As someone who almost enlisted to join the army, I have always lived vicariously through military-themed games, movies, and series. So, when I learned that the original Combat Mission: Shock Force was getting a remake, I counted the days until its release. And in 2020, my wish came true. But was it as exciting as I expected?
Let me start with an overview of what the game is all about. As the name suggests, this is a military simulation. But unlike some games that model the settings on imagined countries, this one actually features a conflict between Syria and a U.S.-led NATO coalition. The story is fictional, but the geography is as real as it comes!
With the playing modes in this game, you can go for real-time gaming where you issue orders as the commander and watch as they play out. Any mistakes you make will play out to the disadvantage of your troop - while it's not real, I will be the first to admit that watching as your team crashes and burns is not fun. The other mode is turn-based, so you get a minute to plan orders and then sit back and see how they play out for both sides. You also get a pause and rewind option to see and analyze the likely outcomes of your strategies. Nothing hones your gaming skills like figuring out your weaknesses and working on them.
How about the missions? I'll be honest and admit that I am biased in favor of the missions, which are as follows:
In addition to these missions, you also get opportunities to engage in quick battles and can create your own missions and maps. Sometimes, I use the scenario editor when I am in the mood for a big challenge. But even without selecting my own parameters, I find myself sweating through the missions.
If you have played any other military-themed games, you might think that Combat Mission Shock Force 2 is just like them. But here are some points to note:
Instead of using hitpoints, this game bases the damage to your unit based on actual physics. So, you have to armor up and avoid projectiles that can cause significant damage.
Many games allow soldiers to share their vision such that you can know when another soldier is in trouble or when they realize that the whole unit is about to walk into a trap. But in this case, what you see is only for your eyes, which greatly weakens your ability to counter attacks. I like it because it mimics real war settings, but it would be nice to have a heads-up now and then.
In the real world, troops have a clear line of command such that instructions trickle from the top to the bottom. But in many games, there is a bit of flexibility in what rules you can follow. I have to tell you that this is not the case with this game. Troops have a clear command structure. But that's not all. Their performance also depends on how much morale they have. So, if your unit feels tired or afraid, you can trust that their performance will be below par. I've since learned some leadership skills which have helped me even beyond the game's scenarios.
Your squad's ability to perform well comes down to more than just your leadership. First, you have to come up with the right composition, such as having scouts, AT teams, and fireteams, and knowing what balance is best. Secondly, constant communication helps you avoid gaps in your ability to counter. And thirdly, their abilities to move and counter attacks will depend on the terrain, weather, and lighting - yes, it's just like an actual troop!
Everything you see in the game has been modelled based on data from real war settings. So, whenever you pull a trigger or set off an explosion, the effects of this will be like what happens in real life. This point ties to my first one, where I said that the damage to your unit will depend on what hits you.
Thanks to these unique aspects, I can confidently say that this game is perfect for military enthusiasts who enjoy realistic gameplay coupled with hardcore strategies. But I should add that the learning curve is pretty steep - it took me a while to figure out some of the things, like squad formation and how much my leadership skills affected troop morale.