Introduction

Much to the fans' dismay, the scheduled Christmas 1999 release was postponed. The game had already assumed a high profile, especially with the release of the public beta demo in late 1999, and was by then eagerly expected. While the developer (Big Time Software) was using the extra time to improve the product, the beta players were lashing out with comments and suggestions, and, inspired by the playing experience, indulging in writing poems. Finally in June 2000, Battlefront.com began shipping, creating even more anxiety with those who had pre-ordered (but ending the poetry-writing sessions).

Set in the post-D-Day period of World War II in Western Europe, Combat Mission: Beyond Overlord simulates tactical-scale combat between individual vehicles, guns, infantry squads and weapon teams. The combatants are American, British, Canadian, Free French, German, and Polish. The turn system is neither alternating nor real-time; instead, both players issue orders first, and then the computer calculates and displays 60 seconds worth of action. Since the players can only influence the battle every 60 seconds, exactly what the units do depends to a great extent on how the program's "artificial intelligence" carries out the players' orders.

An overcast day.

Installation and Manual

The game comes on a CD-ROM which contains both the Macintosh and the Windows versions. To install, it is only necessary to agree to the software license, select the program directory, and click Next a few times. Three installation sizes are offered, the largest one occupying 317 MB of hard disk space (this is the one I selected, because the utter slowness of my CD-ROM drive would severely impede the program's execution). The installation program doesn't display the remaining disk space, so a little caution is advised.

I have not encountered any hardware-related problems in the program. My machine (as specified below in System Requirements) was sufficient for comfortable gaming. The AI's "thinking" and combat resolution can take a while in larger scenarios, and I noticed slight stuttering of the line of sight (LOS) check on dense urban terrain, but once the action started it was smooth sailing. (Editor's note: I have had to stop over-clocking my 300 MHz Celeron to avoid crashes; and limit my 16MB Voodoo Banshee to 1024 x 768 to avoid graphics breakdowns; and occasionally the information bar gets garbled when switching back and forth to other programs but two Alt-TAB's corrects this; however when these measures are taken, the game plays fine on my system, too.)

While getting familiar with Combat Mission, I often had to reach for the manual to find an explanation for a unit behavior or other particular occurrence, and the 170-page book proved well worth the money, never mind a few mistakes in the index. Instructions on how to play are laid out in comprehensive terms and interlaced with designer's notes, which explain to the more avid player the logic behind certain features or lack thereof - e.g. why there is no white phosphorus in the game. Considering most wargame makers don't exercise such openness, Big Time Software's writing policy is commendable (regardless of whether the exclusion of Willy Pete is justified!). The manual also includes a brief tutorial for the first introductory scenario, and more advanced tips on tactics and use of the scenario-, operation-, and map-editors.

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