Storm Across Europe Reviews

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The fact that anything and everything is possible when it comes to recreating or rewriting history is where Storm Across Europe comes into its own. From the sea war in the Atlantic and Med through to the Battle of the Bulge, the invasion of Crete, El Alamein and the Battle of Britain - anything is possible and the history books can be totally rewritten. The sheer scale and scope of it all is staggering to say the very, very least. SSI's best 64 wargame to date.

Latest in a long line of SSI games to reach these shores from the States is this one, two or three-player wargame simulating the war in Europe from 1939-45. Wargamers will instantly realise the scale of such a simulation and be wondering if it is not, perhaps, a little too ambitious.

Back in the old days, before world leaders who are too wimpish to start a war (good on them), storm clouds regularly gathered over the peaceful plains of Europe. Wars were about as regular as the Olympics and about as casual. The 20th century changed all that. No more popping off to war for a few years and coming home rich and famous. No more letters to The Times complaining that the tea supply had dried up. At last mankind had discovered total war in all its gore. One man most fondly remembered for giving his country-powered eggs, gas masks, the Blitz, evacuated children, air raid shelters, one rasher of bacon a week and Messerschmitt schoulder was Hitler. Now you, too, can stand in the shoes of a man who more than any other in history had a real chance of ruling the world.

Similar to the boardgame Hitler's War, except the computer interface is much more awkward. The graphics are primitive and the documentation somewhat sparse. Yet, as a game covering the entire Eastern and Western Fronts of World War II, it can be fun to play.

Similar to the boardgame Hitler's War, except the computer interface is much more awkward. The graphics are primitive and the documentation somewhat sparse. Yet, as a game covering the entire Eastern and Western Fronts of World War II, it can be fun to play.

Similar to the boardgame Hitler's War, except the computer interface is much more awkward. The graphics are primitive and the documentation somewhat sparse. Yet, as a game covering the entire Eastern and Western Fronts of World War II, it can be fun to play.

Das Setzen der eigenen Truppen artet schon bald in stupides Herumgeklicke aus: Zahllose Untermenüs müssen aufgerufen werden, zudem sind die Waffensymbole klein und schlecht zu erkennen. Da verwundert es nicht, daß man es auch mit den historischen Gegebenheiten nicht besonders genau genommen hat. Alles in allem also ein weiteres Argument für Kriegsgegner: keine Konflikte, keine dümmlichen Spiele wie dieses!
(page 86)

Too ambitious for its own good.

The graphics and user interface may reduce one's enthusiasm for this game. One must remember that this is a straight port from the 8-bit world. (Amiga owners with "only" 512K may have trouble believing this, as they must disconnect their external disk drive in order to play the game without seeing any gain in graphics quality over the C-64 version.) Even so, the game can be a diverting entertainment package to those who are patient with the interface and do not overly mind the historical abstractions/simplifications necessary to create a strategic game playable in one sitting. SAE is slightly more sophisticated than the standard "beer and pretzels" game and is certainly a step up in complexity from programmer Dan Cermak's former design, Colonial Conquest. For those who liked Colonial Conquest and are looking for a similar game based on World War II, Storm Across Europe should offer an interesting interlude.