Wargame Airland Battle Online Game

Wargame Airland Battle [Online Game Code] (Software Download) I consider myself a veteran of the real time strategy and tactics genre and saw previews of this game. I decided to spend the money on it after much self justification and homework on other games in the genre.

Boy was that a smart decision!

Wargame Airland Battle is incredible, in a word.

You don't need to purchase its predecessor, Wargame: European Escalation, in my opinion. It improves on it in every way.

To provide a background, it is a strategy wargame taking place during a hypothetical 1980s-era Third World War between NATO and the Warsaw Pact. Units are meticulously detailed and the terrain is there for more reasons than looking beautiful; weapon ranges and effectiveness are affected by the terrain and it presents endless tactical considerations that can spell either victory or defeat. A wide variety of infantry, scouts, support vehicles, APCs, IFVs, MBTs, artillery, helicopters, and aircraft too numerous to count provides endless strategic outcomes depending on which tactics you resort to.

The game is well balanced with each nation within NATO and the Warsaw Pact having unique strengths and weaknesses.

The effects and sound are truly memorable. From the tracers from infantry small arms, to steel on armored vehicles being perforated, to artillery shell explosions, to a well placed 1000 lb bomb. Truly terrifying, artistic, and with morbid curiousity, very beautiful and entertaining.

The AI is unforgivable as is the gameplay. Each egregious mistake is quickly exploited and casual RTS gamers might be pushed away by its unrelenting cruelty. Those with a encyclopedic knowledge of modern military weapon systems and equipment will learn the game rather quickly; it is a paradoxical mix between easy-to-learn, intuitive gameplay with a steep learning curve.

My main criticism of the game is its campaign, which takes a elaborate "Risk" approach. This is a good improvement from the strictly linear campaign from its predicessor, although I believe the two attributes should have been combined. The campaign could have been so much more.

The most memorable part of the game, in my opinion, is the "deck" system, which allows you to completely customize an army and create a specialized force with its own unique attributes. The possibilities for replay and experimentation are very commendible. Many memorable battles await those who are naturally curious.

Pros
+ Insanely detailed graphics, units, and effects
+ Immense variety of units; each with unique attributes, capabilities, and effectiveness in differing situations
+ Unique nations with unique units
+ Wide variety of tactics and endless strategic possibilities
+ Rock/Paper/Scissors gameplay with shocking depth
+ Deck system combined with skirmish maps adds an immense level of replayability and endless possibilities for experimentation.

Cons
- System intensive
- Can have a steep learning curve
- Can be unforgiving
- Campaign could have been so much more

If you are a strategy gamer, do not miss this game. First timers? Enter at your own risk.


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