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Theatre of War 2: Africa 1943 – PC Game ReviewLarry Levandowski | June 14, 2009 | 8 comments | Print | E-mail For those tired of playing the AI, TOW2 offers a multiplayer mode. However, since this requires a real-time connection, players will have to find an opponent in a similar time zone. TOW2 comes with a full manual that does a good job of explaining the interface, the game mechanics and the mission generator. The game editors are also fully documented in separate files. Overall, the game is pretty accessible, and learning to play should not be a problem for most players. New players, or those coming from standard RTS games, will be able to quickly pick up the mechanics but may struggle with completing the scenarios. Battles can be brutal if the player does not use real-life tactics. Try to use what works with most click-fest RTS games and you will have a very hard time. The game manual offers some tactical tips, but new players may want to study up on WWII small-unit tactics before going too far with this game. The review was finished using the 1.1.0 patch. Updating is highly recommended since the patched game was much more stable and ran more smoothly on the reviewer’s dual core, Vista 32 machine. Also, the patch implements a sophisticated action camera, that jumps to view critical events like the destruction of a friendly tank. This helps a great deal with situational awareness. Overall, Theatre of War 2 is just the sort of game tread-heads have been waiting for. Historically accurate and lovingly detailed, the easy-to-use interface is great for intermediate and advanced wargamers. Newer players may be put off by the brutal combat environment, but they will be rewarded by sticking with it. While the limited number of scenarios is disappointing, future expansions will hopefully fill the gaps. So if the sound of tanks on the move warms your heart, sign up for Theatre of War 2. The panzers await your command. 
ACG Score: 88%ACG Intel Larry Levandowski has been a wargamer for more than 30 years, and started computer gaming back in the days of the C-64. Until he recently discovered the virtues of DOS box, much of his computer game collection was unplayable. A former US Army officer, Larry has done his share of sitting in foxholes. Since leaving the Army, he has worked in the Information Technology field, as a programmer, project manager and lead bottle washer. He now spends his spare time playing boardgames, Napoleonic and WWII miniatures, as well as any PC game he can get his hands on. Pages: 1 2 3 4Help Armchair General by bookmarking to
            Tags: PC game, review, World War II
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8 Comments to “Theatre of War 2: Africa 1943 – PC Game Review”
Where can i buy this in Australia, i’ve looked on the Battlefield website but i can see a release date for australia, nor can i find it on any other games site. Can you hepl me?
By Jason. L on Jun 22, 2009 at 7:36 am
Hi Jason, I believe you will have to buy direct from Battlefront. You may want to use the download option to get the game immediately. Also you can purchase both media and download. It looks like they ship to Australia.
But if you are looking for a retail copy, I suggest you leave a message on the Battlefront TOW2 forums. Moon the admin is usually very good in answering questions quickly.
By Larry Levandowski on Jun 22, 2009 at 2:03 pm
You can buy it as a direct download from Battlefront from anywhere.
By Max v.B. on Jun 22, 2009 at 3:22 pm
Good review. Me as a player of many real-time and turn based realtime games I can say that 1C did really nice work. And I see big potencial of their game core-engine. What is absolutely perfect and you will never find it anywhere is the tank battles. Same in TOW 1 I think they are very realistic, very good engine physics, armour and shell calulations, manouverability of vehicles and many nice details. I may say this about all vehicles in game. Same I may say about AT guns. But the opposite feeling is about infantry. Still very bad control of infatry. No steep hills climbing. Some players mentioned kind of baby-siting, managing of infantry. For all that you can control infantry like a team but sometimes you need to control also individual soldiers(MG’s, snipers,bazookas). That’s too much for a player to control, lets say 50 soldiers individualy on battlefield. Also there is BIG absence of cover in nature. No bush hiding. No rocks, obstacles. That’s what infatry use and why they can survive on battlefield. 1C needs to do more in this related issues. Building hiding in TOW 2 is a good start though. Absence of strategic maps. Generating own campaings. And many many more improvements can be done. However TOW2 is good piece of deal.
By winco on Jun 30, 2009 at 11:45 pm
Is it illegal to mention ’88s’ without prefixing it with ‘dreaded’? :)
By Ian on Aug 6, 2009 at 7:05 am
Is Theatre of War 2 – Africa 1943 an expansion?
Does it require a main game?
Please, I need some advice ASAP!
By dry nyt on Aug 6, 2009 at 9:24 am
Hi Dry,
TOW2 is not an expansion. It is a stand-alone game. You just need to purchase TOW2. TOW1 is not required.
Larry
By Larry Levandowski on Aug 6, 2009 at 7:14 pm
Africa 1943 is the full name of Theatre of War 2 – I am assuming their theory was it makes it sound more impressive and indicates to the potential buyer that it will focus on Africa.
However, there is an expansion coming soon titled Theatre of War 2: Kursk 1943
Which will focus on the Battle of Kursk.
This will be a stand alone expansion and therefore will not require the original game.
There is also an add-on planned for ToW 2 which will be adding in an Italian campaign (and more units) and that will require the original game (ToW 2, not the original ToW).
By Alex on Aug 7, 2009 at 2:55 am