World War II: General Commander – Operation: Watch on the Rhine
Designer: Victor Perez. Developer: Games GI. Publisher: StraGames. $39.95 download.

Passed Inspection: Great graphics, innovative mechanics, superior play, fine editor.

Failed Basic: Hard-to-read font. limited activations, complex multi-play login.

This game is great and sets a new bar for historical real-time games.

Veteran gamers will ask “Do we need yet another Bulge game? We only have around eighty already!” Developer Games GI, designer Victor Perez and publisher StraGames deliver an emphatic European "Yes!" to that question.

Graphics Deluxe
At this time, Watch on the Rhine is available by download only, although other arrangements are being made. The download comes in three separate parts: two BINs and an install EXE; all go in the same directory. Launch the EXE to install and it asks for a serial number from an email. After the game is booted the first time, players enter an activation code and that goes to a server. This rather complicated process is good for three activations. The second code is also necessary to log into the forum and multi-player server.

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The 60-page manual covers all aspects of the game. An illustration of units’ view and fire-radii would have been helpful but not critical. The mouse tip not only explains options but changes to terrain type as the mouse passes over. Hints that appear during scenario loads further aid players. The manual is detailed, although it was obviously written before the final release by someone whose first language is not English.

The graphics are that rare entity: a packet with features not only elaborate but useful. The default map is geomorphic showing ridges, hills, rivers, towns, supply dumps and two types of bridges. This map becomes lighter and darker as days progress. Atmospherics are represented with rain and snow. Exceptionally impressive is the differentiation between light and heavy forests. If players find this map too busy, they can toggle on a brighter, simpler map. Map overlays show supply and area control. Display of unit, town and river names can be turned on and off, although the font here and in the unit info box can be hard to read. The map can be zoomed and rotated at will. Rotation is accomplished using the mouse and left ALT key. A bar scale shows the relative distances at every zoom level. For larger scenarios, a box displays the side’s order of battle. A bar across the top gives information about air availability, weather, victory points, and time, and includes a running commentary on events.

Units can be shown as 3D models, silhouettes or NATO symbols. Zoomed in, the 3D models are extremely accurate and show damage and action such as fire and motion. Each battalion can be located and selected by a small symbol over the unit. Shell and bomb hits mark the ground with craters. Movement routes and vision/fire/command radii are clearly delineated in color, as are axes of attack. Unit info bars reveal units’ strength, efficiency and supply status along with weapon range. Air missions look a bit trite with planes coming over in perfect formations.

Sound effects are used very well and include sounds for wind and precipitation. Engine noises confirm movement, and the roar of aircraft engines signal when air operations are possible. The usual rattle of small arms and blasts from explosives denote combat.

Playing the Scales
The unit of maneuver in Watch on the Rhine is battalion level. Battalions are labeled for their primary and secondary weapons with ranges and effectiveness shown. They have the usual health bars for strength, speed, efficiency and supply. One can quibble over some of the terminology, such as calling the Pzkw Mk. IV a light instead of a medium tank. Battalions can be given orders at the regimental level, which allows easier control of units and permits players to choose among four attack postures. Forces can also be moved at a divisional level but some coherency is lost. The only distinctive divisional function is sending recon out to find the enemy. Ad hoc formations can be created with the old lasso method.

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