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E3 2006: Moscow to Berlin

	Author: Chris Abele Article Type: PC Game Preview Publication Date: 6/1/2006 Developer: Monte Cristo Publisher: Cinemaware Marquee Related Categories: World War II, Real-time, Tactical, Eastern Front, Convention Coverage

From Operation Typhoon to Berlin

Throughout the numerous historic battles of World War II's Eastern Front, armor played a critical role in the years of battle fought between the Soviets and the Germans.  Perhaps best represented in the Battle of Kursk, the massive tank battles of the war are some of the most interesting to replay in modern war and strategy games today.  To that end, games publisher Cinemaware Marquee will be bringing Moscow to Berlin: Red Siege, the latest 3D real-time tactical game from Monte Cristo to U.S. shores this month, and at E3 we got our first detailed look at the new title.

Played at the tactical level, Moscow to Berlin will put tanks in a prominent role throughout the game's 20 missions.  The tanks represented in the game vary from the famed German Panzer to the appropriately-named Elephant to the classic Soviet T34, all of which have been carefully researched and integrated into the game in both game format and an encyclopedia.  Available at the outset of the game, the encyclopedia is a unique resource found in the game which details all of the major features and characteristics of the dozens of tanks included in Moscow to Berlin.  While the game isn't so hardcore that it requires a great understanding and rote memorization of these armored attributes, the level of detail we were shown in the feature was encouraging.

To be clear, Moscow to Berlin isn't a grognard's wargame, it's intended instead for more mainstream strategy game players.  While the developers have spent considerable time researching the historical units and scenarios from the Eastern Front, the game is meant to be played as a straightforward RTS title.  As a tactical game, there is no resource gathering or base building; instead, players should expect a musical selection from a variety of Soviet and German big bore composers.  The maps we saw were close in and tight, giving players a limited field of view, enclosed largely by a fog of war.  Players should expect a straightforward RTS with point-and-click controls, as well as a few more advanced controls for more specialized actions.

During our E3 demonstration, we were shown two historical battles, just a couple of the missions that will include Operation Typhoon, Stalingrad, Kursk, Minsk, and Berlin.  In the first mission, the player was tasked with crossing their Soviet forces over a river to take out a German encampment.  As the units were moved into position, we noted a feature that details the unit's ability to move (logistics-related), their effective firing range, as well as commands to have tanks "dig" into their preferred location for an ambush.   From there, the battle ensued with a cacophony of explosions and tank fire.  Although our forces met a quick and bitter defeat, the demonstration made it apparent that, as with other RTS titles, positioning and matching the right units against the enemy's weaker units will be the key to a player's victory.  

In the second demonstration mission, we saw the early parts of the Operation Typhoon map.  The straightforward map begins with a handful of German Panzer IIIs moving down a narrow roadway towards a Soviet base.  Because we took the most obvious path down that narrow roadway and didn't set up a tactical approach, our under-equipped tanks were quickly obliterated and we "lost" the Operation Typhoon scenario.  Our quick defeat served as a reminder that Moscow to Berlin is an RTS game which recreates certain historical elements, but is not an exacting recreation of the battles that shaped the eastern half of the European continent.  The game's strength lies in tank battles that require the player to think tactically before engaging the enemy.  Had we spent more time setting up the mission, we could have called in airstrikes (somewhat inaccurate, but effective), hunkered down in a defensive posture, or used our infantry to sneak into the base, take it over, and capture Soviet armor.

Moscow to Berlin: Red Siege will ship with a number of additional features, including full multiplayer support.  Like it's predecessors, Desert Rats vs. Afrika Korps and D-Day, Moscow to Berlin will be a tank-centric, tactical-level game.  Gamers can look for the title in stores sometime later in the month of June.

About the Author

Chris Abele is The Wargamer's Director of Content, managing the entire publication process, from news stories to feature articles.  Originally a flight sim nut, Chris has turned to war and military gaming and now plays the odd mixture of squad-level wargames and first-person shooters, in search of the perfect hybrid.  Chris is currently playing Full Spectrum Warrior, Brothers in Arms, and SWAT 4.  When not managing his various responsibilities with The Wargamer, Chris works as a corporate financial analyst while pursuing his MBA from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.