Recent reviews by Devil Dog 4

Semper Fi!!!

What better way to enjoy a game like this than to play as America's best... Leathernecks, Devil Dogs, Jarheads, Gyrenes... United States Marines!

OORAH!

Damn, I wish my PC could take the game...

There are very good reviews that have come before mine, and many have composed their reviews with the Panzer General series in mind. For fans of that series, please do read those other excellent reviews. In my review, I'll attempt to cater to World War II history buffs out there, who have not tried any of the Panzer General titles, but are likely fans of the more mainstream Sid Meier's Civilization V.

As a Civ V fan and someone who has always been fascinated by World War II, I love Order of Battle: Pacific because it takes the best elements of the excellent combat system in Civ V, and enhances that experience further with certain mechanics that we all wish we could have had in Civ V. By the way, did I mention that this game focuses on WWII? And did I mention that this game is set in the Pacific Theatre of Operations -- a theatre largely (and sadly) ignored in the World War II game genre?

Here is a list of some of the major, familiar combat mechanics common with Civ V that contribute to this excellent simulation:

• Hex-based (making maneuvering and placement an important element of your strategy)
  
• Effects on terrain on movement, cover, defense, efficiency, line-of-sight, etc.
  
• Unit stacking rules
  
• Flanking bonuses/penalties
  
• Simulation of embarkation, disembarkation, river crossings
  
• Supporting fire from nearby units
  
• Zone of control

...and here is a list of some of the major combat mechanics we wish we had in Civ V that further enhance the overall experience:

• HEXES CAN BE CAPTURED! (true Civ V fans know what this is about)
  
• A well-simulated supply mehcanic/system (and unique rules for land, air and sea to boot)... and caputred hexes come into play here as well!!!
  
• The effect of supply accesibility on units' combat efficiency
  
• Mines can be laid (and can affect everyone, even the original mine-layer)
  
• More evident effects of entrenchment
  
• Movement affects efficiency
  
• A service/combat history log for individual units!
  
• Unit renaming and personalization
  
• Special rules for special forces/recon units
  
• ...and many more!

In summary, for those of you who loved the combat system of Civ V, but have also been craving a game where you could just focus on combat strategy (and World War II strategy at that), this is the game for you. The added combat elements and mechanics enhance the overall experience even further, and make this game a must buy for World War II history buffs and turn-based strategy game fans out there.

Don't get turned off by the (seemingly) steep price tag on this game, it is well worth the money you will pay.

I had this game on my wishlist ever since I heard the announcement for it was made. I watched the trailers, read the dev diaries, and waited in anticipation for what looked to be the best city-builder since SimCity 2000. I purchased the game the day it became available for pre-order. When release day finally came, I wasted no time in installing it. I was not disappointed at all. One review called it, "the best city simulator in a decade"... and they were right, IT IS.

The freedom, the scale, the ability to tweak even the smallest details... this game has everything I ever wanted in a city builder, and everything I wished SimCity 2013 had. On that note, comparisons will always be made between SimCity 2013 and Cities: Skylines. Some may think that Cities: Skylines benefits from how bad SimCity 2013 was, but in my opinion, Cities: Skylines is a great game on its own.

To all you virtual mayors out there, forget about settling for SimCity 4 to fill the void that the rest of the titles in the genre failed to fill. Buy this game NOW.

This very realistic RTS sure has a steep learning curve, but once you get the hang of it, it provides fast-paced, pedal-to-the-metal action covering a time-period a bit less touched by other games out there (the Cold War). Punishing to those who get lazy or too greedy with their strategies, the game keeps you at the edge of your seat, no matter who you are up against (including a surprisingly efficient AI). Many games end within 30-40 minutes, but that's more than enough adrenaline-pumping time to keep any gamer satisfied.

The Red Dragon iteration of Wargame adds the element of naval warfare. This aspect of the game still has room for improvement and refinement, but with a very responsive set of developers who seem to truly listen to the community, the sky's the limit for this game.

(did I mention there have been recent expansions/updates that have made the game even better?)

This very realistic RTS sure has a steep learning curve, but once you get the hang of it, it provides fast-paced, pedal-to-the-metal action covering a time-period a bit less touched by other games out there (the Cold War). Punishing to those who get lazy or too greedy with their strategies, the game keeps you at the edge of your seat, no matter who you are up against (including a surprisingly efficient AI). Many games end within 30-40 minutes, but that's more than enough adrenaline-pumping time to keep any gamer satisfied.

Even with Wargame: Red Dragon already in my library, ALB still maintains its own flair, and is something I will continue playing for a long, long time...

World War II shooter minus all the complicated missions. Pure fun.

Mindless fun that never gets old!

Interesting re-make of an all-time classic.

Simply put, this is one of the best games I've ever played. Even with the vanilla Civ V, I spent countless hours playing "just one more turn". With Gods and Kings and the Brave New World expansions, the game only got better. I paid full price for almost all the Civ V DLCs and expansions, but it was worth it --- and I have more than 600 hours of playing time to prove it. I've had the sun rise on me many, many times, whether playing Civ V alone or with friends.

The depth and complexity of this game ensures that every playthrough will be different, every decision interesting. And as if the game isn't nearly perfect already, it still gets improvements 4 years after its initial launch!

This game is a true classic, a standard by which other games of its kind will always be measured and is a must-have for any strategy game lover.