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The description of the game is false advertisement

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: January 07, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Do not believe the description Amazon gives of this game. It's a blatant lie.

"Control full compliments of troops and move them across the battlefield - cavalry, musketeers, riflemen and more
Command cannons and mortars, build and take forts and experience 3D combat"

1. You don't control any compliment of troops other than the one soldier you play as.

2. You don't dig a trench, let alone build a fort.

3. The "3D combat" might as well be 2D sidescrolling combat, because the game limits your movement so severely that you might as well be on rails.

In addition, this game is grossly historically inaccurate. Other reviewers have already covered how, so I'll leave it at that. This game is atrocious.

Nothing Spectacular

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: February 01, 2008
Author: Amazon User

My brother originally brought this game. He's a college student who enjoys playing video games and has a side interest in American battles. He purchased CIVIL WAR: A NATION DIVIDED soon after it came out. He played it through and when asked afterwards about it, said the game was "just okay". I, too, enjoy playing video games from time to time and I am an amateur history buff, but I don't have as much time on my hands so I didn't get around playing CIVIL WAR: A NATION DIVIDED until recently (about a year after it came out).

The game is a first person shooter game. There are twelve different battles that you can fight in, six that you fight in as a Union soldier and six that you fight in as a Johnny Reb. Only one of the battles is available to play at the start; you unlock more battles once you "win" a battle. I use the term "win" rather lightly because there isn't much winning going on. On each of the levels you are given specific missions to complete. The visuals of the game are quite impressive and the sounds of gunfire, shouting, and sometimes cannons roaring give the impression of being in the heat of the action. However, usually your character isn't. Instead your character is set on a linear course to complete the various objectives. Sometimes a random shooter from the sidelines will fire upon you, but other than that the only fighting you encounter are the pawn-like soldiers that stand upon the trail as you attempt to complete your objectives. I was really disappointed by this. I had hoped, from the description of the box (which includes pictures that turn out to be nothing but still shots from scenes you don't fight in) and advertisements about the game on the History Channel (which was a co-creator of the game) that when you play CIVIL WAR: A NATION DIVIDED you would be involved in massive battles or at least would have the opportunity to direct the movement of troops or something. The only exploring off the beaten path that your character gets to do is find an the occasional alcove or hidden alley.

From a historical perspective, CIVIL WAR: A NATION DIVIDED does have some value. Before each battle a narrator explains why the battle came about and after each battle he explains the aftermath of each conflict. Depending on versions of the game, there are some discrepancies (for instance I know that on some versions it says that 50,000 men were killed at Gettysburg, but on the version I played it said 50,000 casualties). I also know that there's also an issue with the visuals and the overall set up of the battle, for instance the battle of Shiloh is terrible and except for the brown and blue uniforms has no distinction in it being a Civil War battle at all. Despite these inaccuracies, I still believe the game has some educational value because children--through teens are the ones that will probably be the people most likely to play the game and there's just enough interest here that might incite in them a desire to learn more about American history, especially the Civil War.

As far as games go, CIVIL WAR: A NATION DIVIDED is just a typical first-person shooter video game. In regards to educational games, it does have some flaws, but there just might be enough here to interest in kids about the Civil War that they'll do more research on their own. Recommended for kids through teenagers. If you're a Civil War buff you might also enjoy the game, but you might be disappointed in how limited the game is or upset by the flaws.

Great Game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: April 29, 2008
Author: Amazon User

This was the first History Channel game we purchased and it was worth the price. My son loved it so much that we also purchased the History Channel's Battle for the Pacific.

We highly recommend this game because it is fun and because of its historical tie in. Great Game.

Shoot the dot...

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 0 / 1
Date: January 04, 2008
Author: Amazon User

This game is pretty much just shooting at a red dot. Most of the time you are shooting at the enemy from a distance, and you cannot get any closer because of a fence you cannot overcome, because like in the real civil war one could not climb fences and leave the road ;)
So for the most part you cannot see your enemy, but you can focus your aim on an area, which turns red when it's on the enemy so you know to fire. You really don't see the enemy you're shooting, just shoot the red dot, red dot disappears, and presto, you've eliminated the enemy.
This could have been a much better game, how sad they only sold the idea of a civil war game instead of delivering a good gaming experience.

Huh?

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 2 / 40
Date: December 17, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I didn't buy this game and I never would. Why would anyone buy a first person shooter set in the American Civil War? I've purchased crappy games before and I can sympathize with guys about wasting money. That said, what did you expect? What could you have possibly expected!?

Computer Game Civil War

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 6
Date: February 28, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Loved it, not a lot of levels, but a lot of entertainment for the price, around 25 bucks. The Gatlin gun and the cannons are a hoot to shoot.....

Could have been a lot better...

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 2 / 8
Date: February 13, 2007
Author: Amazon User

The game play was not very good compared to Medal of Honor series or Call of Duty series. I attribute that to poor game programming. I was quite disappointed in the game overall. I would not recommend this game to anyone.

my 15 year old son loved it

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 2
Date: December 30, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I got this for my 15 year old civil war buff son for Christmas. He LOVED the game! He's a game whiz but it surprised me that he had beaten it after about a total of 10 hours of play (not all at once). He wished it was a two player game so he could play with his friend, but thats the only complaint he had. If i get the free time i might try to play it, it looks intersting enough. As an adult i like more challanging games but if its a gift for a teen i think it's a good bet, especially if you want to get your kid interested in history.

its a game not the real thing, treat it as such

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 2 / 7
Date: January 25, 2007
Author: Amazon User

i read the reviews and bought the game anyway. i play games to have fun not to learn about history. its a game and treated as such its fun to play. i am not saying you should or should not buy this game on how much i liked it.go for it....its just a game.

Civil War Nation Divided

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: January 09, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Good game for my son, it was number one on his Christmas List. Unfortunately, he and two of his friends that also got this game have already beaten it. The graphics are great and the historical accuracy is unquestionable. Overall, a really nice addition to his Civil War collection.

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