Combat Mission Shock Force: Marines
Developed & Published by Battlefront.com. $25 Solo / $45 for CMSF & Marines module bundle.

Passed Inspection: Finest Marines-focused computer wargame currently in play.

Failed Basic: Stuttering camera movement, would like more tooltips to show in game.

In CMSF: Marines, the military switch is made from standard Army TO&Es to that of the Marines, with the main gameplay emphasis surrounding and built upon the Marines Rifle Platoon.

Combat Mission Shock Force: Marines is the first expansion module in the tactically excellent Combat Mission Shock Force series by Battlefront.com. Long time wargamers may well know the acclaimed line of previous Combat Mission games, and their vaulted status amidst the genre. The Marines module takes all the new outstanding changes CMSF made to the series and implements them with all the operational and tactical precision of the United States Marines.

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In CMSF: Marines, the military switch is made from standard Army TO&Es to that of the Marines, with the main gameplay emphasis surrounding and built upon the Marines Rifle Platoon. Players may make use of an entirely new and vastly different strategic element with the Marines Rifle Platoon, along with employing the ad-hoc Combined Anti-Tank team (CAAT), the powerful Marines Expeditionary Unit (MEU), and unique Marines assests, like the AV-8B Harrier and the Shoulder-launched Multipurpose Assault Weapon (SMAW).

CMSF: Marines also brings in balancing changes to the Syrian forces, mainly by introducing Syrian airborne and engineer squads. Syrian airborne forces come in two flavors: airborne infantry and mech airborne infantry. Additionally, Syrian airborne anti-tank elements appear, along with the T-90SA tank and the BMP-3. Together, these new components all work to make CMSF: Marines a first-class combat simulator, well worthy to carry the Combat Mission name.

Combat Mission fans may be able to commit themselves to deep and intense combat in the Marines module right from the start: aside from the TO&E, nothing else has changed. The graphics, interface, sounds, menu options, and hotkeys, all remain intact from the original CMSF. This reviewer, however, having only previously played Combat Mission: Beyond Overlord to any great extent, had to take a more methodical approach to the learning curve between Army and Marine planning and action.

As previously mentioned, the Marines Rifle Platoon is the centerpiece of the Marines module, a much different battle beast to command when compared to a standard Army infantry squad. With more men and increased firepower, in both quantity and quality, the Marines Rifle Platoon here is a ravenous bulldog just struggling to be unleashed, yet must be kept reigned in and under tight control. Precision use of the platoon can be a wonder to witness, especially through the urban operation maps in game. Then again, releasing these dogs of war and allowing them to bring their full bite quickly to an enemy is enough to give players the warm and fuzzy. Deciding which is the most viable option under the circumstances is one of the main draws that has this reviewer firing up Marines quite often.

Much like the modern day U.S. Marine Corps, Marines makes sure they come to the fight with combined arms superiority and overwhelming firepower. In game, this is largely done through the use of the CAAT, which comprises TOW-2 ATGMs, Mk19 40mm grenade launchers, and the M2 .50cal machine gun. All these are HMMWV (humvee) mounted, giving them speed and maneuverability to offset their lack of armor. A single weapon system is capable of being used solo, but when joined with a squad of their mounted counterparts, they bring out their full potential as combat multipliers.

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