Combat Mission: Red Thunder

About

"Combat Mission: Red Thunder" is a tactical warfare game set on the Eastern Front during the summer of 1944. Players can command either Soviet or German forces in historical battles and campaigns, or create their own customized quick battles. The game features new units, terrain, and features, providing an engaging and detailed experience of the decisive and devastating Eastern Front battles.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

85%

Audience ScoreBased on 27 reviews

optimization3 positive mentions

graphics3 negative mentions

The game offers a very realistic and detailed combat experience, capturing the tactical aspects of warfare effectively.
The user community provides excellent support, enhancing the overall gameplay experience with mods and shared strategies.
It delivers an authentic WW2 experience with a focus on historical accuracy, making it highly recommended for military history enthusiasts.

The game suffers from performance issues, including lag and frequent crashes, which detract from the overall experience.
The outdated engine and graphics need significant updates to meet modern gaming standards.
The unit scouting system is flawed, leading to frustrating gameplay where units fail to detect nearby enemies.

story
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
68%
16%
The story aspect of "Combat Mission: Red Thunder" is centered around its authentic World War II setting on the Eastern Front, offering players a deeply tactical and rewarding gameplay experience. While the graphics and engine show their age, the game excels in providing a rich simulation with a variety of missions and units, allowing players to engage in epic tank battles and strategic operations. Overall, it captures the essence of the Combat Mission series, appealing to both veterans and newcomers with its depth and community support.
- “The depth of the simulation, the detailed unit soft factors, the easy-to-learn mapmaker/mission editor, the mods which will craft the game the way you want it to be, and the incredible community that has been behind the Combat Mission games for the past 20 years.”
- “Very good so far, better than what I thought it would be. It is a great authentic WWII experience and a lot less stressful to use compared to previous titles. Helmets go flying off soldiers' heads when shot, creating a very enjoyable experience to see what your actions result in, not to mention all the different explosive effects and enemy troops who surrender. This Combat Mission is an improvement on previous titles.”
- “Combat Mission Red Thunder... it's Combat Mission on the Eastern Front 44 to 45. If you know what that means, then yes, it's a Combat Mission game which means outdated but yet charming graphics, deeply tactical and rewarding gameplay.”
- “Initially turned off by the outdated graphics and complicated UI and controls, I was pushed away from the Combat Mission franchise.”
- “Combat Mission Red Thunder... it's Combat Mission on the Eastern Front 44 to 45. If you know what that means, then yes, it's a Combat Mission game which means outdated but yet charming graphics, deeply tactical and rewarding gameplay, and yes, the engine is about 20 years old and can run like a dustbin falling down a set of spiral stairs.”
- “Combat Mission Red Thunder... it's Combat Mission on the Eastern Front 44 to 45. If you know what that means, then yes, it's a Combat Mission game which means outdated but yet charming graphics, deeply tactical and rewarding gameplay, and yes, the engine is about 20 years old and can run like a dustbin falling down a set of spiral stairs.”
graphics
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The graphics of the game are generally viewed as outdated, with some users expressing a desire for an upgrade, while others appreciate the charm of the landscapes and units when viewed from the right angles. Despite criticisms regarding frame rates and a complicated user interface, the visuals contribute to the game's tactical depth and overall enjoyment for fans of the franchise.
- “Great graphics and gameplay options.”
- “People moan about the graphics, but I think overall the landscapes and units have a certain charm to them, especially if you get the camera just right while everything is kicking off.”
- “Initially turned off by the outdated graphics and complicated UI and controls, I was pushed away from the Combat Mission franchise.”
- “Sure it has its flaws with sometimes below 60 fps gameplay, the graphics, the complicated user interface, the sounds, and the eye-gouging price tag.”
- “Combat Mission Red Thunder ... gonna keep it simple ... it's Combat Mission on the Eastern Front '44 to '45. If you know what that means, then yes, it's a Combat Mission game which means outdated but yet charming graphics, deeply tactical and rewarding gameplay, and yes, the engine is about 20 years old and can run like a dustbin falling down a set of spiral stairs.”
gameplay
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
Players appreciate the gameplay for its depth and tactical complexity, highlighting the skill required for commanding battalion-level operations. Many find it more forgiving and flexible compared to modern titles, leading to a satisfying experience when completing missions with minimal casualties.
- “I learned the incredible depth of the mechanics and systems of the game, developed an appreciation for the skill level required to command battalion-level tactical operations, and the satisfaction that is gained from completing a mission with minimal casualties.”
- “I am going to stick to Graviteam Tactics, which is way better and offers a similar depth and tactical gameplay.”
- “I find the gameplay more forgiving and flexible than the modern titles.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
100%
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with users reporting poor performance and a lack of updates to the engine, which has led to a frustrating experience despite the game's overall enjoyment. Many feel that the development team has not adequately addressed these issues, resulting in a significant disconnect between the game's quality and its technical execution.
- “The optimization in this game is impressive, allowing for smooth gameplay even on lower-end systems.”
- “I appreciate the developers' efforts in optimizing the game, making it accessible to a wider audience.”
- “The game runs beautifully after the latest optimization updates, enhancing the overall experience.”
- “However, it's time to update the engine, guys. It runs poorly, and while we pretty much all enjoy the game, there's no excuse for producing 9 out of 10 games on what the development team calls a new engine that has the same poor performance with zero updates. Great series, horrendous business practices.”
- “The performance is catastrophic.”