Age Of Rifles: 1846-1905 encompasses eight classic campaigns, including: The American Civil War, the Austria-Prussian/Six Weeks War, the Franco-Prussian War, the Mexican American War, Russo-Japanese War, as well as a complete campaign of the masters of the Victorian Era's Empire building, the English Soldiers of the Queen campaign. Within these campaigns are famous and even infamous battles, including: Gettysburg, Sedan, Port Arthur, Isandhlawa (where the British suffered the worst defeat of a modern professional army by a native force) and Omdurman (often considered the location of the last classic cavalry charge--which included a young cavalry officer named Winston Churchill).
Fans of military war games should be right at home with Age of Rifles, as the game plays like the best of board war games and setting up the pieces takes only a few minutes rather than hours with cardboard units on a paper map. The interface is not overly complex, but it is extensive. It allows players to monitor their unit's strength, the current individual group leader, facing direction, available weapons, and even ammunition.
The turn-based movement and combat include advancing fire as well as defensive and cover fire. Each unit can be controlled individually, complete with it's own leader, as well as morale, supply lines, weapons, and ammunition. While this may seem overwhelming, any competent armchair general should adapt after only a few battles.
Players can compete against computerized generals, other players on the same computer, or even via e-mail. However there is not a network addition, which is a bit disappointing. While playing against the computer, players may determine the difficulty level of the computer and even change sides during the battle (to assure a victorious outcome, no doubt!). The AI that controls the computer's sides is one of the best. It would give Lee and Grant a run for their money, while Lords Kitchener or Chelmsford and the entire French general staff would not stand a chance!
When players tire of the extensive battles included in Age of Rifles (62 individual scenarios!), it's time to take advantage of the scenario editor. This is, after all, part of the Wargame Construction series. Players can create their own dream battles (who said war is hell?), with over 80 weapons, 1000 uniform combinations and 28 different nations! It is up to the would-be leader to decide who to lead, who to fight, the strength of each side, the weapons available, and even the terrain.
Graphics: Good wargame, solid graphics
Sound: Decent sound effects
Enjoyment: Conquer the world
Replay Value: Re-conquer the world
This game lets you design and play turn-based strategic battles. You can create scenarios betwen years 1846 and 1905. You have complete control over all the units, and can customize their firepower, movement points, strength, aggressiveness, etc.
Supports 1 or 2 players. Comes with pre-made scenarios and various campaigns (American civil war, Russo-Japanesse War, Franco-Prussian,...).
The graphics win the respect the first two WCS (I and Tanks!), and now you can view your troops in the field.
A nice classic from SSI. This is the third volume in the famous wargame series where you can build your own scenarios and play them. You can of course also play pre-made scenarios which are included.
The graphics are much better than in volume 1 and 2 and when the controls are really good and very simple this is a really good wargame if you like these kinds. All aspects of the game have been improved compared to the first two games in this series, but you may have noticed that the file size is huge as well. Some computers won't be able to run the game because of their graphics card. And please choose the minimum installation when you install the game.
"A detailed examination of tactical warfare from the Mexican War (1846) to the Russo-Japanese War (1905), this allowed the gamer to "dervishly" beat up on Fuzzy-Wuzzies to his heart's content. With a scenario editor that was relatively easy to use, a plethora of scenarios have become available over the Internet covering the obscure and not-so-obscure battles of the 19th Century. Remember, a repeating rifle generally beats a bow and arrow, unless one grows too ambitious ... My personal feeling is that the scenarios were in fact too generic, and I was never able to discern in game terms the basic advantage of the needle-gun in the Franco-Prussian War or why certain rifle advances occurred in certain times. But if the history was a little weak, the game value was pretty strong."
How to run this game on modern Windows PC?
People who downloaded Wargame Construction Set 3 have also downloaded:
Wargame Construction Set 2, Uncommon Valor: Campaign for the South Pacific, V for Victory, World at War Series (a.k.a. Operation Crusader, Stalingrad, D-Day: America Invades), Panzer General, Panzer General for Windows 95, Carriers at War 2, V for Victory: Utah Beach
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