Field of Glory. PC Game. Developed by Slitherene, distributed by Matrix Games. $39.99 download, $49.99 physical copy.

Passed Inspection: Fun, fast, and smooth game play. Great multi-player feature.

Failed Basic: Sometimes cryptic feedback

After the battle starts, even the most grizzled gaming veteran will quickly be charmed by FoG’s, fast-paced, engrossing game play.

Two thousand years ago, the fate of kingdoms did not change at the whim of mythical gods on the slopes of Mount Olympus. Empires rose and fell on the shoulders of real men spilling blood on dusty fields from Britain to Persia. The flow of combat was often the same. In the distance, fierce bands of half-naked barbarian swordsmen waived their iron blades, taunting their clean-shaven Roman foes. The Romans would respond with fleet-footed light infantry, the velites, tossing their javelins into the heart of the enemy formation. Meanwhile, the core of the Roman legions, their short gladius swords gripped tightly behind long shields, moved with precision to flank the enemy shield wall. The Romans only had one lesson for the barbarians: courage may make a warrior, but it is discipline that makes a soldier.

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Despite the rise of console gaming, this is a great time for the computer war game. It seems like the PC strategist has never had so many choices for spending his gaming dollar. But even the PC general who pinches his pennies with vice-grips can find some extra coin for fast-playing, fun games. Such a game is Field of Glory, developed by Slitherine and available from Matrix Games. FoG is an easy-to-play simulation of ancient battles, based on the miniature rule set of the same name.

The game depicts ancient land battles, mostly from the early Roman era. There are 24 scenarios, from massive Roman Civil War clashes like Pharsalus to small Punic War cavalry skirmishes. The game sports a broad variety of nationalities and troop types; well-drilled Hellenistic spearmen, fierce mobs of Germanic swordsmen, fast-moving British chariots, and almost always, there are Romans. If all of those prefab battles are not enough, players can quickly build their own scenarios with the easy-to-use scenario editor.

Despite its pedigree, PC FoG plays like a no-frills PC wargame: hex-based, top-down and turn-based. The lack of a miniatures feel is probably fine for most computer jockeys; however, FoG’s PC-game conventions may disappoint gamers hoping that it would be a good proxy for those hundreds of unpainted lead miniatures in their closet. Still, after the battle starts, even the most grizzled gaming veteran will quickly be charmed by FoG’s, fast-paced, engrossing game play.

Units represent approximately 500 – 2000 troops, and are portrayed by a top-down view of six miniatures on a stand. All of the troops types you would expect from ancient battles of the early Roman era are there-steadfast Roman legionaries, barbarian swordsmen, javelin-throwing velites, chariots, elephants, archers, and many more. These units are rated for training, impact combat, melee and defense.

Like many Slitherine titles, game-play is easy to learn but harder to master. Both veteran and beginning players will be able to quickly jump right in, fighting major battles without even looking at the very good on-line documentation.

Battles also move quickly in FoG, and the player can easily fight a large battle in the course of an hour. A quick battle before breakfast? A few turns of Pharsalus before taking the dog out for a walk? FoG is that kind of game.

The hex-grid map is nice but a little plain. Simplified terrain like hills, forests, streams and scrub land try desperately to keep the battle fields interesting. While terrain has some effect on the flow of combat, the landscape does not take a prominent role in the outcome of battle.

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