Wodin

Hmmm....I'd be pretty annoyed if I'd spent ages making skins for a game only for someone to take them and convert them to another game without asking myself or at least not give credit.

Your more than welcome to post this info in the comments below the review:)

Would have loved to have seen soldiers with scarves around their faces with a covering of frost or balaclavas on etc. These would have needed to me modeled though I presume.

OK new edited QUick Battle Info now in review "There is also the Quick Battle feature, which I profess to never use, as I only play against the included AI (plus, the Quick Battles really aren't suited to this and are more for multiplayer use). The reason why quick battles aren't suited to single player is that the TAC AI is scripted, which means it doesn't really work that well in Quick Battles. This is one of the downsides of the engine, and a real bug bear for some. That's not to say the Tac AI is useless, when it comes to the scenarios and campaigns, those clever scenario designers end up weaving their magic ,with the result that many of my pixel truppen have come to a terrible demise and the AI march of victorious. I've never found this to be an issue, as there has always been more than enough content for me in the games without ever needing the Quick Battle feature."

Poor Boris has agreed to add the extra Quick Battle scripted AI info. The feedback that bothered me the most was saying it seemed like I whitewashed any problems, I really don't want the review to be considered just a fan boy love letter. So I think a couple of sentences highlighting the scripted AI aswell as explaining why I think QB is best for multiplayer only, kills two birds with one stone (well scares them abit)..I highlight a con and explain the AI a little bit.

I've sent Boris a small update with regards to QUick Battles and a scripted AI as someone here mentioned. I can't promise it will be updated as he has, poor chap, had to deal with my constant edits that kept wrecking all his hard work with layout etc. It's only a couple of sentneces but will add another engine con and explain the reason why Quick Battles aren't suited to solo play. I know I could really add another good paragraph or two to really make the review complete and satisfy issue raised here. However I think I'll just take everyhting on board for the next review I do. Otherwise I could probably keep goign abck for another week or so:). Oh as for the name Huertgen, I had sent the article in with that spelling. It seems someone has changed it at some point after it left my hands. I've sent possible culprits to the shed of doom for a day or two, use your imagination why the shed is the shed of doom.. Grunt_GI I understand that. However I see alot of posts where people are moaning about the AI and it turns out they are playing a Quick Battle. So to be on the safe side and make newbies aware before jumping into QB that it migh not give them the fight they are after. As for replayability. Honestly I've never got to a stage with any of the games where I've run out of Single Player scenarios, far from it in fact. SO for me the Quick Battle AI thing ha snever been an issue as I have never actually needed to use it and as I say I just see it as a Multiplayer feature.

AGain thanks for all your advice...will all help with future reviews! Really pleased on the whole you enjoyed the content. I suppose wanting more is a good thing:) Heinrich505 summed it up best at what I wanted the review to do..give enough info to get the reader interested enough to go on and check out further more detailed info or even try the demo. Plus give advice to different folks who like different things and what they should do next. It does eseem though that next time I will go into abut more detail on game contents and general gameplay...however as said I want my reviews to be more about who the game will appeal to and who it wont, who to stay away and who to investigate further to those who should just go buy instantly. Something that many reviews dont actually do..you either get the opinon of a fna and to go buy it or an opinion of someone who isn't a fan and to not go out and buy it. I want to offer abit more than that in this respect. Oh yes, stock screenshots. I wouldn't post modded screenshots in a review:)

Yeah fully understand. I did emntion it could be imporved and everyone would have a different wnat etc..so didn't gloss over it. I tried not to. I really wanted the review to be my overlall opinion on the game and then advise those coming from a different opinion to myself should do with reards to the game rather than go into the details be it cons and pros. Certainly didn't want it to sound like i was apologising for any things that could be improved just that everyone will have some aspect they'd like to see improved in the game so it isn't perfect. Also Quick Battles isn't a feature I use and did state I thought it was really best for multiplayer. Again I didn't want to go into the ins and outs as such..just give an over all opinion and direct them to places where they can find out more. You see pretty much all the other reviews go into this sort of detail so again just wanted it to be my opinion of the game..be upfront where I stood and then advise the reader on what to do depending on where they are coming from. I also tried not to start listing all the great features in detail either. I tire dto stay away from actual game mechanics a smuch as possible. Yet still make an informative review. I do know alot more still could be added to the review with hindsight. Things I cna work at and include in my next review..so by the time I do another CMx2 review hopefully I can cover alot more (for instance I don't need to do a CM background so have a more article space to dedicate to the actual game itself). Thanks for the advice though..all helpfull. I certainly highlight the issues I feel could be improved alot more next time. As Is aid due to the background to the game I didn't have a smuch space as I'd normally have for the actual game itself, next CMx2 review I'll have alot more article space. Yes I could have done more on the actual game this time but I didn't wnat ti to end up pages long. I haven't the confidence in my writing to think I can keep people interested over several pages:)

Thanks Bud..hope you liked it. As it's my first proper review for the blog, the first of many I hope, then all feedback is appreciated. The positive comments give me much needed confidence for when it comes to writing reviews in the future.

umlaut sorry about the link error..I can't go back to edit it either!! https://tacticalwargames.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/combat-mission-final-blitzkrieg-review_87.html

Thanks!! We really have only just finished editing it. Added some more screenshots, now click to enlarge, a few chnages here and there, easy to read font and finally hyperlinks in text. Glad you like the screenshots. I know could have done with more Tanks etc..but I really wanted to show of a great winter map...

THanks..we are still giving it abit of an edit..making sure the font is easy to read and not to small..thanks though I really appreciate it. There is always something else you wish you'd mentioned. Like the learning curve and if your after a quick casual jump in and jump out game your looking at the wrong game and to also be prepared to spen time learning how to play and accept it is going to take a long time to really master it so again if your not willing to put in the time or effort look elsewhere. Still done now..If I add anything else Boris who edits it will go mental as I've already screwed the fonts etc more than once messing with it! Also I made it clear I'm a fan..but made sure I looked at the game from different perspectives and advise them on how to progress if they should at all with the game..

OK can now enlarge the pics..plus three more will be added. With the screenshots I tried to show off the excellent map and it's scenery and how it creates cold winter atmosphere which immerses the player, one of the many great features of CMFB. Feedback appreciated.

Bil..think we fixed the font issue..also as we are learning not sure how to expand the screenshots..if i is even possible wih the blog provider... I really wanted the screenshots to be pefect, esp after the feedback on The Wargamer review..so abit upset over the siz eissue..I hope you all can forgive me. If I can work out how to do click and enlarge I will sort it out. Still I hope the actual written content is good enough.

OK review published.

OK my review of CMFB has been released on Tactical Wargames blog. First off, I have to apologise about the size of the screenshots. Sadly the blog layout wouldn't let us do anything larger..annoying I know. We are currently considering creating a proper webpage rather than tied to a blog provider. So if we do I'll make sure the screenshots expand to full size. Anyway go take a look... Oh this is my first proper review. I also did the Graviteam one but that really was just a post on facebook and then once the blog started copied over. Where as this review is more in line with how I want to review games in the future. I do hope it isnt some abject failure! REVIEW LINK PS: I added a para at the end regarding the modding scene which seems to have playe dhavoc with the font size..will get sorted. NOTE FROM CHRISND: At Wodin's request, I've edited this post to fix the broken link to the review.

I'm afraid the way the blog is layed out the screenies in my review are smaller than I'd have liked..very sorry about this! I'll have a quick look into if we can make them bigger...if not they will have to do and I apologiise. Review will be up today.

I was feeling rather ill over the weekend so couldn't get it finished. However I have finally completed the review and taken some decent screenshots. It's now been passed on to my proof reader (who hates me by the way as he is a self confessed grammar nazi). Then it will be passed on to my mate Boris or The Editor as he likes to be called for publishing to the website. When it goes up I'll post a link. LINK TO TACTICAL WARGAMES PAGE AND SOON TO HAVE CMFB REVIEW

Thanks

Can I state it hasn't nothing to do with Tactical Wargames Facebook page and blog..I should have checked that name out before I started the FB page just in case soemone else was using it. The TW blog I run will have a CMFB review soon.

The sounds of nature playing in the background seem to be more the sound scape you'd hear in the summer with flies buzzing around and such like. Maybe a skilled sound modder could do something that first winter better..not sure what though.

This is where units having a set of SOP's that the player can turn on or off would come in handy..give the tac ai a helping hand to..plus could also help the enemy AI to react aswell if SOP's could be set by the scenariio designer.

Aris..CMx2 and WOFF..Both games benefit immeasurably from your modding skills. It's great that they are two of my fav games..of all time aswell! Huge thanks.

Superb as usual..do you make the soldier portraits? Thay are excellent. I missed camo options in RT and no JUJU for CMBS!! the horror!

Agree with every word. CMx2 series, Wings Over Flanders Field and Graviteam Tactics OS and MF are games that never leave my hard drive. Everything else comes and goes..not these.