Scourge of War Chancellorsville Review
Featured Gameplay Scenario: Juggernaut, Jackson’s Finale
This is my third review in The Scourge of War Series. Im really getting addicted to this series and with each game Im noticing more features and better graphics. Always a plus.
Pros
Graphics improvement
Between Scourge of War Gettysburg and SOW Chancellorsville I notice a improvement in graphics and textures. I couldn’t help but admiring at how good everything looked throughout the scenario I played. Soldiers, Leaders, landscape, trees, and buildings all look Great.
Addicting Gameplay
What else can I say? The gameplay in Scourge of War Chancellorsville, heck the entire Scourge of War series I played so far is amazing. It immerses you right into the thick of things. Before you know it you’ll be shouting orders directly at your computer screen lol. Love it!
Historical detail
As with SOW Gettysburg & Antietam the developers put a lot of work into researching all the historical particulars of this game. From The Brigade, Division & Corps commanders all the way to their exact positions on the battlefield.
Great looking Mini Map
The mini map they developed for SOW Chancellorsville is much easier on the eyes. VERY easy to read the map and identify locations. Big props to Norb Soft for this. I love it!
Sound effects
I put this in my Scourge of War Gettysburg review but I will repost it here because their that good. The sound effects really immerse you into the game.
Addicting
There is a lot of replay value in this game. There are over 2 dozen scenarios in this game. The one I played lasted almost 2 hours. So imagine 24 scenarios x 2 hrs each… thats a lot of gameplay.
Recommendation
I would love to see a feature that would allow the player to issue orders through the mini map. It would be so convenient just clicking on a brigade and dragging a line where I want them to go. Also please include a zoom function. I had a hard time finding leaders and units, especially when their all on top of one another.
Cons
No special menu section
When you install this game it loads its scenarios and content into Scourge of War Gettysburg. To play SOW Chancellorsville you need to turn on SOW Gettysburg go through the menus until you hit Additional Battles and a list of Chancellorsville scenarios will show up. I was hoping SOW Chancellorsville would have its own UI Menu system to show off a Chancellorsville interface with pictures and images from the battle.
AI doesn’t obey orders all the time
I can’t tell you how many times I ordered my division commanders to attack a area and nothing happened. Their troops just stayed put. I issued and reissued the orders but still no one moved. In the end I had to take command of Divisions and Brigades just so I could get them moving.
This gets real frustrating. I hope there a fix coming for it.
Courier System needs overhaul
Everytime I have used the courier system It didnt seem to work. Ive requested for other commanders and units to help support me but they never do. They dont even send back my courier with a message. Send something even “Get lost I wont help you” would be appreciated lol.
No Full Battle Scenario
Was so hoping for a full battle scenario of The Battle of Chancellorsville. From Day 1 to Day 4, but alas its not so. I know something like this would make the scenario very LONG, but it would be really fun to play it. Imagine taking command of The Confederate Army on Day 1 and instead of going the historical route you chose to implement your own strategy. How cool would that be.
Features I would love added
Entrenching & Rivers. Currently you can’t entrench in the game, but this became a vital part in The Civil War. Towards the end of the war the shovel was as important as the rifle. Also currently there is no water in the game. You can only tell if your crossing a stream or river if your in a huge dirt patch. That represents water. It would be cool if we could see water added into the next title.
Fire on Selected enemy unit
I would love to be able to tell my units which enemy regiment to fire upon.
Conclusion.
I must say I really like Scrouge of War Chancellosville. The game’s graphics and textures look better. I really like the mini map… its simple and easy to identify landmarks. Although I really was hoping for a full Chancellorsville battle from beginning to end, I really enjoy the scenarios they included.
The game retails for $29.99. Like the other games in the series I recommend this one as well. With every new release in the Scourge of War series they seem to be improving the game with cool features and graphics. I look forward to the next one I play.
