An incredible game. The negatives first: Some historical inaccuracies, CSA campaign ends very abruptly, broken units regroup too easily, difficulty spikes can be pretty hefty. Very detailed, fun to play, and manages to avoid becoming a "force concentration simulator". Thousands of troops, represented by smaller numbers of models, go at each other, with deep mechanics and difficult choices to make. You need manpower to recruit, but you need money to arm your soldiers. Resource management and getting the right equipment is key. If you carelessly get your men killed, you'll find yourself unable to field an army later. You can ask your government for additional supplies, but that lowers your standing with them and lowers troop morale. Morale is very important; wavering units can barely fight. Units can reform easily after being routed, but after taking too many losses (about 80%), they "shatter" and you lose the entire unit. WIll you use your depleted veterans to capture that strategic piece of cover, or will you save them to fight another day? Oh, and Lincoln/Davis is watching. Make one mistake too many and it's game over. Artillery is nicely detailed: Heavy short range guns devastate enemy charges while longer ranged guns silence enemy artillery and harass their units from afar. You can't just spam cavalry; they have no cover and will get shattered instantly if they try to attack an unengaged enemy unit. The sides are genuinely unique, with the Union getting more money and manpower while the Confederacy gets recruits with higher veterancy. Playing as the Union is somewhat easy, as you get so many toys and the best artillery, your men can gain experience on the fly and become unstoppable with their superior equipment. Playing as the Confederacy is a real challenge, as not only do you have to defend (or sometimes even attack) against superior numbers, but you also cannot afford heavy casualties. A must have for any history geek, Civil War aficionado or strategy gamer.
