Command Ops: Battles from the Bulge Demo

The battle of the Bulge is by far one of the most famous confrontations of the second World War, as well as one of the crucial turning points of the conflict, since it basically ignited the demise of the Nazi forces. However, had Hitler's offensive gone as planned, Europe might not have looked the same right now and WWII could have just as easily ended with the Nazis on top.

Command Ops: Battles from the Bulge aims to represent these skirmishes as accurately as possible, while also giving you the opportunity to be the one calling the shots and decide how to approach each confrontation. Be wary, however, since the game stays as true to the genre as possible and it really emphasizes on depth and complexity, which means that you might have a difficult time putting two and two together if you are not familiar with wargames of this type.

Despite that, wariness should not equal fear, because this game truly impresses when it comes to properly simulating the tasks of a commander and the conditions on the battlefield, which should result in many hours of exciting gameplay. There are many options and settings that can be changed before each scenario, all of which have an impact on how the battle evolves and how much control you have over the units involved. Hence, while it is entirely possible to handle both micro and macro-management issues, you can also just focus on doing one thing and let the AI take care of the rest, in case you just want to play a role in the grand scheme of things.

Speaking of which, the AI is both helpful and dangerous at the same time, given that it also governs the enemy units on the battlefield. Thus, the same accuracy and deadly precision that takes care of your forces when you cannot be bothered can be your doom as well, if you do not plan your tactics accordingly and let the AI take you by surprise. The enemy units acknowledge your decisions and they can certainly respond in kind, which is obviously good news, especially for those who want a healthy dose of realism and a challenge to boot.

As far as the actual gameplay is concerned, the game displays an overview of the battlefield in the form of a map, on which interest points are clearly marked, along with your units and the last known position of the enemy forces. Depending on the weather conditions, this map can change, while the units themselves are affected by the change in the terrain, temperature and visibility. Naturally, it is also possible to activate the delay function, which aims to emulate the time it takes for the commander's orders to reach the battlefield and be put into action.

Command Ops: Battles from the Bulge is definitely not a game for everyone, but it doesn't make any effort to appear that way either. Everything is complicated from the minute you start your first scenario, although there is a tutorial to at least explain the basics to you, as well as give you a tour of the interface. After that, you are on your own and the outcome of the battles is entirely dependent on your decisions, whether they are right or wrong.