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Great Battles of World War II: Stalingrad
Great Battles of World War II: Stalingrad "
is a historical military real-time strategy game created by DTF Games.
As the title states, the game is based on the Battle of Stalingrad
during World War II.
Differing from the original game Blitzkrieg in certain elements, the
game is more in line with actual historical events. During the game the
player is controlling the forces that actually took part in the battle.
I salute the game designers because it really shows that they must have
done a huge amount of historical research. World War II is one of my
favorite historical subjects and the game devotion to historical events
and over all feel of the game is well done.
Now one would think that since the game takes focus on the battle of
Stalingrad, that this would make for a limited game, I mean sure, city
fighting can be more than just a little challenging, but just being in
the city could make for a limited game. Not to worry. The maps that
battle take place on are various and enough to keep a player interested,
but historic enough for even the hard core historical game strategist.
While there are battle within Stalingrad city limits, there are a number
of other places that battles take place. The city districts include
places such as the Stalingrad railway station, the Square of the
Perished fighters, Mamayev Kurgan, and even the red October Plant and
airfield. There are various other battles within the region, farms,
Cossack settlements and villages. The game does focus on the events
between 1942 – 1943 there are enough things going on that will more than
make up for the time span. The player cannot change actual results of
any of the historical battles. Not to despair too much, since having
success, the player is granted access to a number of secret missions,
giving a window into some of the lesser known historical events and
facts of this time and the battles that took place.
There are plenty of combat units in the game and they seem to reflect
very well historically. Both the Red Army and the Wehrmacht are well
represented here. The artillery in the game seems to be pretty darn
deadly the shots scatter pretty well depending on the type its range
game wise covers anywhere from 360 tiles to 900 tiles.
Everything in the game seems to be modeled very accurately. There is
nothing like coming up on an area only to find there was some
camouflaged guns waiting for you.
During the meat of the game the player starts out with commanding the
Wehrmacht, leading the German army. Then things switch and the player is
thrust into leading the red Army. While this style of game play is
interesting, one would wonder about actually leading one side or the
other through the whole of the events. But the style of gaming the
programmers force on a player actually keeps things from getting too
predictable. So, some players will actually enjoy this while others may
fume a bit. But between the two campaigns if a player really wants to
get a true experience then playing the German Campaign first makes more
sense.
The game plays out like a documentary of historical events while
connecting two different sides of view of the events. As seen from the
Soviets and the Germans respectively. If you’re in Europe you may have
the pleasure of procuring the special edition version of the game
complete with a nice 64 page manual and an interactive encyclopedia of
the Stalingrad battle.
What does the game really boil down to? What does it have to offer? Well
under the gaming goodness hood Great Battles of World War II: Stalingrad
has 36 missions that cover both the red Army and the Wehrmacht campaigns
and in the middle of all this, if the player is good, 7 secret missions.
The visuals of the maps look ok; all of the landscapes are based on WWII
aerial photography and tactical mapping of the time. But the graphics of
the game are not going to please the more fickle gamer. The game does
not look awful mind you. Just a tad dated. Here is where I have to have
a difference of opinion with Andrew B who did a marvelous review of
Blitzkrieg II; this game uses the same engine and graphics with some
tweaks. But I just feel the full potential for this title is just not
realized. As a game there is nothing her to make me stand up and take
notice. Now on the flip side as a treasure trove of historic information
sprinkled with some gaming it hits its mark very well. I know some would
argue that if it’s not broke don’t try to fix it. But other game
franchises using like engines or similar have pushed their visuals to
meet the times, technology and hardware of today’s computer systems.
Great Battles of World War II: Stalingrad graphics do the job for what
they are worth, they leave you satisfied. So I guess that’s all any one
could ask.
Now couple this along with well over 150 infantry and armored vehicles
including some of the lesser known experimental hardware of the time
such as the Panzerselbstfahrlafette V "Sturer Emil" howitzer, PZB-41/28
anti-tank gun. Now we are having some fun. I just love playing the games
that delve into historic events. Just give me the toys to blow up stuff
and I’m good.
All in all it is a game worth a look if you’re a hard core gamer that
enjoys this type of game. Winning a newer gamer over on the other hand,
may be a tad more difficult. The game as noted earlier seems to be more
of an interactive book on historical events and there is plenty of
information here. In fact there is more information here than a player
really needs or would probably even want. Now on the other hand if
you’re some one that collects historical books on WWII this
game/historical interactive game book is for you.
The amount of research to keep the game so historically accurate must
have been massive. I will applaud the game designers in this. For being
such a worthy look at some of the most famous battles of the time period
Great Battle of WWII Stalingrad is worth having in your collection. Just
not a game for the casual gamer.
Have fun, play games
Edwin Millheim
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