Decisive Battles of WWII: Battles in Normandy
{{Short description|2004 wargame video game}}
{{italic title}}
{{Infobox VG
|title = Battles in Normandy
|image = Decisive Battles of WWII cover.jpg
|developer = Strategic Studies Group
|publisher = Matrix Games
|released = 15 September 2004
|genre = Computer wargame
|modes = Single-player
|platforms = Windows
}}
Decisive Battles of WWII: Battles in Normandy is a 2004 computer wargame developed by Strategic Studies Group and published by Matrix Games. It is the third game in the Decisive Battles of WWII series, following The Ardennes Offensive (1997) and Korsun Pocket (2003). A fourth game in the series, Battles in Italy, was released in 2005.
Gameplay
Set in World War II, Battles in Normandy is a turn-based computer wargame that simulates the conflicts between Germany and Allied forces that surrounded Operation Overlord.
Development
The game features a new game engine different from that of earlier Decisive Battles games.{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050317052701/http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/battlesinnormandy/news_6107031.html | url=http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/battlesinnormandy/news_6107031.html | title=D-Day approaches for Battle in Normandy | author=Staff | date=September 9, 2004 | work=GameSpot | archive-date=March 17, 2005 | url-status=dead }}
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| CGW = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite magazine | author=Luo, Di | title=Reviews; Decisive Battles of World War II: Battles in Normandy | issue=247 | date=January 2005 | magazine=Computer Gaming World | page=98 }}
}}
Bob Proctor reviewed the game for Computer Gaming World, and stated that "it adheres tightly to the point of view of a Corps commander. It gives you data on weather, terrain, unit strength and condition but fails to provide any idea of combat odds or why a particular combat result occurred. You get a feel for this only after many games."{{cite magazine |last=Proctor |first=Bob |title=Battles in Normandy: SSG'S New Western Front Game |magazine=Computer Gaming World |date=December 1987 |volume=1 |issue=42 |pages=47–48, 54}}
GameSpot{{'}}s Tracy Baker wrote, "Take one of the best operational-level World War II wargame engines ever devised, improve it, and cross it with one of the most compelling campaigns in military history, and you get Battles in Normandy".{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041011035316/http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/battlesinnormandy/review.html | url=http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/battlesinnormandy/review.html | title=Battles in Normandy | date=October 8, 2004 | author=Baker, Tracy | work=GameSpot | archive-date=October 11, 2004 | url-status=dead }} In Computer Gaming World, Di Luo argued that it "may be the best operational-level computer war game on the market today."
The editors of Computer Gaming World named Battles in Normandy the 2004 "War Game of the Year". They wrote, "This operational-level look at the Normandy campaign is probably the best war game on the market and is a must-have for any war gamer's collection."{{cite magazine | author=((Editors of CGW ))| magazine=Computer Gaming World | title=2004 Games of the Year |date=March 2005 | issue=249 | pages=56–67 }} The game was the winner of the Best 20th Century+ PC Game Charles Roberts Award in 2004.{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090508030713/http://www.alanemrich.com/CSR_pages/Awards%20Pages/CSR2004.htm | url=http://www.alanemrich.com/CSR_pages/Awards%20Pages/CSR2004.htm | title=2004: The Awards Story | date=August 7, 2005 | work=Charles S. Roberts Awards | archive-date=May 8, 2009 | url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=http://www.consimworld.com/archives/000581.html |title=2004 CSR Award Winners |publisher=ConsimWorld |date=2005-08-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050812030406/http://www.consimworld.com/archives/000581.html |archive-date=2005-08-12}} Its release date was 15 September 2004.[http://www.cnet.com/products/battles-in-normandy-pc/specs/ CNET][http://www.matrixgames.com/products/281/details/Battles.In.Normandy Matrixgames.com]
Reviews
References
{{reflist}}
{{Strategic Studies Group}}
{{Matrix Games}}
Category:Strategic Studies Group games
Category:Turn-based strategy video games
Category:Video games developed in Australia