Tank Battle: North Africa

If you enjoyed "Tank Battle 1944", or the "Battle Academy" series for that matter, then you'll have to add this to your library. With "Tank Battle: Pacific" no doubt to come, it's a turn-based strategist's Golden Time. Incorporating additions made to previous HexWar games, with a zoom feature now added the battles are turn-based and the decisions played out in real time. With HD graphics improving on the looks from the IOS version, the game tackles the rugged and sand covered battlefields of North Africa in 1943. With an 8 part tutorial, the game depsite being a mobile port, which is now a common and sometimes popular choice it, feels more like "Battle Academy" than simpler titles such as "Frontiline: The Longest Day" or"Road To Moscow". The maps are just smaller, and the AI not perhaps as viscious even on Hard. It will give you a challenge, though. Just don't go expecting "Panzer Corps", "Unity of Command" or a remake of "Steel Panthers". As with the previous title "TB: 1944", the game focuses on one front, the North African front where the USA and Great Britain fought the German Afrika Korps (as did our boys, the ANZACS who usually always get left out, but proudly adopted the intended insult with the German label "Rats of Tobruk"). While you may at first think you have quite a strong force to take the objectives, you'll be often surprised at having 3 Panzer III's suddenly arriving to block you from three sides. That's Rommel for you, not a cheating AI. Then again, you will often have off-map air and artillery support so it all balances out. The graphics are seviceable, with my only gripe being the Allies having their units 'painted' in European green (even tan and blue would have been more historically authentic, even if it were only the British who sometimes used that scheme). Might help distinguish Axis from Allies, but if you're a history buff you'd do that by looking at the unit up close. Besides, your units are highlighted with each term. Still, a monor gripe. The price point is right, and if you are in the mood for a strategy/tactical turn-based game and have any interest in this period, and don't want to spend the extra dollars Slitherine/Matrix demands for it's titles. Then again, if you are totally opposed to mobile ports, which is a bit strange in this day and age (move with the times, or stand still in the past) then it won't be for you, no matter the quality. If though, like me you enjoy mobile ports like this that fill that important niche where games lasting no longer than 15-20 minutes fit well with real life demands...grab it. EDIT: I really don't understand people rating reviews as "funny" when they aren't especially. Weird!

If you are looking for historical accuracy then this will be a stretch, but if you want a fun game, easy to play with some interesting challenges then I recommend you pick it up! For the cost you are getting your moneys worth for sure, at least in my opinion. Look forward to expansions or different theatres of Operations!

TANK BATTLE: NORTH AFRICA is a fun and very easy to get into wargame. It plays like tabletop wargames of the late 80s and 90s with different ranged fire depending on the unit firing, lethal artillery which can take out a whole unit of infantry with one doom delivering salvo, line of sight and environmental defensive cover. Having the terrain look deceptively peaceful only to move my infantry over a hill and see three or more enemy tanks suddenly appear in the distance is thrilling and fear instilling as my infantry scramble back down the hill into any thick patch of woods for cover. Music has a 1990s midi feel to it making it relaxing to listen to while motivating me to keep on playing. Sound effects put me into the bomb blasted bullet scarred battlefield with the sound of tank treads and infantry marches going ever forward to victory. At any minute i expect to hear, ' Its A Long Way To Tipperary' by John McCormack playing over the air waves. Oh but wait a minute that was.. another war. Graphics are well done with a sharp crisp detail and the finest tabletop cardboard piece quality coming to life with fluid animations. I especially like the marching infantry. TANK BATTLE: NORTH AFRICA for those such as myself who enjoy the likes of Slitherine's epic BATTLE ACADEMY along with many a 1990s classic on pc such as THE PERFECT GENERAL this is a must buy that will bring endless gameplay and tense strategic joy with a sweet release akin to the climax of lover's coupling.

NOTE: I DID PAY FOR THIS GAME Funny little wargame with the accent on game. It’s turn based. There are 7 campaigns for a total of 49 scenarios. Each scenario takes about 10-20 minutes. Do not expect to play Panzer Corps or Company of Heroes, you do not keep your units from one scenario to another and it’s not real time. PROS: + The game mechanics are simple, yet smart (that is, the use of different kinds of units makes sense…actually more sense than in some overall better games: artillery behaves like artillery (hear that, Order of Battle), the game scale is coherent (that’s for you, my beloved Panzer Corps). + Graphics are serviceable + The UI is very convenient CONS - Too many scenarios are similar - The game’s scope is quite limited - No attempt at recreating any historic battle, or, for a more apropos word, firefight Far from being a masterpiece, this is a tiny little game that makes you think and have fun in short burst of 15 minutes or so. OVERALL: 6/10

Again with all these bots giving this a positive overall. Do not trust them. This is NO different from the first game and the other five I played before.

Tank Battle: North Africa is nearly the same game as Tank Battle: 1944. For details on the rather straightforward wargame system, see [url=https://steamcommunity.com/id/jlericson/recommended/396320]my review of the previous game[/url]. Obviously the big difference is the desert setting and the necessary addition of British units. The missions also seem to have more variations. For instance, instead of simply taking a victory point, you might be expected to take it and defend it for 10 more turns. I haven't come close to completing all the missions in both games, so I don't know for sure, but these missions seem harder and more interesting. As with TB:1944, the scenarios are not in any way historical. Instead these are encounters between two evenly matched armies on carefully crafted terrain. For a beer and pretzels game, the Tank Battle series does require thought and planning to play well. This is a tribute to the the map design and the AI. Given the choice between this release and the previous title, I'd recommend North Africa as a more varied and engaging experience.

Don't expect much in this game

Pretty rough around the edges. Core gameplay can be alright with a well designed level. Couldn't hook me enough to play more than 15 minutes, so there might be some good game under the clunky and ugly interface. Not even close to being worth $15, but it's often on sale, and I got it for about $1 in a large bundle. Hope the developer keeps learning and makes a polished game as there is potential.

Good strategy game. Oldschool design is awesome. You can earn achievements. And you can get trading cards.

Tank Battle series is basically one same casual pseudo-strategy game copy-pasted multiple times and all of them are the same boring trash.