This is a solid TBS game which, despite being old, does some great stuff that I'd consider hallmarks of more modern TBS games, such as encouraging a balanced army instead of just buying expensive stuff, scouting, and advancing while supported by overwatching units. It also has some annoying stuff: PROS: * The weird armor/armor penetration/strength/number of units statistical arrangement that the game has for determining damage during an engagement is surprisingly solid and yields some intuitive results. Rocket launchers beat tanks. Flamethrowers beat dudes in cover. LMG units beat uncovered infantry. * There are a LOT of units and their slight differences are very consequential. Assault bikes crush light tanks and unsupported artillery. Mortar guys do the same thing as LMG guys but fire indirectly so they can hit without getting hit back. * The units you pick to take with you are important, esp in the early game. CONS: * Unit experience and morale are both important and the game almost hides it from you. More experienced and higher morale units have higher initiative, (so they shoot FIRST and then take damage from whoever's left) higher accuracy, and take less damage. Maintaining unit morale is done either by letting them take a rest (don't do this, there's a time limit) or by parking them next to commander/hero units which restore them. You have to go deep to find this out on your own, and morale is restored very slowly * Since XP is hidden doing things like disbanding/repurchasing units to change loadout is a bad move that should be avoided, if you do this in the early game you'll be screwed later when the enemy units also have high XP. This is why I say it's a sneaky management game, if you just address each mission individually you'll get bogged down later. * One unit can be purchased at a time, and the shop screen is annoying. * The plot is boring. * Heavy infantry is OP. * All air units are bad and dedicated AA units also suck.
