Combat Mission Shock Force 2 by Battlefront

Combat Mission Shock Force 2

by

Battlefront

 So I was given Combat Mission Shock Force 2 to review. I was absolutely horrified. The last time I installed one of Battlefront's games my life changed. My ride to hell started out slow. First I bought one of their games, and then it came time to install it. Oh, I had read the different posts about Battlefront, but I figured how bad could it be. I mean if the game doesn't work I'll just get my money back, right? So it started. I couldn't get the serial to work. Then I opened the portal. You see, I just hadn't believed that any contact (be it phone or electronic) would place you in Battlefront's clutches. Much like the word Beetlejuice it opens the gates of hell. First my bank account was drained by those sly devils. It was kind of amazing because the card I used was not attached to it. Then I noticed their were a ton of flies in the house. Now, I was starting to get worried. Then I got the email from Battlefront about the serial. The moment I clicked on it to open it two draped figures appeared in my computer room. One announced himself as Mephistopheles, the other as Dante Alighieri. Okay now I started to panic. The flies were starting to get thicker. I cannot express in words the horrors I had to endure. I would need the skills of Lovecraft to even start to explain them to you. I can tell you that much like a country song, my dog died, and so did my pickup. I have never gotten the game to work, but after having a priest bless the CD case and wrapping it in garlic it is now buried safely in the backyard.

 So, now back to reality. I believe I have purchased at least eight different products from Battlefront in total. This does not count the different upgrades that I have also purchased. The work that goes into their games is pretty amazing and while it would be nice to get a bone from them now and again those coders have to eat too. I believe I had one problem with a serial number with an installed game, when their DRM was somewhat draconian. The problem was taken care of in one day by Elvis C., so I am at a loss over all of the hubbub at times. 

 So here we are with Combat mission Shock Force 2. I will admit that compared to the other titles I have purchased, the original Shock Force did not grab me and I did not play it much at all. Shock Force 2 is a different animal for me. Is it because of all of the upgrades to the engine in between, or is it just something battlefront did differently this time? I don't know. This version of the game is very engrossing to me. This is pretty amazing, because I am usually pretty blase about gaming after World War II. The visuals in all of the Combat Mission Game Engine 4 environments are pretty stunning.

 As far as game mechanics go I will go through the rundown, but if you are not new to wargaming, or haven't been living under a rock, it should be familiar. The game can either be played real-time or in WeGo 60 second segments. It is a tactical game that is played in the modern Middle East. Rather than rewriting it, I will list the games salient points from their website here:

• Tactical warfare at battalion and below scale in a true 3D environment
• Command individual vehicles, teams, and squads
• Expansive simulation of "soft factors" such as Morale, Experience, and Leadership
• Innovative systems portraying Fog of War, Spotting, Line of Sight, Command & Control, and Objectives
• Unmatched realistic physics, ballistics, and battlefield effects
• Fight in a wide range of weather and lighting conditions, all of which realistically impact fighting abilities
• Unique hybrid system for RealTime or WeGo (turn based) play
• Full featured Editor for maps, scenarios, and campaigns
• Quick Battle system sets up deliberate or randomized battles based on player specifications
• Single player and head to head play, including Play By Email (PBEM)
• Supported for the long haul with patches, upgrades, and expansions

 There is a demo you can try, and I will have a link to it at the bottom. If you want, you can also buy the game on a DVD and purchase a Combat Mission Game Engine Manual. The game can be bought with these modules:

Marines

British Forces

NATO

 For me, one of the big hurdles to get over is that this is not Grandpa's WW2. The lethality of modern warfare is shown in all of its potency. You cannot play the game as you would one of the World war II Combat Missions. Oh you could, but you will have smoking wrecks strewn about the battlefield in no time. These are some of the 'Special Features' Battlefront believes they have added to the game:

• Detailed and realistic combat formation for the United States Army and Syrian Army
• Two types of Syrian Unconventional Forces, Spies, IEDs, and VIEDs
• One large campaign, a small training campaign, 20 standalone scenarios, and numerous Quick Battle maps.
• On map mortars, mortar vehicles, drones, anti-aircraft fire, and other modern warfare features
• Expanded arid combat environment, now including waterways, bridges, and other new terrain
• Intricately detailed and highly realistic combat equipment for the United States Army and Syrian Army, including 41 vehicles and 35 assorted small arms and crew weapons.

  For the base game this is the TO&E:


US Army SBCT

• Stryker Infantry Battalion
• Stryker Infantry Battalion (MOUT)
• Stryker Cavalry Troop
• Stryker Antitank Company
• Stryker Engineer Company
• Supply Platoon

US Army HBCT

• Combined Arms Battalion
• Combined Arms Battalion (MOUT)
• Armored Cavalry Troop
• Engineer Company
• Supply Platoon

Syrian Army

• Republican Guard Mech Infantry Battalion (BMP)
• Republican Guard Tank Company
• Republican Guard Recon Company
• Tank Company
• Reserve Tank Company
• Static Tank Battery
• Special Forces Company
• Special Forces Engineer Platoon
• Special Forces Antitank Platoon
• Mech Infantry Battalion (BMP)
• Mech Infantry Battalion (BTR)
• Reserve Mech Infantry Battalion (BMP)
• Reserve Mech Infantry Battalion (BTR)
• Reserve Motorized Infantry Battalion
• Reserve Infantry Battalion
• Militia Battalion
• Recon Company
• Reserve Recon Company
• Self-Propelled ATGM Platoon
• Reserve Self-Propelled ATGM Platoon
• Antitank Platoon

Syrian Unconventional Forces

• Fighter Command
• Fighter Groups
• Combatant Command
• Combatant Groups
• Spy Groups
• VBIED Group
• Wire IED Group
• Radio IED Group
• Cell IED Group
• Technical Group
• Transport Group                
• 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  Vehicles, Weapons, and Support

  US Army
  

  • M1A1HC Abrams (Heavy Common)
  • M1A1HC SA Abrams (Situational Awareness)
  • M1A2 Abrams
  • M1A2 SEP Abrams (Systems Enhancement Package)
  • M2A3 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV)
  • M3A3 Bradley Cavalry Fighting Vehicle (CFV)
  • M7A3 Bradley Fire Support Vehicle (B-FIST)
  • M1064 Mortar Carrier
  • M1126 Stryker ICV (M2 50 cal)
  • M1126 Stryker ICV (Mk 19)
  • M1127 Stryker RV (M2 50 cal)
  • M1127 Stryker RV (Mk 19)
  • M1128 Stryker MGS
  • M1129 Stryker MCV
  • M1130 Stryker CV
  • M1131 Stryker FSV
  • M1132 Stryker ESV
  • M1134 Stryker ATGMV
  • M1114 HMMWV
  • M1114 HMMWV (M240B)
  • M1114 HMMWV (M2 .50 cal)
  • M1114 HMMWV (Mk 19)
  • M1152 HMMWV Expanded Capacity
  • M707 Scout Humvee

  Syrian Army
  

  • T-72M1V TURMS-T
  • T-72M1V
  • T-72M1
  • T-72M
  • T-72M (early)
  • T-62MV
  • T-62M
  • T-62-1975
  • T-62-1972
  • T-55MV
  • T-55-1974
  • T-55-1970
  • T-54B
  • BMP-2
  • BMP-2K
  • BMP-1P
  • BMP-1PK
  • BMP-1
  • BMP-1K
  • BRDM-2
  • BRDM-2 (AT-4)
  • BRDM-2U
  • BTR-60PB
  • BTR-60PBK
  • UAZ-469B

  Syrian Unconventional Forces
  

  • Pickup (PK)
  • Pickup (DSHKM)
  • Pickup (SPG-9)
  • Taxi (IED)
  • Pickup (IED)
  
  
   So, you can see that you have a ton of military hardware to play with, and this is just a list of what comes with the base game. There are other tactical games out and about, but for me the different Combat Mission games is what I always come back to. I could go on and on about what comes with the game and the modules, but your best course of action is to head there and check it out yourself. Remember there is a demo (somewhat strange in this day and age, but welcome) for you newbies or old hands to get some hands on time with the game.

  
   This is the link to the demo:

  https://www.battlefront.com/shock-force-2/cmsf2-base-game/?tab=demo

   This is link to the games main page:

  https://www.battlefront.com/shock-force-2/cmsf2-base-game/
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  

  Robert