If you’re interested in Take Command: Second Manassas, and since you’re
reading this review I assume that you are, the first thing that you need to know
is that this is not a Total War type of game set in the Civil War. It is more of
a real-time war game than a real-time strategy game and the pace of the game
reflects this. RTS fans used to fast-paced click-fests will be put off by the
time it can take to get a unit in the right formation and then plod their way
down a road across a sprawling map just to meet the enemy. On the other hand,
war gamers will appreciate the game’s attention to detail with respect to the
weapons, tactics, and command structure used by the armies of the Civil Way.
Your ultimate enjoyment of the game will be directly related to which of these
two camps you belong.
As the title suggests, Take Command: Second Manassas focuses on the 1862
battle also known as the Second Battle of Bull Run. You can choose to recreate
smaller portions of the battle through the game’s 18 scenarios or use the open
mode to recreate larger portions of the battle or design your own custom
engagements.
Take Command is primarily a game of getting your troops to the right place at
the right time. Maneuver and positioning are critical to victory as you need to
bring as many of your inaccurate weapons to bear from the right locations while
preventing your enemy from doing the same. This may seem like a daunting task in
the larger battles, and to a certain extent it is, but the game makes it easier
to manage thanks to its clean interface and excellent AI. The interface will be
the most familiar aspect of the game to RTS gamers as the game makes use of the
RTS standard control panel along the bottom portion of the screen. You can
select a unit by clicking it on the main screen, selecting formation and
marching orders from the panel, and then selecting its destination or target
with another click on the main screen. The AI is there to prevent you from
having to constantly do this for every one of your units, though. Units smartly
respond to enemy fire, automatically changing to line formation if needed and
adjusting their facing to bring the most firepower to bear. You won’t have to
worry about a neglected unit being torn to shreds and can concentrate instead on
your overall battle strategy. Speaking of AI, it cuts both ways in the game and
will provide you with a more than adequate challenge. It understands the nuances
of 19th Century warfare and you’ll need to stay on your toes if you don’t want
to see your troops bolting from the field of battle en mass.
The game has a 3D graphics engine that will certainly please war gamers as
they are used to having to deal with crude graphics in most of their games. The
game supports a user movable camera, but in most cases you’ll leave it at a
pretty high level view. Besides making it easier to command your troops the game
also looks best in this view. When zoomed in all the way the graphics start to
break down a bit and soldiers appear very blurry and environmental details go
either the blurry or blocky route. When pulled back though the game does give a
nice view of the Northern Virginia countryside as it must have appeared in the
1860s. The sounds in the game are surprisingly good with ambient sounds such as
the rhythmic hum of cicadas or the call of birds giving way to the cacophony of
gunfire. The game makes full use of 3D audio, so if a cavalry charge is coming
from your right you’ll hear it from your right speakers before you see the
riders.
Overall, Take Command: Manassas will not appeal to the mainstream strategy
gamer looking for a Rome: Total War style game. War gamers without an
uncompromising bias towards turn-based play and real-time strategy fans looking
for a more realistic depiction of battlefield strategy and tactics should
definitely give the game a look. It may play at a slower pace than most games,
but it will be time well spent.
In The End, This Game Hath Been Rated:
80%. An excellent strategy game for anyone with an interest in the
Civil War.
