Theatre of War 2: Kursk 1943 Demo

The second World War saw more than its fair share of unforgettable battles, especially toward the end, when things got a bit desperate and the conflict had to be resolved, one way or another. The battle of Kursk is among the most memorable of them, since it was a turning point in the war and the beginning of the fall for the Nazi forces.

Theatre of War: Kursk 1943 is a tactical wargame that allows you to take part in the historical battles that lasted for nine days, each one of which has been closely modeled and set up to emulate the real conditions as close to reality as possible. Moreover, you also get to play as either the Soviets or the Germans, depending on your preferences.

Your role in the battle is that of a group commander, which theoretically also receives orders from division commanders. In this case, those commanders are Ivan Chistyakov for the Soviets and Walter Hoernlein for the Nazis, although you still get to arrange and control the troops as you see fit on the battlefield. You also get to position them in the desired formation before the actual fight, to minimize the work you have to do once the game starts.

Just like the rest of the titles developed by Battlefront, this one uses turn-based mechanics as well, meaning that you get to play your turn for a few minutes and wait for the enemy to make his move as well. Although this might seem a bit anti-climactic, the action is that much more intense, since you are always eagerly waiting the results of your strategies, or the attack of the enemy forces.

The graphic engine has been severely improved in this sequel, although the improvements also reflect on the frame rate,which severely drops once you activate some high-end options. However, the character models and the vehicles are very detailed, while the animations are natural and smooth as well. The special effects take their toll on your machine, but they are worth it regardless of the inconveniences caused.

Theatre of War3: Kursk 1943 may have its share of flaws and bugs, but it does feature enough action and strategy to keep you hooked for a few dozen hours, especially since you also get to replay the scenarios with the opposing factions as well.