Combat Mission Black Sea

Combat Mission: Black Sea appeals greatly to people who already love this kind of hardcore wargame, but it doesn’t do much to welcome anyone just wanting to dip their toe in. I genuinely enjoyed the learning curve and had fun with it at first — but now it just feels ancient, with units, tactics, and the overall engine stuck in the 90s. It’s a good game, but I simply can’t justify picking up another title in the series at these prices.

Short version: Dated Engine, Dated Graphics, Dated UI, and Overpriced. Longer Version: Combat Mission relies on an aging engine, with graphics and a user interface that fall short of contemporary standards. At its premium price point, the lack of meaningful modernization is difficult to justify. A past experience with Battlefront’s customer support further undermined confidence in the product and should have served as a warning—fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me. I now regard my substantial investment in the series as a mistake. For these reasons, Matrix Games’ continued decision to publish the franchise is difficult to reconcile with the higher standards evident elsewhere in their catalog.

In desperate need of modernization

WHAT DID THEY KNOW

Почти 5 к за эту поебенЪ! на древнейшем движке. Даже современный ПК не тянет её потому что движок игры вообще не использует ресурсы компа. Афганистан 82 и то лучше чем эта залупа за 5 косарей еще и без перевода.

This is a hard game, but rewardingly so, much like the old tactical shooters of yesteryear, see the first Ghost Recon game (from 2001). The core fundamental gameplay is very good, but there are a lot of quality-of-life, tangential/peripheral problems like bad performance, janky interface, outdated engine code, etc. The game teaches you how modern warfare works at battalion/company level to a pretty realistic degree, i.e. very deadly, where every mistake is punished with instadeath as 21st century weaponry is much more accurate than its 20th century predecessors, and packs a more powerful punch, with advanced optics/sensors (ISR) meaning it's much harder to hide out in the battlefield. This ain't the old days of warfare 100 years ago during the inter-war period, where you can get away with a few sloppy mistakes here and there. Bought this through the Slitherine Store for 16$ using a coupon. At the price I paid for it (16$) I'm happy with the game. But, had I paid full price (70$+) I'd have been very disappointed given the aforementioned flaws mentioned above. A recommended purchase, if you can get it at or close to that 16$ price point.

this game has convinced me that the BMP-3 is the best VBIED ever designed

Очень интересная игра. В ней высокий уровень реализма, и это пугает и завораживает одновременно. Из самого игрового процесса: Часто потери противнику наносились не от штурма, а от его неудачных отступлений. Одно неверное решение при отклонении от общего плана нанесло мне сокрушительные потери. Очень пугает ответственность, это свойственно людям чьи решениия могут привести к серьёзным последствиям. Что-бы не оплошать приходиться строить планы и думать наперёд. Людям которые играют в RTS или относятся к стратегическим играм с равнодушием не подойдёт, ты поймёшь эту игру только если будешь переживать за каждого юнита как за реального человека, если будешь видеть в ней реальность, а не пиксель с планом захватить точку А. Добавьте русский язык, на английском всё-же не так удобно. Цена высокая, но я это понимаю, стратегии нишевый продукт, думаю буду покупать игры от студии и дальше. Конечно буду играть дальше, денег не жаль.

К сожалению цена неоправданно высокая. Движок старее мамонта, чтобы поиграть на минимальном уровне комфорта, придется танцевать с бубном. Не рекомендую.

Combat Mission: Black Sea is a demanding and highly detailed tactical wargame developed by Battlefront and published by Matrix Games that explores modern near-peer warfare with an intensity and realism few games attempt. Set in a fictional but unsettlingly plausible conflict in Eastern Europe, the game imagines a large-scale clash between Russian, Ukrainian, and NATO forces during the late 2010s. Rather than sensationalizing modern warfare, it presents it as fast, lethal, and deeply unforgiving, emphasizing how technology, doctrine, and information dominance shape outcomes long before units exchange fire. At its core, the game uses the Combat Mission series’ signature approach to tactical combat, offering both real-time play and the WEGO system, where orders are planned and then executed simultaneously during a fixed action phase. WEGO mode, in particular, defines the experience by forcing players to think ahead and accept uncertainty. Once the clock starts, units act on their orders regardless of how the situation evolves, capturing the friction and chaos of real command. This design choice makes reconnaissance, timing, and positioning absolutely critical, as mistakes cannot be instantly corrected and often result in catastrophic losses. What truly distinguishes Black Sea is its modeling of modern battlefield technology. Units are equipped with advanced optics, thermal imaging, drones, precision-guided artillery, electronic warfare capabilities, and active protection systems, all of which dramatically affect how engagements unfold. Spotting the enemy first is often decisive, and forces caught in the open can be destroyed at long range before they have a chance to react. Infantry are vulnerable without cover and support, armor is powerful but far from invincible, and combined arms coordination is not optional but essential. The game conveys just how compressed and lethal modern combat has become, where seconds and meters can determine victory or defeat. Infantry behavior is governed by morale, training, fatigue, leadership, and suppression, making troops feel like human elements rather than expendable counters. Units may hesitate, break, or refuse orders under heavy fire, while well-led formations can maintain cohesion and continue fighting under extreme pressure. Vehicles simulate armor penetration, internal damage, and crew effectiveness, creating tense armored engagements where even advanced tanks must respect threats from infantry anti-tank weapons and artillery. Losses are meaningful, and reckless tactics are punished quickly, reinforcing the importance of disciplined maneuver and careful planning. Terrain plays a central role in shaping every battle. Urban environments, open fields, rivers, forests, and rolling hills all influence line of sight, engagement ranges, and movement options. Cities become deadly mazes where infantry clearing operations must be methodical and supported, while open terrain rewards reconnaissance and long-range fires. Weather and lighting conditions further complicate operations, affecting visibility and sensor effectiveness. Every map feels like a complex tactical problem where terrain must be read and exploited rather than simply crossed. The game offers a substantial amount of content through multiple campaigns, standalone scenarios, and a flexible Quick Battle system. Campaigns place players in challenging operational situations where force preservation and long-term planning matter, while standalone scenarios offer focused tactical puzzles. The inclusion of a powerful editor greatly enhances replayability, allowing players to create custom scenarios or explore alternate engagements using the game’s deep simulation tools. This flexibility ensures that the experience remains fresh long after the initial content is completed. Visually, Combat Mission: Black Sea favors function over modern polish. The graphics are serviceable and clear, prioritizing battlefield readability and information density over cinematic presentation. The interface is dense and can feel intimidating to newcomers, requiring time and patience to learn. However, this complexity reflects the depth of the simulation, and once mastered, the interface provides exceptional control over units and access to critical tactical information that few other games offer. The artificial intelligence is capable and often punishing, particularly when exploiting exposed units or poorly planned advances. While experienced players may eventually identify patterns, the AI generally provides enough resistance to make engagements tense and rewarding. Multiplayer further elevates the experience, as human opponents bring unpredictability and force even greater care in planning and execution, fully showcasing the strengths of the WEGO system. Combat Mission: Black Sea is not designed for casual players or quick sessions. It demands patience, study, and a willingness to accept failure as part of the learning process. Battles are slow, losses are brutal, and success often comes only after careful analysis and adaptation. Yet for players who embrace its depth, the game delivers one of the most authentic and intellectually challenging representations of modern ground combat available. It stands as a sobering, methodical, and deeply engaging simulation that rewards thoughtful command and offers a rare glimpse into the complexity and danger of contemporary warfare. Rating: 8/10