Combat Mission: Shock Force Critic Reviews

I don't think I've enjoyed a wargame as much this one since I played the original Combat Mission game all those years ago. If you have an interest in simulating realistic modern warfare, and specifically seeing how the new Stryker concept would fare in battle, you can't go wrong with Combat Mission: Shock Force.

Battlefront are an admirable group whose games all feel like labors of love, and you can feel developers’ blood, sweat and tears all through Combat Mission: Shock Force.

Hardcore strategy fans will surely love this new title. Map creating abilities will add shelf life.

After two patches Shock Force has become a good game. Someday, after the WeGo mode, the TacAI and pathfinding have been fixed, it will be an excellent game.

If you don't give up because of the game's difficulty, you will be rewarded with a tatical depth that offers unequaled opportunities and exactly simulated weapon systems.

Newbies may find it a little intimidating to get into, but perseverance brings reward in the shape of an immersive experience that’s about as fun as war gaming can get.

It looks and sounds great, but the lack of a tutorial is a major letdown, as the game is just too complex not to have one. Even the first few missions of the campaign are quite difficult and don't ease you into the game as they should. The simplistic AI also hurts the gameplay in the campaign mode too.

The game needs a little more spit and polish before it can assume its proper place in the Pantheon.

Delivers the goods in spades, with an improved engine and a new emphasis to real-time rather than turn-based action.

Wherever you look, something is missing.

The developers' chutzpah regarding Shock Force's premise is admirable, and if you fall into the game's narrow audience, there may be a lot to like about it.

Battlefront can be commended for their speedy patches but that doesn't excuse the sorry state of the game when it was released or make it any easier to endure the problems that still exist, particularly with regard to the apathetic AI, gummy interface, or poor overall performance.

Some of the most touted improvements are distinctly underwhelming. The "detailed, story-driven, semi-dynamic campaign" turns out to be a poorly presented, poorly paced string of twenty-odd scenarios offering sod-all in the way of continuity or sense of progress.

Even diehard grognards may be turned off by its complex interface and esoteric control panels, and newbies will be frustrated to no end.

Combat Mission says good-bye to WWII, but hello to an inept interface, broken AI, and hideous visuals.