by Martin Turewicz

Most important, unit information (like headcount for a squad or ammo loadouts) is always displayed at the bottom of the screen, and a detailed description can be accessed by simply hitting the ENTER key.

Other information, especially about command&control, is shown directly on the map by using color-coded lines which extend from a unit to its parental HQ. If the line is black, the unit is out of command (which not only lowers the morale of the unit but also results in a time delay before being able to execute the player's orders); if the line is brown, the unit is in command and can react quicker and benefit from the special abilities of its HQ, e.g. improved morale.

This easy and well thought out interface can be seen all throughout the game. While providing the player with all the necessary information, it allows him to focus on the strategy necessary to defeat the opponent.

And there will be countless opponents without any doubt, due to possible play against the AI or human opponents via PBEM, TCP/IP or Hotseat. Besides a high number of pre-made scenarios and campaigns that are planned to be included with the CD, CM comes with a highly flexible and powerful map editor, which allows the creation of one's own maps, scenarios and campaigns.

The editor provides a vast choice of terrain features, TO&Es and scenario types. Meeting engagements, full-scale assaults, victory flags (and here also dynamic victory flags, i.e. the attacker determines secretly which flag is his REAL objective) and map exit zones are featured.

Terrain features include three different types of woods, stone and wooden houses as well as city blocks, paved and dirt roads and railroad tracks, bridges, brush, hedges and the "bocage" hedgerows, just to name a few. TO&Es are in for all six nationalities that can be found in the game: US, German, British, Polish, Canadian and Free French.

Especially the German TO&Es include a vast number of different formations, e.g. SS, Gebirgsjäger and Volksgrenadiere. Not to speak of all the different vehicles included in the game, from the Kübelwagen to the Jagdpanther to the Crocodile and many many more.

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Scenarios ususally last up to 120 turns (or two real-time hours) on a map of up to 3 kilometers square. The maximum force for each player is roughly a reinforced battalion. Campaigns have their own meaning in CM. They consist of a number of battles on a single, but very large map. Each battle takes place on one part of the large map and depending on the progress of the battle, the front line shifts back and forth. Hence campaigns simulate relatively small scale battles over the course of a few days, rather than a mega campaign over several years.

Combat Mission introduces a tremendous number of innovations, most of them never-seen before, some (like the order/action phases) brought to new life. The beta version used for this preview seems already very stable (in fact there hasn't been a single crash), and the AI, although unfinished, already puts up a decent fight (watch those flanks!).

Combat Mission seems to keep its promises (an incredibly realistic simulation of tactical land warfare in World War Two), although it cannot do so without several abstractions (e.g. no single men are tracked, i.e. the smallest unit is the squad or team).

Overall Combat Mission holds great promise for the wargaming genre. Steve Grammont, President of Battlefront.com, and Charles Moylan, President of Big Time Software, have announced that they will provide a public beta demo for download to enable people to judge the new system for themselves. On release Combat Mission will be available via Internet ONLY, with the CD provided via mail.

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