V for Victory: Utah Beach

Utah Beach was really the first computerized war board game! The computer would take care of the point counting, record keeping and factoring so that the player could focus on moving his units and playing the game. Supply routing and levels, fatigue and disruption ratings, differing attack and defence levels, weather and ground conditions and complex terrain effects are some of the factors to be considered by the player in planning his movements and attacks. Artillery, airpower and off-shore naval guns are available for support and are handled simply but realistically.

Although turn-based like it’s' paper predecessors, the computer helps out here as well. Movement and combat are simultaneous. The first phase of each turn is a planning phase where both sides plan their movement, combat, support and engineering operations for the turn. Once completed, the computer conducts the actions for both sides at the same time and here the factors of supply level, fatigue and disruption play an important part in determining which unit moves first, and attacks first!
There are six smaller scenarios that can be played in an hour or two that use fewer units and a smaller map. The campaign game covers the entire scope of the battle and allows the player to determine how the campaign should unfold. Unit levels are battalions and regiments and the map offers enough room to deploy units and manoeuvre them. There are also a number of historical variations and "what-ifs" that can be chosen for each side. These are based on actual historical possibilities and can help or hurt either side. They range anywhere from altering weather probabilities to adding or delaying units to adjusting unit deployments. These and other possible changes can be used to adjust play-balance and really add to replay ability by exploring alternate outcomes.
The enemy seems less affected by weather, supply and zones of control than you are. His artillery seems to always know where your attacks are coming. Computer Americans have more air attacks completed than you do. At times the AI can seem erratic; defending low value objectives to the last man while abandoning important ones.
The graphics are clear and very nice. If you keep in mind this game is one of the first of its' kind, that the developers are still learning, and accept the game for what it is, there is still plenty here to like and Utah Beach has a lot to offer. As an added bonus the other three games in the V For Victory series Velikye Luki, Market-Garden, and Gold Juno Sword are included in this download for Utah Beach! What could be better than rediscovering all these gems!
All in all this the greatest game I’ve ever played! I recommend it for all ages! I’m sure you’ll like it as much as I.