Axis & Allies: Iron Blitz Edition

• Platform: IBM PC Compatible
• Release Date: October 26, 1999
• Genre: Strategy
• Style: 2D Turn-Based Strategy
• Similar Games: Axis & Allies (IBM PC Compatible), Axis and Allies (Philips CD-i), Close Combat: Battle of the Bulge (IBM PC Compatible), Close Combat Trilogy (IBM PC Compatible)

Game Description

Based on earlier games from the Axis & Allies series, Axis & Allies: Iron Blitz Edition allows you to command armies of World War II from the perspective of one of the high commanders. You will be able to rewrite the pages of history from the comfort of your favorite chair and taste the sweetness of victory as your foes crumple under your dominance.

In the field of battle, many tools and soldiers will have to be used. Infantry divisions, air attacks, marines, destroyers, and an arsenal of tanks and artillery are what you'll be fighting with. Each icon for the tools and units is unique as well, representing the varying forces in World War II. Although, if you don't like the given icons, they can always be changed or altered with a tool that will let you import graphics or sprites directly into the game.

There are eight unique scenarios in total, each representing a certain aspect of World War II that requires you to use different tactics and units. During these missions, you will be able to customize your unit's ability to move and how it attacks, letting you decide how you want your army to function. You can also participate in "What If..." scenarios and create shocking or obscure circumstances. How about having the Axis and Allied powers consist of different members, or making the USA attack Britain? You can do this and customize units and terrain if you wish.

Since Axis & Allies features turn-based gameplay, you will have to be patient in order to achieve victory. Also, if the computer isn't enough of a challenge, you can play someone on a LAN, modem, or over the Internet via the Microsoft Gaming Zone. Up to five people can participate on the Internet. The balance of power and the peace of the world rests in your hands. Whatever fate you decide will be created in Axis & Allies: Iron Blitz Edition.

Roots & Influences

This game is based on the earlier Axis & Allies games and also the board game of the same name. The board game is very similar in its play style to this game.

Other games in the strategy genre such as Command & Conquer, Close Combat and the Civil War Collection were all helpers in forming this product.

Review: Overall

Do you remember playing RISK when you were younger? Did you enjoy the slow, yet methodical approach to war? Well, if your one of those people then this game is definitely right up your alley. What if your not, well you still might get a few perks out of it. The game is Axis & Allies: Iron Blitz Edition and it is for Windows 95 and Windows 98. It takes on a style that resembles the game RISK, with some other strategy game elements thrown in.

The time frame for the game is in World War II and you must take the role of the world's military leaders and help command to victory. You can take any number of leaders from any one of the Axiz or Allies nations. Patton, Churchill or Stalin they're all in there. Each country is also represented with unique icons and graphics that are unique to their nation as well.

Campaigns are plentiful in this game. You can play the game from many different time periods, throughout World War II. You can also play in many other real and fictitious situations or even the special, "What If..." scenarios where alliances are altered and attacking strategies are much different.

Before you even go into battle, there are many things that you can customize as well. if you want the terrain to be different or the units of your army to perform in a certain fashion, then make it so. You can also personalize the graphics and icons for your nation with the editor tool and then you'll have graphics and sprites of your own design. This is definitely a welcome little addition to the game.

Playing the game is similar to RISK and involves patience and waiting quite a bit. You will have a turn, in which you can deploy units, move units, attack, defend, buy weapons/soldiers or even plan strategies. Each player on the board has icons representing their various divisions and units of soldiers. While the whole gameplaying experience may not look very pretty, it can definitely be rewarding when you score a big victory from several other nations. Thankfully, this game can also be played over the Internet or through a MODEM. This can really heat up the action as actual human opponents are ready for anything and can provide dynamic competition.

Making the movements necessary for victory isn't hard either. The simple point & click interface works beautifully and is easy to understand. The only problem is a bit of a learning curve and some options and tactics may be a bit advanced and hard to grasp for some gamers. This simplistic interface and control scheme is a welcome addition to the game though.

I really must write a bit about the game's fantastic introduction as well. It, without comparison, was the best full-motion video introduction I'd seen in a while. It was so dynamic and featured guns blasting, cannons firing, Winston Churchill driving home his points of war and so much else. It was loud and in-your-face, but appropriate to get you into the mood of strategy.

The game also has some other strong presentation points worth noting. Still photos and other little cinematics litter the gameplay, just to keep you alive and varied. There are also a few sound effects littered here and there. The musical score for the game is solid, with no doubt about it. It is appropriate and doesn't detract or distract from the game as a whole.

I found this strategy game to be a welcome change to the crop of 3D-strategy games being released. Some other games have had partial elements of this, but not for a long time. While this game won't completely knock your socks off, it will provide some intelligent strategy action for those who are willing to accept it.

Review: Enjoyment

Some great strategy game play and one very good opening introduction!

Review: Graphics

They definitely aren't the strong suit of the game and don't have much detail.

Review: Sound

Some simple sound effects and a good musical score are what fill this game.

Review: Replay Value

Lots of strategy action for you to play! Terrain and unit editor are also lots of fun to play around with, as well as "What If..." scenarios.

Review: Documentation

A fairly thick manual with lots of information pertaining to the game's controls, game mechanics, and inner workings.

Production Credits