By Tim Jordan

WWII Frontline Command puts you in tactical command of troops in mainland Europe from the days just before D-Day through the drive to Berlin. The single player campaign mode starts you out with missions that were the prep work for D-Day. Your first chore is to take out a radar installation outside a small town, then moving on to destroying bridges to block German troop movements while capturing another bridge to secure the Allied supply routes. The missions progress though D-Day and then the rest of the war in Western Europe. Each successive mission is made available as you complete them in order.

In each mission you are given units with different specialties including engineers, mortar teams, machine gunners, commanders, and basic riflemen. Each type of unit is critical in accomplishing the missions. Riflemen and machine guns need to draw out and engage the enemy, while always providing covering fire to allow the specialists to get close enough to destroy their targets.

Armored combat takes to the streets.

Your units can occupy buildings or take cover behind trees or hedges using the fog of war to remain undetected until sighted by the enemy. Of course, the fog of war limits your ability to find your enemy until they are sometimes right upon you.

You can give your units individual commands or order them by group, very similar to the Age of Empires model, though with a much reduced set of possible commands. Morale is a consideration too, as troops in groups taking losses or coming under heavy fire have a tendency abandon their assignments and seek cover. You need to keep an eye on the status of each soldier or group to make sure everyone is still with the program.

The multi-player game is a little different. Depending on the scenario selected, you have credits available to spend on different unit types. This of course leaves open the issue that you do not know the makeup of your competitors’ troops. The game keeps track of winners and statistics such as kills, troops lost, etc.

Page 2 of 2 »