Combat Mission

[Papewaio]

I know it is the game play that counts...and having lower end graphics means I can play it... but surely a game that is done in turns could have better graphics then one that is playing in real time like a flight sim?

[Decker]

I know it is the game play that counts...and having lower end graphics means I can play it... but surely a game that is done in turns could have better graphics then one that is playing in real time like a flight sim?

I think the graphics are fine and that their idea of focusing on gameplay rather than graphics really paid off and there are some mods out there that can really enhance the gameplay for you. The next version is going to have better graphics but again I hope that they gameplay and especially the AI(it's not great at attacking once you get the hang of the game but it still can put up a good fight) is improved.

Mind you, I must admit I was impressed when I saw a Sherman I had incautiously ordered over a ridge spot a concealed Tiger, turn to present the minimum frontal profile to it, and reverse back over the ridge like a bat out of hell, all under AI control (had it carried on obeying my orders it would have been knocked out in seconds) . I think the AI is pretty good, as these things go.

Lucky you, mine never make it back over the ridge lol. BTW, if you have FOW on full or extreme, that "Tiger" might be a regular PzIV!

[econ21]

I know it is the game play that counts...and having lower end graphics means I can play it... but surely a game that is done in turns could have better graphics then one that is playing in real time like a flight sim?

I think the engine is rather old - the first Combat Mission was ages ago (five years?). It looked very pretty when it came out. But IIRC, it is not really a mainstream commercial game - more a specialist wargame and that genre has never been known for their graphics.

[Zatoichi]

I think it's more like 7 years old, with the last version of the game using the original engine (Combat Mission: Afrika Korps) coming out in 2003/4.

It is pretty hard core (or 'realistic', as some may say) compared to 99% of the market, but it is very rewarding once you get the hang of it.

I'm really looking forward to the release of Combat Mission: Shock Force in just 3 weeks time - updated gameplay features (including a realtime option), updated time period and updated graphics!

Also, they've adopted a modular approach to add-ons which promises to be good. In 6 - 9 months time we should have British Marines introduced into the new game (set in a fictional 2008 invasion of Syria), and 6 - 9 months after that, they will be using the new engine to return to the WW2 setting.

So lots to look forward to, especially with their excellent customer support and history of patching the game until it's 'just right'.

[Slyspy]

I know it is the game play that counts...and having lower end graphics means I can play it... but surely a game that is done in turns could have better graphics then one that is playing in real time like a flight sim?

Not only is it an old game it is also an indy game with a minimal production budget. In fact I'm not even sure if the developers were actually professional when they released CM:BO, but I do know that you could only order it from the States via their website since it originally had no publishers. That is, after all, how I got my copy.

The first (CM:BO) was pig ugly on release, let alone after all these years, but there are loads of mods for it. The sequels are a little better, but then the graphics were designed to fascilitate the game, not to carry it.