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Digital Gaming => Computer Gaming => Topic started by: Gusington on March 05, 2013, 07:57:32 PM

Title: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: Gusington on March 05, 2013, 07:57:32 PM
I have not played a modern WWII based game on the PC. But I want to soon. What is your indispensable WWII game? Can be sim, tactical, operational, FPS, etc. Any front or theater.

Personally I've been looking at Iron Front myself, and I've got Battlestations Pacific ready to go.
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: Kushan on March 05, 2013, 08:12:40 PM
The original Company of Heroes with the Battle of the Bulge mod.
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: TheCommandTent on March 05, 2013, 08:22:59 PM
What exactly do you mean by modern?  Made after a certain date?  Certain level of graphics? etc.
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: sandman2575 on March 05, 2013, 08:48:20 PM
The 2 WWII games I'd take with me to the proverbial desert island are Achtung Panzer: Op. Star (w/ all expansions) and the Decisive Campaigns games (...ok that's technically 3 games, but whatevs...). 

Company of Heroes remains one of the most fun games in any genre I've ever played.  It wouldn't come to the desert island only because I've played it to death and then some.

Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: eyebiter on March 05, 2013, 08:55:48 PM
Battefield 1942 - FPS
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: mikeck on March 05, 2013, 09:03:30 PM
Do they even make WW2 games for the PC? I haven't been able to find any.

Seriously though, Decisive Campaigns for me.
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: Gusington on March 05, 2013, 09:26:29 PM
By 'modern' I mean after ~2000. Company of Heroes, eh? Nice. I have the anthology here. Operation Star I have been lusting after for a long time. Is there a gold package for it?
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: ArizonaTank on March 05, 2013, 09:47:15 PM
Any of the WWII Combat Mission Titles.  Followed by Hearts of Iron II
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: Steelgrave on March 05, 2013, 09:48:55 PM
I don't know about "indispensable", but I really like Conflict of Heroes, Commander:Europe at War and Unity of Command.
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: Staggerwing on March 05, 2013, 10:00:07 PM
Quote from: ArizonaTank on March 05, 2013, 09:47:15 PM
Any of the WWII Combat Mission Titles.  Followed by Hearts of Iron II

+1 on the Combat Mission titles, primarily the CMX1's, since I'm still having trouble getting my head around the CMX2 engine. I so wish they had made a Cold War Hot version set in the late 70's early 80's.
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: Sparhawk on March 05, 2013, 10:06:05 PM
I really enjoy HOI 2- Arsenal of Democracy. Goodness I can get bogged down on the Eastern Front if I'm not careful.
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: Toonces on March 05, 2013, 10:10:25 PM
WiTP:AE. 

'nuff said.  You can close this thread now.   :-*
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: Gusington on March 05, 2013, 10:20:18 PM
^What about War in the East?
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: Bison on March 05, 2013, 10:21:55 PM
Bison's WW2 fav's:

Combat Mission Battle for Normandy
Combat Mission Fortress Italy
Conflict of Heroes
Command Ops: Battles from the Bulge
Battle Academy

And unlike Toonces' suggestion, all of the games I listed can be finished in a single lifetime.  :P
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: Gusington on March 05, 2013, 10:26:49 PM
I forgot about Conflict of Heroes...
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: Silent Disapproval Robot on March 05, 2013, 10:39:56 PM
Silent Hunter IV with the Trigger Maru mod.

Iron Front: 1944 but only for online co-op.  The single player experience is poor.

IL-2:1946 for online PvP although it's pretty long in the tooth now.





Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: Bison on March 05, 2013, 10:41:36 PM
Man I forgot about Silent Hunter 5.  I loves it too.
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: sandman2575 on March 05, 2013, 10:52:16 PM
Quote from: Gusington on March 05, 2013, 09:26:29 PM
By 'modern' I mean after ~2000. Company of Heroes, eh? Nice. I have the anthology here. Operation Star I have been lusting after for a long time. Is there a gold package for it?


A gold version for Op. Star sure would be nice, but I wouldn't hold my breath.  For as great as the game is (and for my money it's the best platoon/company level tac. ww2 game out there -- ahead of Combat Mission and miles ahead of Theatre of War), it's a pain in the ass to install, patch, and update w/ the add-ons.  Graviteam seems uninterested in improving this -- or in making the game moddable (the serious lack of mod content is another strike, and not a negligible one imo).
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: jomni on March 05, 2013, 11:04:34 PM
World of tanks. LOL!

Disclaimer: I disposed of it a long time ago.

I don't have the Combat Mission x2 engine ww2 titles but my vote goes that way.
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: Sir Slash on March 05, 2013, 11:54:14 PM
CMFI- Combat Mission Fortress Indispensible. Along with CMBN when I'm in a Hedgerow Hunting mood. Silent Hunter's damned good but not --indispensible.
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: Greybriar on March 06, 2013, 12:13:34 AM
Quote from: Gusington on March 05, 2013, 09:26:29 PM
By 'modern' I mean after ~2000....

I suggest:

Strategic Command: European Theater (http://strategic%20command) (2002) - It's an updated Clash of Steel: World War II, Europe 1939-45 (http://www.mobygames.com/game/dos/clash-of-steel-world-war-ii-europe-1939-45) (1993).

Company of Heroes (http://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/company-of-heroes) (2006)

Panzer Corps (http://www.mobygames.com/game/panzer-corps) (2011) - As you probably know it is a remake of Panzer General (http://www.mobygames.com/game/panzer-general) (1994).

Then there's Hearts of Iron III (http://www.mobygames.com/game/hearts-of-iron-iii) (2009) and--as others have mentioned--World of Tanks (http://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/world-of-tanks) (2011) which you might like.

Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: Bison on March 06, 2013, 12:20:40 AM
Quote from: Gusington on March 05, 2013, 10:26:49 PM
I forgot about Conflict of Heroes...

You are forgiven.  Although I do remember it garnering some awards from some wargaming site on the intrawebs....now if I could only remember the site....
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: MetalDog on March 06, 2013, 12:29:50 AM
Hearts of Iron II Doomsday.
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: Yskonyn on March 06, 2013, 03:38:34 AM
Hidden and Dangerous (both were great)

Commandos

Combat MIssion series
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: Nefaro on March 06, 2013, 04:04:36 AM
Quote from: Gusington on March 05, 2013, 09:26:29 PM
By 'modern' I mean after ~2000. Company of Heroes, eh? Nice. I have the anthology here. Operation Star I have been lusting after for a long time. Is there a gold package for it?

That was on sale at Gamersgate, all last week.   For like $7.50.
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: spelk on March 06, 2013, 04:06:51 AM
Decisive Campaigns. Both.
Command Ops: Battles from the Bulge.
Maybe all of Joni Nuutinen's games and Small General: Eastern Front (basically a mini-version of Decisive Campaigns) on the Android.
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: Father Ted on March 06, 2013, 05:39:36 AM
Quote from: Silent Disapproval Robot on March 05, 2013, 10:39:56 PM

Iron Front: 1944 but only for online co-op.  The single player experience is poor.

If we're talking online FPS, then Darkest Hour

Quote from: Silent Disapproval Robot on March 05, 2013, 10:39:56 PMIL-2:1946 for online PvP although it's pretty long in the tooth now.

I like the lateral thinking here!  And I must heartily concur.

Otherwise Combat Mission (CMx1 and CMx2) and Command Ops
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: Shelldrake on March 06, 2013, 06:23:24 AM
For me it is Company of Heroes with the latest Blitzkrieg mod and map pack. Wicked AI and outstanding graphics along with a greatly enhanced tech tree. I often play this co-op against the AI with 2 or 3 friends. COH may be long in the tooth but IMO it has yet to be surpassed.
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: Zulu1966 on March 06, 2013, 06:42:13 AM
Definitely, Definitely the Combat Mission Games.
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: jjdenver on March 06, 2013, 07:02:10 AM
There are a lot of those.

Commander Europe at War with GS 2.1 mod
All of the SSG WW2 titles
HPS PzC titles
and I'm not sure it's indispensable but I always enjoy Hearts of Iron 2. I still need to find a mod with a good AI that can invade europe as allies and handle the pacific war well.
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: undercovergeek on March 06, 2013, 08:22:24 AM
Quote from: Staggerwing on March 05, 2013, 10:00:07 PM
Quote from: ArizonaTank on March 05, 2013, 09:47:15 PM
Any of the WWII Combat Mission Titles.  Followed by Hearts of Iron II

+1 on the Combat Mission titles, primarily the CMX1's, since I'm still having trouble getting my head around the CMX2 engine. I so wish they had made a Cold War Hot version set in the late 70's early 80's.

On its way
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: Gusington on March 06, 2013, 08:26:11 AM
Thanks for all the answers. There are some above that I know well but don't own...where is a good start point for the Combat Mission games? And I have not heard of Darkest hour.

I do have a preference for the Eastern Front...so would Operation Star and a Combat Mission game be redundant?
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: JasonPratt on March 06, 2013, 09:21:42 AM
Quote from: Gusington on March 05, 2013, 10:20:18 PM
^What about War in the East?

WitP:AE has more variety.

Btw, if I had to choose an indispensable East Front CMish game, I wouldn't go with CM:Barbarossa to Berlin (now increasingly outdated), and maybe not even the Star games. I'd look into PanzerCommand:Ostfront (http://www.matrixgames.com/products/391/details/Panzer.Command:.Ostfront). Graphics aren't as good as Star, but there are dynamic campaigns and the whole Eastern Front is simulated.
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: Slick Wilhelm on March 06, 2013, 09:55:36 AM
Well, I was going to say WitP:AE, but seeing as how you want to be able to finish it in your lifetime...I'll change my recommendation to Uncommon Valor.
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: undercovergeek on March 06, 2013, 09:59:43 AM
Quote from: Gusington on March 06, 2013, 08:26:11 AM
Thanks for all the answers. There are some above that I know well but don't own...where is a good start point for the Combat Mission games? And I have not heard of Darkest hour.

I do have a preference for the Eastern Front...so would Operation Star and a Combat Mission game be redundant?


Cm bagration isn't too far away

I say too faraway - I mean end of yearish
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: sandman2575 on March 06, 2013, 10:36:26 AM
Quote from: JasonPratt on March 06, 2013, 09:21:42 AM

Btw, if I had to choose an indispensable East Front CMish game, I wouldn't go with CM:Barbarossa to Berlin (now increasingly outdated), and maybe not even the Star games. I'd look into PanzerCommand:Ostfront (http://www.matrixgames.com/products/391/details/Panzer.Command:.Ostfront). Graphics aren't as good as Star, but there are dynamic campaigns and the whole Eastern Front is simulated.

To each his own, of course -- but PCO feels a lot closer to CM Barbarossa to Berlin than more up-to-date games.  Graphics wise it's not even in the same dimension as Achtung Panzer (which itself has pretty good but not great gfx).  I know the dedicated modders like MadRussian et al. have added a ton of content to keep PCO alive, but for me the game just isn't playable anymore when you have games like Achtung Panzer and the new Combat Mission titles vying for your attention.  (That said, the editors for PCO add a level of customizability / modability that Achtung Panzer can't touch.)
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: PanzersEast on March 06, 2013, 10:39:24 AM
Hearts of Iron II or III and Battle of Britain II WoV..... those have outlasted the rest.


PE
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: LongBlade on March 06, 2013, 11:17:05 AM
Quote from: Bison on March 05, 2013, 10:21:55 PM
Bison's WW2 fav's:

Combat Mission Battle for Normandy
Combat Mission Fortress Italy
Conflict of Heroes
Command Ops: Battles from the Bulge
Battle Academy

And unlike Toonces' suggestion, all of the games I listed can be finished in a single lifetime.  :P

Bison has pretty much nailed it. All of those games are winners, though I would hesitate to put Battle Academy in the same class as the rest of those games. It's fun, but not a real wargame.
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: Trooperc7 on March 06, 2013, 11:21:16 AM
Its good and getting better,, Red Orchestra; Heroes of Stalingrad.. a great FPS!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUVoPbmooTo
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: Gusington on March 06, 2013, 11:39:46 AM
Is there a sinvle player campaign for Red Ochestra yet?

VERY tempted by Panzer Command Ostfront, especally from that above description...
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: Silent Disapproval Robot on March 06, 2013, 12:58:49 PM
Quote from: Father Ted on March 06, 2013, 05:39:36 AM
Quote from: Silent Disapproval Robot on March 05, 2013, 10:39:56 PM

Iron Front: 1944 but only for online co-op.  The single player experience is poor.

If we're talking online FPS, then Darkest Hour



Darkest Hour is fun, but the level of detail and tactical immersion you get in a good round of online co-op in Iron Front is, for me, much more satisfying.  The pacing is slower and more methodical, but the firefights are more intense.  For me, Darkest Hour is like the original Ghost Recon and Iron Front is more like SWAT 3. 
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: Ubercat on March 06, 2013, 01:54:39 PM
Quote from: LongBlade on March 06, 2013, 11:17:05 AM
Bison has pretty much nailed it. All of those games are winners, though I would hesitate to put Battle Academy in the same class as the rest of those games. It's fun, but not a real wargame.

Watch it! Your post could get deleted for saying that! Oh wait, wrong website.
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: jejo68 on March 06, 2013, 02:02:59 PM
War of the pacific, Admirals adition.

Maybe because im just in the middle of kicking atillas behind  ;D
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: Wolfe1759 on March 06, 2013, 02:57:09 PM
Grand Strategic - Strategic Command II Global Gold (with the SOE Fast Play Scenario for playing just the ETO)

Strategic - War in the East

Operational - Unity of Command

Tactical - Conflict of Heroes
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: Gusington on March 06, 2013, 03:04:00 PM
I've got Unity of Command too. How hard is it to get into and learn?
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: Steelgrave on March 06, 2013, 03:19:24 PM
Quote from: Wolfe1759 on March 06, 2013, 02:57:09 PM
Grand Strategic - Strategic Command II Global Gold (with the SOE Fast Play Scenario for playing just the ETO)

Strategic - War in the East

Operational - Unity of Command

Tactical - Conflict of Heroes

Good list!
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: Father Ted on March 06, 2013, 04:08:49 PM
Quote from: Silent Disapproval Robot on March 06, 2013, 12:58:49 PM

Darkest Hour is fun, but the level of detail and tactical immersion you get in a good round of online co-op in Iron Front is, for me, much more satisfying.  The pacing is slower and more methodical, but the firefights are more intense.  For me, Darkest Hour is like the original Ghost Recon and Iron Front is more like SWAT 3.

I've not played Recon or Swat, but with my limited knowledge of them, I'd agree with your analogy.  I just have a real soft spot for DH and haven't got into playing IF online.  BTW Gus, DH is the Western front mod for Red Orchestra: Ostfront .  Whilst RO2 is improving, I wouldn't get it for single-player.  Talking of eastern front stuff, I really loved CMBB, but I think those CMx1 games won't run on Win 7 (?)
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: W8taminute on March 06, 2013, 04:17:03 PM
Civilization 5 with R.E.D. WW2 scenario.  Seriously.  It's HOI but in turn based form. 

But if you insist on a WW2 dedicated game then it would be Combat Mission Barbarossa to Berlin.  The reason is that I can play it the way it's meant to be played, i.e. a tactical wargame.  Or I can create a scenario in the editor and make a map that looks like Europe and play this as a strategic game. 
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: Greybriar on March 06, 2013, 04:30:57 PM
Quote from: Gusington on March 06, 2013, 03:04:00 PM
I've got Unity of Command too. How hard is it to get into and learn?

I quit playing when I saw that all the units were heads moving across the map. There may be a mod for NATO symbols, but I want to see images of tanks, half-tracks, cavalry, etc.

The eye candy of recent games has spoiled me.  :P
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: JasonPratt on March 06, 2013, 04:35:37 PM
Quote from: Gusington on March 06, 2013, 03:04:00 PM
I've got Unity of Command too. How hard is it to get into and learn?

Not in the least hard. Easier than Panzer General by several orders of magnitude.

I wouldn't call it an indispensable game, though. Very good for what it is, yes; indispensable, no.

(I wouldn't put Battle Academy in the indispensable list either; swap out with one of the other Command Ops games. Or Ostfront. {g})

Of course, if what you want is Panzer General, but with highly respectable modern updates, Panzer Corps (http://www.matrixgames.com/products/458/details/Panzer.Corps.Grand.Campaign.%2745.West) is the way to go. (That links to the final grand campaign expansion, but the core game and its missions are literally a direct but improved Panzer General remake. The GC expansions add a bunch of optional missions that were covered with only four or five in the original PG.)

HOI 2 & 3 and various standalone HOI super-mods, as suggested by others, are fairly unique grand strategy. For a more traditional super-ultra-hyper version of what boils down to Axis vs. Allies (i.e. simpler than monsters like HOI and SC2Global, but still kind of groggy), I'd look hard at World At War: A World Divided (http://www.matrixgames.com/products/330/details/Gary.Grigsby%27s.World.at.War:.A.World.Divided).
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: JasonPratt on March 06, 2013, 04:39:04 PM
Grey,

I'm 98% sure I've heard there's either a mod or an in-game option for NATO symbols in UoC, added almost the first thing out of the gate. (The game was built to be highly moddable anyway.)
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: Greybriar on March 06, 2013, 04:51:27 PM
Quote from: JasonPratt on March 06, 2013, 04:39:04 PM
Grey,

I'm 98% sure I've heard there's either a mod or an in-game option for NATO symbols in UoC, added almost the first thing out of the gate. (The game was built to be highly moddable anyway.)

I know. Read my previous post a little more carefully.  ;)
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: JasonPratt on March 06, 2013, 05:24:27 PM
Oh, duh, I see now.  ::) Sorry. You wanted MOAR BLING, not less.

That being said, at least half the icons on the map are mech; I seem to recall them being distinctly different mech classes, too, so various German tank corps looked different from other German tank corps. The heads are subtly different depending on type, too.
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: Al on March 06, 2013, 05:44:11 PM
HPS Panzer Campaigns
Command Ops
Advanced Tactics Gold
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: Barthheart on March 06, 2013, 05:45:44 PM
Quote from: Gusington on March 06, 2013, 03:04:00 PM
I've got Unity of Command too. How hard is it to get into and learn?

Unity of Command is dead easy to get into and learn..... But it can very hard to win.... Great game! 8)
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: panzerde on March 06, 2013, 06:37:06 PM
Quote from: JasonPratt on March 06, 2013, 09:21:42 AM
Quote from: Gusington on March 05, 2013, 10:20:18 PM
^What about War in the East?

Btw, if I had to choose an indispensable East Front CMish game, I wouldn't go with CM:Barbarossa to Berlin (now increasingly outdated), and maybe not even the Star games. I'd look into PanzerCommand:Ostfront (http://www.matrixgames.com/products/391/details/Panzer.Command:.Ostfront). Graphics aren't as good as Star, but there are dynamic campaigns and the whole Eastern Front is simulated.

+1 to this.  Ostfront really is a great game, if not as pretty as either CM or Operation Star.  If you're cool with the actions around Kharkov in late '42 and early '43 being your focus, Operation Star is hard to beat, though.  I thoroughly enjoy them both when I'm in an East Front tactical mood.

Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: JasonPratt on March 06, 2013, 06:47:35 PM
^^ Well, Ostfront is significantly prettier than the only Combat Mission East Front game currently available (Barbarossa to Berlin, itself not as relatively gussied as the final CMx1 engine game, Afrika Korps). The CMx2 engine runs the Western and Southern European fronts currently.

True though that the Achtung Panzer games look significantly better than even Ostfront, and the tighter topical focus lends to some superiorities that way, too. No doubt by now the AP games have been modded to cover the whole east front anyway.
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: Gusington on March 06, 2013, 07:11:18 PM
Unity of Command easier to get into than Panzer Corps (which I also own)...inconceivable.

OK so I have Unity of Command, Panzer Corps (and the '41 expansion) and the Company of Heroes anthology...I am in a solid WWII gaming starting position. Since I am fascinated by the Eastern Front, I am leaning towards Panzer Command Ostfront and Operation Star from what guys have collectively said so far.
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: sandman2575 on March 06, 2013, 10:30:00 PM
Quote from: JasonPratt on March 06, 2013, 06:47:35 PM
No doubt by now the AP games have been modded to cover the whole east front anyway.

If only this were true!!  There's little mod content for AP to speak of -- modder friendly it is not (much unlike PC Ostfront).  It's a crying shame, really.  So much potential here that I can only assume Graviteam is deliberately keeping the lid on.
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: Greybriar on March 06, 2013, 10:42:33 PM
Quote from: Gusington on March 06, 2013, 07:11:18 PM
....I have Unity of Command, Panzer Corps (and the '41 expansion) and the Company of Heroes anthology....

Play those for awhile, Gus. There may be some new ones released before you're ready for another game in the same vein.
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: Steelgrave on March 06, 2013, 10:51:03 PM
Quote from: W8taminute on March 06, 2013, 04:17:03 PM
Civilization 5 with R.E.D. WW2 scenario.  Seriously.  It's HOI but in turn based form. 

But if you insist on a WW2 dedicated game then it would be Combat Mission Barbarossa to Berlin.  The reason is that I can play it the way it's meant to be played, i.e. a tactical wargame.  Or I can create a scenario in the editor and make a map that looks like Europe and play this as a strategic game.

I'm going to have to try that, Civ V fan that I am. And I loved HOI, I just got tired of waiting for them to make a game out of it.
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: Bison on March 07, 2013, 01:31:17 AM
Quote from: LongBlade on March 06, 2013, 11:17:05 AM
Quote from: Bison on March 05, 2013, 10:21:55 PM
Bison's WW2 fav's:

Combat Mission Battle for Normandy
Combat Mission Fortress Italy
Conflict of Heroes
Command Ops: Battles from the Bulge
Battle Academy

And unlike Toonces' suggestion, all of the games I listed can be finished in a single lifetime.  :P

Bison has pretty much nailed it. All of those games are winners, though I would hesitate to put Battle Academy in the same class as the rest of those games. It's fun, but not a real wargame.

I am not speaking to you for 5 minutes.  That is your punishment for insulting Battle Academy.   For crying out loud it's title is BATTLE - an event that occurs during military conflict - and ACADEMY - it's like a school or something.  You know like it's a place to study conflict and stuff.
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: Bison on March 07, 2013, 01:42:42 AM
Quote from: Gusington on March 06, 2013, 07:11:18 PM
Unity of Command easier to get into than Panzer Corps (which I also own)...inconceivable.

OK so I have Unity of Command, Panzer Corps (and the '41 expansion) and the Company of Heroes anthology...I am in a solid WWII gaming starting position. Since I am fascinated by the Eastern Front, I am leaning towards Panzer Command Ostfront and Operation Star from what guys have collectively said so far.

Well you could just install the East Front mod for Company of Heroes and call it a day.
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: jomni on March 07, 2013, 05:05:23 AM
Longblade, gus is asking about ww2 games in general and not limited to War games.
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: Anguille on March 07, 2013, 07:03:52 AM
Don't have much time to play games, so Strategic War in Europe is my current choice...
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: Gusington on March 07, 2013, 08:22:17 AM
Where is the best ace to get Company of Heroes mods?
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: sandman2575 on March 07, 2013, 10:21:14 AM
Quote from: Gusington on March 07, 2013, 08:22:17 AM
Where is the best ace to get Company of Heroes mods?


http://forums.relicnews.com/forumdisplay.php?195-Weapons-Range&s=e83ecd061224d8601e2256df509e6354 (http://forums.relicnews.com/forumdisplay.php?195-Weapons-Range&s=e83ecd061224d8601e2256df509e6354)

here is a link to the big mods ('total conversion').  there is a ton (and then some) of user content, as you will see.

vanilla CoH is quite fun in its own right.  but once you tire of it (or even before), there are excellent mods to try out -- the 'big 3' for me (in order of preference) are:

1. Blitzkrieg
2. Normandy '44
3. Battle of the Bulge

Overall I like the way Blitzkrieg plays the best.  Normandy '44 is beautifully detailed, but it tends to play too 'fast' for me -- the AI is relentless.  Battle of the Bulge is probably the most challenging in terms of overall tactics -- it's the one that most rewards careful planning -- it very deliberately limits your resources and access to vehicles, as seems appropriate to the logistics of the Bulge -- and is the least given to AI 'rush' tactics of the 3.

Eastern Front is also cool, but a bit half-baked, as the Wehrmacht hasn't been modded (last i checked anyway), and so you get these beautifully modelled Russian units fighting German units in their hideous vanilla skins with the fluorescent decals and what not -- kills immersion for me.

Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: Gusington on March 07, 2013, 10:41:57 AM
Thanks again. Automatically an East Front mod would be my first choice but with CoH 2 coming I am going to wait on that. Do any of the currently available CoH games have Battle for Berlin scenarios available, either modded or vanilla?
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: LongBlade on March 07, 2013, 10:56:44 AM
Quote from: Bison on March 07, 2013, 01:31:17 AM
Quote from: LongBlade on March 06, 2013, 11:17:05 AM
Quote from: Bison on March 05, 2013, 10:21:55 PM
Bison's WW2 fav's:

Combat Mission Battle for Normandy
Combat Mission Fortress Italy
Conflict of Heroes
Command Ops: Battles from the Bulge
Battle Academy

And unlike Toonces' suggestion, all of the games I listed can be finished in a single lifetime.  :P

Bison has pretty much nailed it. All of those games are winners, though I would hesitate to put Battle Academy in the same class as the rest of those games. It's fun, but not a real wargame.

I am not speaking to you for 5 minutes.  That is your punishment for insulting Battle Academy.   For crying out loud it's title is BATTLE - an event that occurs during military conflict - and ACADEMY - it's like a school or something.  You know like it's a place to study conflict and stuff.

Fine. You figure out how the logarithmic distance compression works and why all units have only two - three shots per turn and get back to me.

It's more like Battle Recess where we pretend to have a wargame.
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: Ashcloud on March 07, 2013, 01:01:15 PM
John Tiller Campaign Series
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: JasonPratt on March 07, 2013, 03:35:58 PM
A fine recommendation, Ash, although I'm not sure it quite counts as "modern": I recall it started being released around the same time as Panzer General.

But yeah, aside from some UI clunkiness, that collection is literally sub-operational land fighting WW2 in a box. Panzer General on the super-solider serum. Still better than Panzer Korps in many ways (though PK is far more elegant and a fine successor/update to PG).
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: Gusington on March 07, 2013, 10:56:13 PM
So I attempted to load my copy of Company of Heroes (Anthology) and the damned disc is corrupted. #$%@!!
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: Bison on March 07, 2013, 10:58:54 PM
Don't do it Gus.  Just bite the pencil eraser and buy it off of Steam.  The update off discs is one of the worst experiences in gaming.  It literally takes HOURS to patch itself up.
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: Gusington on March 07, 2013, 11:00:15 PM
The anthology on Steam is 50.00!! I got this disc for 11.00. Figures.
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: Bison on March 07, 2013, 11:19:38 PM
I goes on sale like once every month for a few clams.
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: Gusington on March 07, 2013, 11:28:31 PM
Let's see if the vendor gives me my money back through Amazon.
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: Toonces on March 08, 2013, 01:13:50 AM
Pffft.  I got CoH as fluff in my TLC pack like 2 years ago off Steam. 

Frankly, you guys are making me wonder what I missed.  I really couldn't get into the games AT ALL.

Anyway, take a miss and spend the 50 on WiTP and be done with it.
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: JasonPratt on March 08, 2013, 12:27:03 PM
Quote from: Toonces on March 08, 2013, 01:13:50 AM
Frankly, you guys are making me wonder what I missed.  I really couldn't get into the games AT ALL.

Ditto. Which is weird because I can play the hell out of Dawn of War 1 (and its sequels, not counting DoW2 which I don't like as much).
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: Silent Disapproval Robot on March 08, 2013, 12:59:38 PM
Same with me.  The RTS games with the base building component just do not click with me.  I've never played one that I enjoy.
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: Nefaro on March 08, 2013, 01:11:45 PM
Quote from: Gusington on March 07, 2013, 10:56:13 PM
So I attempted to load my copy of Company of Heroes (Anthology) and the damned disc is corrupted. #$%@!!

If it makes you feel any better, I've been attempting to burn off all the Achtung Panzer: Operation Star files I got from Gamersgate the past couple days.  And I keep getting corrupted files, despite the installers working okay straight after downloading.  I've wasted three blank DVDs trying to get that shit backed up.  >:(
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: Gusington on March 08, 2013, 01:21:36 PM
^Do they have a customer service department?

Amazon refunded the money overnight...impressive. They even offered to cover the shipping of the new purchase for the CoH anthology. A lot to like there. So I'll just get a replacement.

All this talk of Achtung Panzer has me VERY interested in the new title coming out, Nomonhan...Soviets vs. Japanese in Manchuria (I think) in 1939.

Should I start a new thread on that? Might be a day one purchase for me.
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: MengJiao on March 08, 2013, 01:21:57 PM
Quote from: Ashcloud on March 07, 2013, 01:01:15 PM
John Tiller Campaign Series

I have so many fond memories of Tobruk '41:  The Punjabi Penal Company wiping out its second battery of German 88mm guns
                                                                          A South African Brigade on AI movement crashing into Ariete
                                                                          Watching in disbelief as the email turn replay showed my opponent splitting up 21 Panzer
                                                                          Just in time for the 7th Armored to obliterate it in detail

But, you know, it was all a bit clunky, if perhaps all-too-hideously realistic.

However, these days I am still playing Moscow '42 complete with ski troops, submachine gun companies and aerosleds, though I have given up email play.
                                                                         
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: JasonPratt on March 08, 2013, 01:46:09 PM
Quote from: Gusington on March 08, 2013, 01:21:36 PM
All this talk of Achtung Panzer has me VERY interested in the new title coming out, Nomonhan...Soviets vs. Japanese in Manchuria (I think) in 1939.

Should I start a new thread on that? Might be a day one purchase for me.

Hell to the yes?

I think the answer is hell to the yes. I'm going to go with that answer.  :D
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: Sir Slash on March 08, 2013, 01:49:01 PM
Put me down for a Hell Yes also.
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: Nefaro on March 08, 2013, 01:56:51 PM
Quote from: Gusington on March 08, 2013, 01:21:36 PM
^Do they have a customer service department?

Amazon refunded the money overnight...impressive. They even offered to cover the shipping of the new purchase for the CoH anthology. A lot to like there. So I'll just get a replacement.

All this talk of Achtung Panzer has me VERY interested in the new title coming out, Nomonhan...Soviets vs. Japanese in Manchuria (I think) in 1939.

Should I start a new thread on that? Might be a day one purchase for me.

Yes, of course Gamersgate has customer service.  It's even one of the decent ones for CS, regarding digital game distributors IME. 

I just chalked it up to either my ISP or GG's host having some stutters.  Or maybe even a bad run of blank DVDs I got.  Will give it another shot in a few days time.  No worries since I got the game installed on both desktop and notebook.  :)
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: Gusington on March 08, 2013, 01:59:49 PM
That seems like an awful lot of DVDs to go through because of an error on your end.

And Gamersgate could have customer service like Steam meaning..."we'll see what we can do for you, eventually, maybe." SEGA's was like that for me a few weeks ago and I had to pass along the solution I got for my problem to them from SDR! Not heartwarming.

Put up a stand alone link for Nomonhan too.
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: Nefaro on March 08, 2013, 02:08:29 PM
LOL!  My experience with Steam CS thus far has been multiple copy & paste replies that aren't even related to the issue I sent them.   ::)

Most memorable:

me: "Hey!  I just bought this game and you guys are out of keys.  I can't play it!"

2 days later CS: " If you are having issues with your new software, please reinstall the game and..."

me: "The developer stated they've sent more keys to you guys.  Can we get this thing rolling?"

4 days later CS: "We are sorry for your inconvenience.  A CS rep will be in contact with you ..."

6 days later: "....."

7th day:  Nef finally gets his key after checking, a week later.  Steam CS copy & paste replies had stopped coming days before.
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: Gusington on March 08, 2013, 02:20:34 PM
Amazon was the flip side of the coin. Amazingly fast and fair.
Title: Re: Your Indispensable WWII Game
Post by: Longdan on March 08, 2013, 02:24:00 PM
I have never gotten personal service from Steam.  I have frequently from GG.  I still use both a lot but prefer GG for the fact they
have always helped me with my own screw ups and promptly too except at (gasp) xmas.  Steam, meh.
I do not particularly like CoH although i have all the installments.  Magic tents and flags and armour engagements at 50 metres
do not really do it for me.  As if magic tents spawned soldiers and battlefield technical wonks designed bazookas.
It worked for Dawn of War but not ww2.