Squad-Level Western Front Combat
Hailed as a revolutionary advance in computer wargames when first published, Beyond Overlord is the first of the Combat Mission series, and now available at a mere ten bucks.
It simulates small-unit engagements on the Western Front following the invasion of France (which was "Operation Overlord" to the Allies). Individual soldiers, tanks, and vehicles are modelled, with infantry ordered at the level of several-man groups, or by issuing orders to a squad as a whole.
It's turn-based, not an RTS; you give orders to your units, then watch as 60 seconds of combat play out. As a result, there's more of a sense of strategic planning than most games provide, and a higher level of realism in the underlying combat model.
The AI is strong enough to provide a reasonable level of opposition, and at scenario start, you can crank the difficulty up or down, if you wish. In addition, two-player play is possible via TCP/IP, email, or 'hot seat' (players sitting down alternately to plan their moves).
If what you prize in a combat game is richness of detail, historical accuracy, and a high level of research, it's hard to go wrong with the Combat Mission series; and unlike some of our titles, they don't require you to compromise over much in terms of graphics, either. While this isn't a recent AAA title, it's visually still pretty nice during play.
The Developer Says:
The release of Combat Mission has done for wargaming what the tank did for warfare, launch a total revolution that will forever change the face of combat!
The Basics
Combat Mission is a 1-2 player, turn-based, simultaneous-execution 3D simulation of WWII tactical warfare. It combines unparalleled game depth and ease of use with a true 3D environment. The move to the 3rd dimension is not just to look cool, rather it it improves the accuracy of the simulation. Think of the world around us - it's all 3D. True 3D LOS, 3D spotting, 3D terrain, and 3D trajectories are a lot more realistic than 2D approximations, so that is what CM delivers!
The Setting
Combat Mission: Beyond Overlord takes you from Normandy 1944 to Germany 1945 on World War Two's Western Front. Play as Allied or Axis, ranging from US Airborne to German Volkssturm. Battle across the bocage, tackle a village or two, drive through the plains, push into the woods, and slog it out in cities. CM provides all this and more with its historical scenarios and campaigns. And if there is a battle that isn't covered, make it up yourself with the easy to use editor.
The Scale
Units are squads, teams, and individual vehicles. You can command a force as small as a platoon, or as large as a reinforced battalion. Each man and weapon is kept track of for maximum realism. For example, check out what a Sturmgruppe squad looks like.
The Scope
Each turn is equal to 60 seconds of combat. Players give orders in a turn-based fashion, and then these orders are simultaneously executed for 60 seconds of "real time". Then the next orders phase begins. A typical scenario lasts about 40 turns, or 40 minutes of simulated combat. There are also operations in CM, but not like you are used to. You are put in command of a force tasked with a single ultimate objective. You might have an afternoon or several days' worth of combat to achieve your objective. You fight a small engagement (20-30 turns or so), then move on to another after a brief rest and refit. Fight during the day, at night, or into the early hours of the next day. It all depends on the campaign and your skills.
The Features
There is so much new, different, and better about Combat Mission that it is hard to know where to start! Most features break with "standard" conventions, like spotting via sound, or misidentification of targets. Others simply do a much better job, like the instant feedback 3D LOS check. Still others go into uncharted territory, like the adjustable waypoint movement system and incredibly accurate armor penetration algorithms. Check out all the links associated with Combat Mission and catch a glimpse of some of what Combat Mission offers.
The Historical Accuracy
We can not even begin to tell you how much love and effort has been put into the research. Whether it is the detailed TO&Es (Tables of Organization and Equipment), accurate OBs (Orders of Battle), weapon characteristics, or the intense armor penetration algorithms (be prepared to be surprised!), Combat Mission brings historical integrity to a new level.
To Sum Up...
Just think about it... amazing historical detail, unparalleled features, incredible ease of use, and cutting edge 3D audio and visuals all wrapped up into one package. Big Time Software, the Developer of CM, has a long history of delivering the goods. You won't be disappointed!
Reviews
"White-knuckled action and extraordinary realism: if this is the future of PC wargaming, then bring it on!...The system is truly elegant...governed by a remarkably realistic AI based on real-world physics and sophisticated fuzzy logic."
- PC Gamer
"Five Stars! An instant wargaming classic...The first 3D wargame scores a major victory...A fully 3D, turn-based masterpiece...It's the game everyone imagined 20 years ago as the ultimate 'computer wargame.' Guess what? It's finally here...The replayability of Combat Mission is almost endless...One of the most detailed simulations available...Combat Mission is a revolution on CD. Join it."
- Computer Gaming World
"93%... Brilliant concept, combining both RTS and turn-based elements to provide one of the most compelling wargames of recent years... Nothing prepared me for what I saw. Combat Mission is nothing short of a revolutionary take on turn-based wargaming...Combat Mission is a superlative wargaming experience. Its marriage of traditional turn-based wargaming with RTS is truly inspired and may mark the way forward for the hardcore wargame. Make no mistake about it, Combat Mission is hardcore in every respect. The attention to detail is breathtaking, while the historical accuracy achieved by the developers, Big Time Software, is second to none."
- PC Stratety Games
"Combat Mission takes its accuracy and realism seriously, so expect the details to be spot on and the combat results to feel as realistic as possible... Combat Mission captures the spirit of ASL [Advanced Squad Leader] much better than any other tactical WWII PC wargame I've played... Combat Mission is the best wargame I've played in some time... it's a game that sets new standards..."
- Games Domain
"9.1 out of 10... One of the best wargames ever made for the computer... Combat Mission has truly done something special for the computer wargame genre, and it will be remembered years from now as the game that turned the genre on its ear... The point-and-click interface is just about as intuitive as possible... If you're interested in immersive strategic gameplay with a historical focus, but you've always thought wargames to be too complicated or too dry, then Combat Mission is for you... This combination of action and strategy is something that hasn't ever been achieved so successfully in a wargame."
- Gamespot