August & Septempber 1862

Reviewed by James W. Durney, 2008-03-22

The HPS Civil War Campaign Windows games are the best games available for both the gamer and historian. Each game covers one campaign or area, providing a series of historical and hypothetical battles. The battles play as single a game or linked into a campaign. In campaign mode losses and advantages carried from one battle to another. In campaign mode, players have to consider "tomorrow" and cannot just attack everything in sight. In campaign mode, decision points determine the direction the campaign takes, while battles determine the decision points. This provides for almost unlimited replay ability as no one campaign will ever match the last one.

Game scale is set to the pace and command abilities of the 19th Century. Each turns is twenty minutes during the day and one hour at night, about 120 yards per hex. Units are regiments, very large regiments can be two counters, artillery units are two gun sections, leaders and supply wagons.

Formations are critical and leaders exist starting at brigade level. Brigade leaders benefit by being in the command range of their division leader, who benefit by being in the command range of their corps commander. These rules, force command cohesion by penalizing players that break up commands. Line, column, limbered, unlimbered, mounted or dismounted enhance movement or combat and require planning and preparation. Having a regiment in the wrong formation will mean you cannot fire, take more casualties or move slowly. Movement starts at about one mile an hour for an infantry regiment. Artillery moves at about the rate of infantry, cavalry somewhat faster and supply wagons crawl along. Terrain, roads, night and formation increase or decrease this rate.

Combat results in losses and fatigue. Fatigue makes units susceptible to disorganization or route. Disorganized units are less effective and more likely to route. Routed units run from battle and will not fight until rallied. Leaders can rally units and have the best chance of doing so within their command.

This is system used in all games and reflects 19th Century warfare and the realities of the battlefield.

Campaign Antietam is August and September 1862, starting at Second Bull Run and ending at Antietam. This includes a number of important small battles that will attract both historians and gamers. Brawner's Farm is the Iron Brigade's first engagement. Chantilly is one of the nastiest small battles in the East. Both are here and very playable, even more so with the addition of weather, Chantilly needs this to be historical. South Mountain has an excellent map, showing all the problems both sides faced. Antietam's map is HUGE, 218 x 132 it covers the battle area and has enough room to maneuver for alternate approaches.

There are 199 battle games, 164 campaign games and 39 games designed to be played against your PC. This is a newer feature and very welcome, giving a good challenging game whenever there is time. NWS Online is an excellent company; I have bought my last two HPS games this way. The price even with S&H is less than the retail price HPS charges. Shipping is fast and I've had no problems with them. This is a major addition to the series and highly recommended!