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 159 reviews

story9 positive mentions

graphics10 negative mentions

The game offers an incredibly in-depth and realistic tactical combat 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 real-world tactics.
The WEGO system allows for a unique turn-based experience that enhances the tactical depth and planning involved in battles.

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Graphics and user interface are outdated, which can detract from the overall experience and make it less appealing to new players.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 game and the lack of substantial updates or improvements.

story
60 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
80%
5%
The "Combat Mission" series is praised for its historical accuracy and depth in military simulation, offering a realistic portrayal of World War II battles with meticulously designed missions and units. However, players note that the games can be frustratingly difficult, particularly in multiplayer modes plagued by bugs, and some feel the pricing is excessive for the content provided. Overall, while the series is celebrated for its tactical complexity and immersive gameplay, it may not appeal to everyone due to its steep learning curve and dated graphics.
- “Combat Mission games are a very historically accurate depiction of various conflicts, both old and new.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “Not interested in the slightest with one-off battles with no consequence or story, so that's what your £50 will get you.”
- “I played the first few combat missions years ago (the last one I played was Shock Force, I guess) and not much has changed in 15 years.”
- “Combat Mission is ugly, slow, sometimes tedious, uncomfortable, and has almost no modern convenience features.”
graphics
58 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 be suitable, but its realistic wargaming experience is highly praised.
- “The gameplay in Combat Mission games is so fascinating and mesmerizing that 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 WWII, Western Front wargames.”
- “The graphics aren't from this decade, but it's still a decent game.”
- “Extremely disappointed in the very poor graphics resolution.”
- “20 year old graphics while being presented as modern is bs.”
gameplay
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
70%
15%
The gameplay in this WWII wargame is noted for its noob-friendly approach and unique mechanics, such as the we-go system and a complex spotting mechanic that adds depth to tactical maneuvering. However, players criticize the outdated graphics and user interface, which detract from the overall experience, alongside some frustrating mechanics like the "occupy" objectives and finicky suppression actions. While the game offers engaging realism and strategic depth, it requires a significant investment in learning the mechanics, often necessitating a manual for full comprehension.
- “WW2 gameplay is generally a lot more noob-friendly if you want to start out with wargames.”
- “The we-go system is a brilliant mechanic that's served battlefront (and me) well for over 15 years.”
- “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).”
- “If you ignore the awful interface, graphics, and all the general lack of polish (and bear it in mind, that's difficult to do), the gameplay is similar (and probably an improvement) to the old games - a good military strategy game.”
optimization
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
33%
50%
Overall, the optimization of the game has received significant criticism, with many users reporting poor performance, sluggish controls, and outdated graphics that hinder the gameplay experience. While some players have noted that performance improves during certain tasks, the general consensus is that the game is poorly optimized for modern hardware, making it frustrating and often unplayable. There are hopes for future updates to address these issues, but currently, the optimization leaves much to be desired.
- “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.”
- “It's a shame I was hoping it would be good, but the performance is so bad that I can't stomach playing it.”
- “My two biggest gripes are the weak performance and the bad controls in combination with the UI.”
- “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.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, especially as unit numbers increase to battalion levels, leading to a negative impact on gameplay. The lack of modern convenience features further exacerbates the slow and uncomfortable experience during combat missions.
- “This massively affects gameplay negatively and is also really tedious.”
- “Combat missions are ugly, slow, sometimes tedious, uncomfortable, and have 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
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report that the game evokes strong emotional responses, with some experiencing intense moments that lead to tears and a desire to pause or stop the gameplay.
- “At that point, I cried and hit ceasefire.”
music
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The reviews suggest that while serious wargames typically don't focus heavily on music, the overall experience of the game is highly regarded, making it a top-tier choice for serious gamers. The mention of music as a personal hobby indicates a contrast in investment between wargaming and music, but it does not directly address the game's musical elements.
- “The music in this game is repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “I found the soundtrack to be uninspired and forgettable, which detracted from the overall experience.”
- “The audio quality of the music is subpar, and it feels like an afterthought rather than a key component of the game.”