Familiarity makes it easier to appreciate its myriad subtle complexities-how most units carry more than one weapon, and each can be turned off in an effort to conserve ammunition or make it focus on a specific type of enemy or how a tank is made up of systems, armour, guns and even the men inside, and each can be damaged to reduce its effectiveness. Experience helps as well, so testing the waters in some easy cooperative comp stomps is encouraged. Knowledge of World War II units and tactics certainly comes in handy. So you’ll want to send your recon units in during phase A, while it might be worth investing in some heavy tanks for the final push. Each match is split into three 10 minute phases, and some units are only deployable in phase B or C. Phases have to be taken into account, too. This is particularly useful when constructing a highly-specialised force to support allies, though it can be hard, at first, to figure out how to pick between three Panzer IV Hs and a Tiger E Wittman. Rather than just selecting a division, you’re creating your own custom-built battlegroup from a huge deck. Each contains a different selection of units that inform how they’re best employed, from the 101st Airborne’s elite infantry to the SS-Panzer’s beefy tanks. Six different countries are represented in skirmish mode by 18 divisions split equally between Axis and Allies. It forces you to play in a certain way, while the more open nature of solo or multiplayer skirmishes are where the game becomes more liberating.

It’s just a linear series of 12 missions with incredibly simple objectives. The Wargame series has always been a little sterile, but there’s always some dynamism, like an evolving campaign map-not here. The campaign is effective at teaching the basics, but otherwise it’s disappointing.

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