviews, I found this game overly simplistic. It's on too grand a scale. Time passes away in huge chunks. Before I know it, it's 1945 and I never feel like I've accomplished anything, even though I may have reach a goal.

If it's what you are looking for . . .

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 6 / 7
Date: October 30, 2006
Author: Amazon User

It's a great game if you're willing to accept one thing: the Axis powers are supposed to lose. I played Germany and Japan and tried to beat the Allies; but no matter what I did the Axis eventually lost. I gave it three stars because it's average. Average means you can do what you want, and maybe you'll have fun, but until you get very, very good, you're not going to change history. I don't have time to get that good. For example, I never declared war on Russia, so the program finally forced my hand. In reality Japan attacked Pearl and the Phillipines. I never did. I never ordered an attack against any US possetions, yet the US still declards war on Japan. Why? Because that's history. Games no fun if the deck is always stacked against you. I was willing to start off with the uneven supplies, but after that I should be able to build what I need and fight the strategy I want.

I liked the premise

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 9 / 14
Date: June 16, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I was pretty excited when I first read about this game since I am a huge fan of the 'Axis & Allies' genre of turn based wargaming. So I bought it on the day it came out. That is when the trouble began. I would get halfway through a turn when the game would crash. I waited until the first patch came out and downloaded it with no improvement. So then I posted on the tech support forum at the game website and got a pretty quick response that my sound card was too outdated and wasn't supported (in all fairness that part was true). So I went out and bought a brand new SB Audigy 2 sound card. When I tried to run the game I would get completely through the first turn and it would crash at the end this time. So when I posted to tech support again they told me that I shouldn't have bought a Audigy 2 sound card, that they have issues. So I sold the game on Ebay. Buyer beware....

Great historical simulation - and yes you CAN change history!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: May 04, 2007
Author: Amazon User

The beauty of this game is that it does recreate the historical balance (or imbalance) between the great powers, for example Japan's crucial need to acquire resources and the United States' overwhelming production advantage. Nevertheless, through a combination of research/production, and unique strategies, it is possible to change the course of the war. For example, yes the US will enter the war at some point regardless, as will the USSR, but the Axis can determine the timing through its actions. That is the challenge of the game.

I like the turn-based play since it allows each player to proceed at his/her own pace rather than play the whole game in one sitting. This is especially true in multiplayer (PBEM) situations. Also, the AI is much better than in some other games and will keep you occupied, but in the long run it is 'practice' for the real fun which is PBEM against others.

World At War

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: November 02, 2006
Author: Amazon User

My son loves the game (he's 13). He is learning about history without even realizing it. It takes up alot of space on computer is only downfall.

Shocked at a hopelessly outdated piece of new software

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 12 / 32
Date: July 05, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Can you imagine having to study a 128 page manual to be able to play a simple game? That kind of computer game went out with the 1980s. Let me quote from some of the tiny print in pages 55 and 56 of the manual pertaining to the unit display:
- The number at the top left is the number of units of this type with the given attributes in the hex.
- The number at top right is the remaining Movement Points for these unit(s)...
- A target with red X on top of the unit icon indicates that the unit was fired at at least once during the current movement phase.
- Three barrels displayed at bottom left indicates the unit(s) has been supplied this turn.
- A green arrow at the bottom indicates the unit(s) has moved Tactically this turn.
- A red arrow at the bottom indicates the unit(s) has moved Tactically and has used Extended Movement (expending additional supplies) this turn.
- A blue arrow at the bottom indicates the unit(s) has moved Stategically this turn.
And on and on to cover check marks, torpedo icons, a chain with a number, different colors of explosion icons, and the meaning of a small number in yellow.
One reviewer said the game takes minutes to learn. If you are a fast reader with excellent comprehension you might be able to read and digest the manual's glossary of terms in minutes.
If having to read and digest 128 pages of tiny print to figure out how to play a glitchy game with limited replayability makes a game good, then this game "Renews the genre of wargames" as one reviewer put it.

This game is cool

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 9
Date: June 20, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Completely absorbing and fun. I played it for a month solid, before it got a bit stale.

not very much fun for me...

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 2 / 12
Date: October 22, 2005
Author: Amazon User

i just don't like playing this game ..i like ww2 games alot but this is just not fun for me.i thought this game was going to be a few steps ahead of the last axis and allies game. it's not,it's just very boring....

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