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Flashpoint Germany

	Author: Aaron McKenna Article Type: PC Game Review Publication Date: 4/25/2005 Developer: Simulations Canada Publisher: Matrix Games Related Categories: Cold War, Turn-based, Tactical

The Greatest War That Never Happened

For a period of over forty years the world stood on the brink of the Third World War between the Warsaw Pact and NATO countries, which was to be fought, won or lost, on the plains of Germany. Thankfully, for all concerned, this war never took place, the Soviet Union choosing instead to collapse peacefully into the annals of history.

However the war that never was poses intriguing questions for game developers in particular, who have the power to accurately simulate such a conflict down to the last AFV, and so we are seeing a new breed of “What if?” games coming to the fore, and leading the charge is Matrix Games’ Flashpoint Germany, which details a Red Storm Rising-alike conflict between the dying Warsaw Pact and the historically peacefully victorious NATO.

Get in the War, Son!

Flashpoint Germany can be delivered to a gamer’s system through two methods; a classic CD-in-the-Mail or through Matrix’s relatively new download system, which allows one to download the installation file directly from their site and then simply activate it with a provided CD-Key.

The download system works, and I encountered no problems with it. The installation file is not overly big for broadband users, being a shade over 300MB, and it can be burned onto a CD for backup, with the only trick being to write down the CD-Key for future reference.

Install runs fine and the game is stable. The only issue gamers might have with it is that the manual is an electronic .PDF, which usually has me groaning when combined with a wargame, as they’re slightly more complicated than Joe-Shooter and require a lot more onscreen reading than I enjoy.

The content of the manual however is excellent, as are the two tutorials, and the learning curve for Flashpoint Germany is not steep at all – given a half an hour and I was flying with it. This is fundamental to the game as a product: it’s not a hardcore grog experience, and while it should satisfy all wargamers new and old, as it is extremely detailed and true to life, there are some simplified areas which I’ll cover later on which may itch the collars of some gamers.

The opening menus are brightened up with some period military quotes.	The array of realism options helps make the game more n00b or grog friendly.

Hear the Enemy, See the Enemy, Fear the Enemy

Graphically Flashpoint Germany is actually good looking for an operational level wargame; the maps are quite colourful and self explanatory as to the type of terrain portrayed, and the interface is modern, sleek and (for those of us cosmopolitans who like to multitask) in a window, rather than full screen.

The only thing I thought lacking in the game graphically speaking was some sort of representation of destroyed equipment or contour lines (even an optional overlay for them) to describe the critical third dimension of the battle space.

Sound wise the game provides a crisp and not overly intrusive experience – listen to the gunfire as units engage, but don’t be annoyed by some stupid attempt at background radio chatter. At lower volume levels the sound suited itself particularly well to playing alongside my own groovy tunes in Win Amp.

The interface is, as mentioned above, quite sleek and modern looking, and it shouldn’t take one more than a cursory glance to become familiar with it.

The initial briefing is comprehensive, if a tad dry.	Meet the map. It has lines drawn on it. ...And I call them Sir because they can do that?!