Combat Mission Battle for Normandy

About

"Combat Mission: Battle for Normandy" is a tactical WW2 simulation, focusing on the three months following the D-Day landings in Western France. Players command American and German forces in four campaigns, 21 scenarios, and various quick battles, with a wide array of detailed combat equipment. The game utilizes a realistic 3D environment for battalion-level and below warfare, allowing control of individual vehicles, teams, and squads.

Genres & Tags

Strategy

Play Modes

Combat Mission Battle for Normandy screenshot

78%

Audience ScoreBased on 318 reviews

story18 positive mentions

graphics20 negative mentions

The game offers an incredibly in-depth and realistic tactical experience, making it a must-play for fans of military simulations.
Despite its dated graphics, the gameplay is immersive and rewarding, with a strong focus on strategy and tactics.
The WEGO turn-based system allows for careful planning and execution, providing a unique gameplay experience that stands out in the genre.

The game suffers from significant performance issues, including low frame rates and crashes, especially on modern systems.
Graphics and user interface are outdated, which can detract from the overall experience and make it less appealing to new players.
The high price point is considered unjustifiable by many, given the age of the engine and the lack of substantial updates or improvements.

story
120 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
82%
3%
The "Combat Mission" series is praised for its historical accuracy and depth in military simulation, offering a realistic portrayal of various conflicts, particularly World War II. Players appreciate the intricate tactical gameplay that requires careful planning and execution, although some missions can be frustratingly difficult. However, concerns about high prices, multiplayer bugs, and a lack of modern conveniences have been noted, leading to mixed feelings about the overall value of the games.
- “Combat mission battle for normandy is a tactical battle simulator that aims to simulate World War II during the period immediately following the Normandy landings up to September of 1944.”
- “The developers pride themselves on that all the campaigns, missions, units, vehicles, and even the terrain were recreated with the utmost attention to detail, to the best of their abilities and sources.”
- “I love all the combat mission games; they are a masterpiece of the genre, and battle for normandy is no different.”
- “Not interested in the slightest with one-off battles with no consequence or story, so that's what your £50 will get you.”
- “Some missions and campaigns are very difficult and can be very frustrating.”
- “I played the first few combat missions years ago (the last one I played was Shock Force 1, I guess) and not much has changed in 15 years.”
graphics
116 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
69%
17%
The graphics of the game are widely regarded as outdated, with many reviewers noting that they resemble those from the early 2000s or even the 90s. While the visuals are criticized for being poor and poorly optimized, players often emphasize that the game's exceptional gameplay and tactical depth compensate for the lack of modern graphical fidelity. Overall, if high-quality graphics are a priority, this game may not meet expectations, but its realistic wargaming experience remains a strong selling point.
- “The game play in CM games is so fascinating and mesmerizing, you will overlook the dated graphics.”
- “While the graphics are a little dated, there is no other wargame that is remotely as realistic as the Combat Mission series.”
- “Please don't let the people that complain about graphics fool you, this is the best you will ever get when it comes to WW2, Western Front wargame.”
- “Extremely disappointed in the very poor graphics resolution.”
- “20 year old graphics while being presented as modern is bs.”
- “The game does not shine so much in a technical sense - the graphics are old and outdated by today's standards (and probably by the ones back at release, too) and the engine has its fair share of problems.”
gameplay
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
70%
15%
The gameplay in this WWII strategy game is noted for its noob-friendly approach and unique mechanics, such as the "we-go" system and a complex spotting mechanic, which can be both engaging and frustrating. However, players criticize the outdated graphics and user interface, which detract from the overall experience, alongside some tedious mechanics that require precise positioning. While the game offers a realistic tactical experience, it is recommended to read the manual to fully grasp its features and mechanics.
- “The we-go system is a brilliant mechanic that's served Battlefront (and me) well for over 15 years.”
- “Yes, you'll have to read the manual (although there are some excellent content creators out there who can help ease you into the mechanics), but whilst most games these days merely induce low-level rage, this one somehow manages to make me laugh out loud on a regular basis.”
- “There are some good gameplay mechanics in this game, which make it very unique.”
- “Sadly, the full fluidity of gameplay and UI has decreased over time due to some technical outdatedness, more so with bigger, battalion-sized battles.”
- “There are some irksome issues with certain mechanics (e.g. 'occupy' objectives require you to root every last enemy soldier out of the objective as opposed to changing position based on the weighted strength of the forces present in the zone).”
- “Another situation is when trying to suppress a location; it is the most finicky thing I have to do since I have to find the sweet spot in order to efficiently suppress a spot. Keep in mind the enemy unit has no problem shooting at this unit, even though for some reason my unit will refuse to shoot in a specific direction. I love the realism and the actual tactical maneuvering, but it's just a constant battle with this whole mechanic and struggling to move my units at the 'sweet spot' so they can actually shoot back.”
optimization
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
37%
50%
The game's optimization has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players citing poor performance, sluggish controls, and outdated graphics as major issues. Users report that the game is often unplayable due to stuttering and resolution problems, and there are calls for better optimization, particularly for modern hardware. While some players find potential in the gameplay, the current state of optimization significantly detracts from the overall experience.
- “I'm currently working on mapping all of the controls and performance seems pretty good so far.”
- “It could be optimized better for modern hardware, but hopefully that'll come with an engine update.”
- “Fix your optimization please.”
- “It's just sad that it is so badly optimized, the controls feel sluggish, the sound and graphics are by this point more than a quarter century old and it doesn't support more than 2 players.”
- “Game is unplayable, resolution and performance problems are common.”
- “At times, it's clunky, performance may be atrocious.”
grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, especially as the number of units increases to battalion levels, which negatively impacts gameplay. The lack of modern convenience features contributes to a slow and uncomfortable experience, making the overall process feel cumbersome and unengaging.
- “This massively affects gameplay negatively and is also really tedious.”
- “Combat mission is ugly, slow, sometimes tedious, uncomfortable and has almost no modern convenience features.”
- “Probably not a huge deal if you are used to shuffling counters, but it can get tedious in larger scenarios.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report experiencing strong emotional reactions, with some expressing feelings of sadness and frustration that led them to stop playing. The intensity of these emotions highlights the game's ability to resonate deeply with its audience.
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The reviews do not provide specific feedback on the music aspect of the game, instead focusing on the overall quality and approachability of the wargame itself. There is a mention of music as a separate hobby, but it does not relate directly to the game's music. Overall, the music aspect remains unaddressed in the provided texts.

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2h Median play time

2h Average play time

2-2h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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