Command Ops 2

Amazing for some a nightmare for others is the best way I can think to describe what Command Ops 2 is offering. This is the kind of game that I could imagine my dad playing into the wee hours of the morning back in the late 90s on our “high tech” Compaq Presario computer that we had, well until my mother yelled at him to turn it off because he had work in the morning. This is a war strategy game and it is one of the best around, but only for those who are already into this kind of thing and who are not scared of putting in a bit of work.

War, Huh, Good God!

If you did not yell “What is it good for?” I am sorry, but we cannot be friends. Just joking, we can still be buddies. Unlike many other war strategy and tactics games, Command Ops 2 does not have a campaign for you to play through. Instead, we get to take part in many different battles that showcase all parts of World War II. There is a scenario maker as well so you could, in fact, make a map based on any war that you would like. I am sure history buffs will get a kick out of the kind of stuff that is here.

War Always Comes With A Price

There is a free version of Command Ops 2 that anyone can play and it pretty much gives you all that you need to know if this is a game for you. However, if you do get super into the game and decide that you want more stuff and do not want to have to just use the scenario maker thing, they do have several packs that you can buy to add to the different wars you can partake in. For example, there is Highway to the Reich, Highway to the Gods, and Ride of the Valkyries. Each one offers new wars, units, and so on to play around with. I have a feeling that for those who get really into this game, these packs will be more than worth the money.

A Real Dynamic Kind Of War

What sets Command Ops 2 apart from all of the other war strategy games is that there is no moving around tiles, taking your turns, or the stuff you would normally expect. The idea here is that you feel like you are in the role of a real commander and your choices really do matter. The AI in terms of your troops is really advanced in that you can let them do their thing and for the most part, they do exactly what you would want them to. There is also a realistic delay to the instructions you give which puts even more pressure on you to get your decisions right! There is a practice/tutorial mission, but once that is done you are left to it so there is a pretty severe learning curve here that for those who are into this kind of thing I am sure will be greatly appreciated.

Squares Going To War!

Remember how I said that Command Ops 2 was like an old PC game from the 90s? Well, that may have been me being a tad kind. This game is just all shown on maps and your units and dudes are just represented by numbers and shapes. I know this does not sound exciting and I am sure for some people, it will be a turn off, but your imagination really does the work here. As you get so invested and actually feel like you are in charge and that your side’s survival and victory is in your hands, not to mention all your little guys, you do see them as people. Plus, I kind of get a kick out of the old school style that the visuals have.

Pros:

• Your choices feel like they hold a lot of weight
• History buffs will really appreciate what has been done here
• This offers a lot of gameplay for free!
• The AI this game has is some of the best I have experienced

Cons:

• This game does not hold your hand and it has a very steep learning curve
• I can see some people seeing the visuals and deciding not to give the game a try!