Review

Sid Meier's Antietam is the follow-up release to the very popular and highly acclaimed Sid Meier's Gettysburg!. Trying to follow such a well made game has to be difficult since just about all you can do is mess things up or give us more of the same - which in this case would not be bad at all. Firaxis, however, has pulled off the nearly impossible. When considered apart from its older sibling, Antietam! is fantastic.

Let's start with an overview of the game. This is a real-time strategy game that begins on the morning of September 17th, 1862. This is the opening of what would be the bloodiest single day of combat in the entire history of the United States. You can select to play individual portions of the battle -- as single scenarios -- or you can play the entire event as one grand day-long battle.

 One of the best features of the game is the ability to set several options including which side you control (U.S. or C.S.), difficulty levels, and the tactics style of your opponent (cautious, aggressive, direct, flexible, etc.). The game can also be played historically (scenarios begin with the same troops in the same locations with the same objectives as the actual battle), random (changing troops and starting positions) or with a mixture of the two. This variety keeps the game interesting and playable long after the fixed scenarios alone would no longer hold your interest
To analyze the details of the game, you have to look at Antietam! from two points of view: as a stand alone game or as a follow-up to Gettysburg!

As a stand-alone game Antietam! is the best wargame of any kind this reviewer has ever seen. It completely captures the look and feel of 1860's era combat. Command control is important but not oppressive to the user. Allowing your brigade structure to break down has combat consequences that are realistic without imposing user interface penalties as many games do. Troop movement and performance is equally accurate and compelling. The graphics and sound effects are mesmerizing. The battle -- including units, terrain, tactics, and structures -- has been meticulously studied and reproduced precisely. If this game were any more realistic you might get hit by a stray bullet! Quite simply, I love this game.