Rocko1 Posted September 3, 2012 Share Posted September 3, 2012 Ok, I am looking at treating myself to either Combat Mission Italy or Normandy. Which one is smoother play and a more engrossing experience? Any critiques and comparisons would be greatly appreciated. Thanks 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted Posted September 3, 2012 Share Posted September 3, 2012 I'd go with Italy until Normandy is upgraded. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vergeltungswaffe Posted September 3, 2012 Share Posted September 3, 2012 Yes, since FI is already using the 2.0 version, start there and you can play yourself chronologically through the west front over time. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
womble Posted September 3, 2012 Share Posted September 3, 2012 FI is the newer engine. You'll get better performance out of a given rig with its updated treatment of graphics. There are a few improvements to the commands and interface, and the editor has some excellent new functionality. But BN is due to get those self-same things Real Soon Now, so it largely depends on which theatre you prefer, unless you have to have the absolute newest absolutely now. BN has cramped fighting conditions with close assaults all over the place. Sicily is exhausting hills and wide open fields of fire. BN has infantry able to face armour on survivable terms, due to the short ranges and readily available infantry AT; Sicily has the balance of power much more in favour of armour. Except for the Italians. They have rubbish armour (because they only had Infantry Divisions on the island at the time of Op Husky, not that having any ADs would have helped, given the obsolete design of the existing RE tanks) and a fity-cal or Pack Howitzer is as good as an ATG. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sburke Posted September 3, 2012 Share Posted September 3, 2012 Is there any long term financial consideration? If not I'd get CMFI now and CMBN afer the upgrade. Might as well get used to the new UI etc rather than learn the old and then have to learn the new later. If there is it really comes down to which theater you like. CMBN will cover up to and including Market Garden - note it will not include the Bulge. It will shortly (say 3-4 months?) have it's second module which might also be a financial item to think about. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karac Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 I'am facing the same dilema. Think I go with CMFI an get Normandy after they realese Marget Garden module. Maybe there will be some sweet deal for the whole package along with Commonwealth. CM is not a chip game so I need to plan my shopping. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fuser Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 Both. You will get the upgrade soon, so why choose one or the other? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hessian deserter Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 You would also like the CW add on with it's less hedge rowie terrain and large tank battles! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hister Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 Both. You will get the upgrade soon, so why choose one or the other? Some of us are not swimming in money you know 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fuser Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 True,...very true, i would change "some" for "most of" in fact. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sakai007 Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 I think CMFI is the first CM title I haven't picked up in the first week since CMSF, lol. Sad part is a member of the forums here ended up helping me out with like $30 to pre-order CMBN before it came out, so I think I have more then enough CM gaming goodness to keep me squared away till I have the opportunity. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SelfLoadingRifle Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 At the moment, CMN will give you far more bang for your buck. Not only does it have the Commonwealth Forces module, but there are large number of CMN user generated scenarios and campaigns available for download (at no cost) from the Battlefront repository, not to mention an impressive array of maps and mods. CMFI is much more limited in scope at the moment. There are currently no Commonwealth forces (which as the game is set in Sicily makes for half a Husky only) also the number of scenarios and campaigns that come with the game are limited. At the time of typing, mods available are very few and user scenarios are nil. Mind you, things will improve with time. I hope this helps. SLR 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocko1 Posted September 4, 2012 Author Share Posted September 4, 2012 Thanks to all. You have given me much to think about. I may wait for the upgrade to combat mission normandy before buying it. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew H. Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 Some of us are not swimming in money you know Sometimes you just have to dig into principal... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Kettler Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 Rocko1, I think Selbstladegewehr (couldn't resist!) makes an excellent point. Not only are there lots of mods and battles, even campaigns, available now for CMBN, but LongLeftFlank's finishing up Makin Atoll, which looks incredible, after which he's returning to the bocage with new scenarios for the regular CMBN. In terms of sheer gaming juiciness, I'd say CMBN offers a lot more, especially if you get the bundle. The upgrade won't cost that much, and believe me when I tell you that I'm a man who watches his money! Ultimately, I think it comes down to what interests and excites you. In terms of visuals, I love the look of CMFI. Camouflaged American armor is so much more appealing than OD, and the Med schemes for the Germans and Italians are a joy to the eye. Regards, John Kettler 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Macisle Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 CMBN has a demo and the CMFI demo should be up very soon. So, you should be able to compare directly for free soon. As others have mentioned, going with CMFI would allow you to train on the new UI. Also, CMFI runs more smoothly. CMBN can be a bit sluggish no matter how beefy the system. However, my opinion is that you are better off going with the CMBN-CW bundle. There is a huge amount of material in it and there are tons of great mods (look for EZ's uniforms and Vein's Flames smoke/muzzle flash/tracers, etc.). With the bundle, you have a much larger variety of units, tanks and equipment and, most importantly, you have late war hand-held infantry AT assets. They are big fun, and as a new player, you may find the game more enjoyable with those tools in your chest. Finally, with CMBN, you can have bocage or no bocage, open spaces or lots of foliage and buildings. With Italy, the terrain is more open and likely you will have less variety in the maps (but I don't have CMFI, so others, please correct me if I'm wrong, here. Thanks!). Plus, the upgrade will be out soon, so for only ten bucks more, you will be able to bring CMBN in line with the game enhancements offered in CMFI. Lastly, while the price tag on CM may seem big at the gate, it is not like buying a regular game at the same price. If you enjoy the game, it will essentially offer you unlimited replay value. You will only stop playing it when Battlefront releases the next version and you switch to that. For people who get into the game, it ends up being pennies (or less!) per hour of entertainment. It will likely be the most cost-effective entertainment choice you have ever made. My 2 cents anyway. No matter what you decide--welcome to the game and you're gonna' have A BLAST! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Kettler Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 Macisle, Welcome aboard! An excellent point--one I should've thought of myself! Comparing Demo to Demo. What a concept! And you are absolutely right. The CM games, unless all you play is what's on the disc, offer years of gaming, unlike almost anything else out there. Period. I spent nine years playing CMx1 alone, starting with the Beta Demo for CMBO. We played the CMBO Beta Demo for so long, BFC had to issue a Gold Demo, with two more scenarios on it. There are STILL people playing CMBO, and it came out in 2000! Many prefer the ease of play , staggering aftermarket goodies and the gigantic array of toys. Play life like this is NOT the norm for computer wargames! Regards, John Kettler 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mord Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 LMAO! Hey John, what's with you welcoming all these dudes that have been here for like 10 and 12 years? I think you are getting shell shocked from all those CMBN marathons...gotta turn the volume down when the Germs drop those 81's on you. Mord. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Macisle Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 He-he. I've been a CM player from shortly after CMBO's release. Though I'm an avid forum-reader (when you old timers talk about people like MD, I know who they are and remember some of the big forum flameups), time demands keep me from posting much. I gotta' fight just to get game time. Thanks for the welcome anyway though, John! In a way, I am kinda' like a new guy, since I only recently started posting. I've read a lot of your posts, though. I enjoy them and learn a lot! There are lots of guys on this forum that I'd love to have a beer with. So many great (and funny!) posts! All the best, Macisle 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wodin Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 The best advice is go for the one you have the most interest in. If I have one game which is amazing set in Normandy and another which is good but set say in Stalingrad I'd play the Stalingrad game over the Normandy one. Even though the Normandy game is hypothetically better than the Stalingrad game. I'm hoping to get Italy for Xmas however I'm getting it for the future as I want to play the Brits at Monte Casino. CMBN is an amazing wargame but I haven't played it half as much as it deserves because it's set in Normandy. I'm not sure I'm even going to bother with the upgrade. I will make my mind up on that after seeing Version 2 engine running. Now the east front games will be snapped up by me as definite buys. SO buy the one that appeals the most. If it's roughly the same then go for Italy. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sixxkiller Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 Well, as of this moment, me personally, if I could only choose one, I would pick, either one. Hope that helps. Seriously though, I dont think you can really go wrong to be honest. You do however get a whole extra country in FI, but you dont get a Tiger II (And other heavy goodies) that you do in CMBN. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobo Posted September 8, 2012 Share Posted September 8, 2012 LMAO! Hey John, what's with you welcoming all these dudes that have been here for like 10 and 12 years? I think you are getting shell shocked from all those CMBN marathons...gotta turn the volume down when the Germs drop those 81's on you. Mord. Perfectly reasonable as John joined the forums 5 months before Macisle.... 12 years ago! bobo 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mord Posted September 8, 2012 Share Posted September 8, 2012 Welcome aboard, bobo! Yeah, ol' John's gettin' almost as senile as Emrys...When he starts eating his own underwear we'll know he's there. Mord. P.S. HA! I am one up on you Emrys! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spinoza Posted September 8, 2012 Share Posted September 8, 2012 So Michael eats his own underwear ? Heh , it does explain a lot... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobo Posted September 8, 2012 Share Posted September 8, 2012 Welcome aboard, bobo! Yeah, ol' John's gettin' almost as senile as Emrys...When he starts eating his own underwear we'll know he's there. Mord. P.S. HA! I am one up on you Emrys! Thanks! How was that one month before I joined and what's a refreshing monkey? Bobo PS. Definitely wait for the demo. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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