Order of Battle: World War II

By David Garvin

Order of Battle: World War II is a computer game that harkens back to the old Panzer General series of games. The similarities are superficial but close enough that any seasoned grognard who played the old game will feel at home.

At least I know I did.

This is available now via Steam from Slitherine and if someone is looking for a quick and fun game to play this is it.

I just got this game and I tried to do what everyone else tries to do when they get a new game: jump in and play without bothering with the tutorial. Having played a number of computer games in the past, I was able to do so with relative ease. That said, I did eventually complete the tutorial and I found it enlightening.

It pits the player into a fictional battle in the Pacific and takes the player through amphibious operations, airborne landings, sea battles, and more. This is useful because the game itself is more than a game; it is a game system, now with seventeen DLCs. The latest, Allies Victorious, was just released on the 22nd of September.

Although Allies Victorious starts with Operation OVERLORD and the invasion of Normandy, it is much more than just another Normandy Invasion Game.  The game truly is strategic in nature in that the player has to keep the long game in mind: you are attacking Normandy in order to set the conditions for final victory in Germany as you race the Soviets to the Elbe River. One can play the entire campaign, or for a shorter experience in playing, there are fourteen scenarios, from the invasion itself to the final battles along the Elbe.

The business model is innovative. Order of Battle: World War II is free to download. From there, one can download any of the DLCs and go from there. But as stated, I did try the tutorial and it gives a pretty good feel for gameplay.

As it stands, I have only tried out Allies Victorious, but for me, I’m enjoying the experience. As stated, it has a similar feel to the old Panzer General in terms of gameplay and unit manipulation. That said, there are differences, and Order of Battle: World War II has greater depth. Of course, that is to be expected in a game that was released almost 30 years later. For example, with enough successful progress, you can purchase specialties that will benefit your force.

Some of the features include multi-player options from hot seating to a play-by-email feature. I would recommend playing through the tutorial first, however, before taking on a human opponent. Get used to interacting with the various units and commanders, and using your forces according to their specialties. It is an enjoyable game that is easy to play and fun to try to outwit your AI opponent.  I’ve yet to try this against a human, but I’m sure I will. And in so doing, I will aim to try to outwit my opponent through smart purchases of troops as I progress. Of course, it is only by being successful that one can earn the right to purchase units or specialties.

So, with that, I can recommend Allies Victorious. It is reasonably priced. By completing the tutorial, I have gained a better understanding of how to get the best out of it. I will follow on with other DLCs, but for now, I have to run and try to see if I can do better than Eisenhower and win the war by Christmas!  Wish me luck!

David Garvin is a self-admitted grognard who enjoys war games, be they in person or via the computer