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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.

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.

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.

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.

So close

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 14 / 15
Date: April 11, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I really wanted to like this game but it's just too slow and limited. (Read the other comments on this.) If you're an utterly diehard wargamer who doesn't mind sitting there while the AI makes all manner of moves might be OK will this. This can't be overstated... following every turn you could eat a meal while waiting on the AI to do its thing. The obnoxious thing is unless you sit and watch you might miss something critical. I couldn't imagine what it would be like with one or more human opponents. Plus as other comments have stated there are the built-in scenerios and that's it. The game's just not worth learning to hack alternatives.

This game should've been so much more. Even just having an option of fast turns with end-phase balloons with blurbs of what happened in each area even would've been enough for me.

Two overall stars for being so close and the work that must've gone in to create it. One for what it's really like to play.

Gary Grigsby's World at War

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 9 / 9
Date: February 23, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I had high hopes for this game and I still do.

GGWW is a hybrid of the easier level game Axis and Allies and the harder level game World in Flames. Once you learn the icons and get the feel for moving units around, supplying them, and researching new weapons and technology, the game flows very well.

However, the somewhat fixed scenarios tend to lock the game into what really happened during the course of World War II, so you can't change alliances (for example, England attacking the USSR). Also, the allied side can be incredibly frustrating in the first couple of years because the USA and USSR are politically frozen, France seems to get knocked out right away, and the Chinese just doesn't have much of a capacity to do anything.

In some ways, a hex type game using "chit" counters with the actual military unit designations might be more realistic for an advanced wargamer. However, I think GGWW should appeal to a new generation of wargamers more used to icons.

All in all, it a good game, but there are some flexibility issues that might need to be addressed. I hear that the open source code should allow some mods in the future.

If you are an Axis and Allies fan, I would certainly recommend this upgrade!

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.

GGWaW better than A&A

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 17 / 18
Date: December 06, 2005
Author: Amazon User

First off let me say that I have played the PC versions of Axis and Allies, Hearts of Iron II, and Uncommon Valor (another game by Gary Grigsby).

Second: If you do not like strategy board games such as Axis and Allies, Risk, or World in Flames - then this game is not for you.

GG World at War is not as complex as Hearts of Iron II or Uncommon Valor, but is more involved than Axis and Allies. GGWaW allows you to scale the complexity of the game - you can make it as simple as you want it. For example on my first game I only controled the movement of my forces. I did not have to worry about production, supply, advanced supply, or research. After my first game I then incorporated production, research and then regular default supply. I have yet to try Advance Supply. The 4 scenarios are geared toward the actual WWII historic time line. It is easier to win with the Allies, but on some occasions the out come has ended in draws. To have a true challenge is to play as the Axis. As a skilled player it is challenging to win with the Axis, but it is possible and offers an excellent challenge for any skilled GGWaW player.

Why I like GGWaW:
1. The game plays like a board game and theoretically you could play this game as a board game if it were sold that way.

2. It is a more indepth version of Axis and Allies, but not as indepth as Hearts of Iron II or Uncommon Valor.

3. The game is "Turn Based" unlike Hearts of Iron II which is more or less a real time strategy game.

4. The game can be scaled to your skill level. You can make it simple as you want it or control every aspect of game play making all the decisions on production, supply, and research.

5. The different scenarios to play - from large to small (4 different scenarios in all). For example you could play the longest scenario which is the whole length of the war taking 27 turns to finish the game or you could play the shortest of the 4 scenarios which will only take 10 turns. I like these options because of time restraints.

6. Support. The developers are on top of things and are constantly looking for feedback on bugs to correct to make the game even better.

Some people have complained about the Play By EMail feature. I dont see much of a problem with this feature because the game is turn based anyway and the file that you have to email to the other players are small and it only takes seconds to send

Edit: There is a beta patch out for registered users that lets you play over the interenet which gives you another option for multiplayer games other than PBEM.

This game will have a permanent spot on my hard drive.

(...)

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....

World at War is not for the "DIE HARD" wargamer

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 13 / 17
Date: September 10, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I have been wargaming for over 30 years. I do not care for this game as there is no diplomatic abilities what-so-ever. There is no way to persuade Spain to join the Axis. Yugoslavia signed the Tri-partite treaty and became a member of the Axis, even if only for a short time due to a British led Coup d' Tat. Turkey massed 3 million men on the Russian border waiting for Germany to win at Stalingrad. so they could join the Axis by declaring war on Russia.
The game is very complex, not realistic and to stiff to play. As a member of the Europa Association in the early 90's and the flexibility and freedom that a board game gives you. This is not for a person that wants flexibility and the ability to change history.
I was expecting to much from this PC game. If you want flexibility and the opportunity to change history, do not buy this game because it is not there. you can be the Germans and lose every time...you can be the Japanese and fair worse than they did in real life. If you only ever want to be the Allied powers then this is the game for you because you can destroy the Axis each and everytime.
This game was a waste of money.
if it is Axis and Allies you want then buy it and save the money for something more worth while

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