Airborne Assault: Highway to the Reich review (PC)

There's also an option to delay orders in the game to realistically model the lag between when an order is issued and when it is actually carried out. It can take quite a while for orders to filter down to units in the field; when a unit receives an order, it has to organize a plan and then pass instructions down to lower-level units. The more levels an order has to pass through, the more time is required to execute the order. Tell a division to shift locations, and it could take hours before the first units start to move out. This makes it all the more important to plan wisely. While your subordinates are busy carrying out your orders, you have time to analyze the battlefield, devise a plan, and then adjust the plan in reaction to developments.

Highway to the Reich does an excellent job of taking a staggering amount of data and presenting it in a way that's virtually transparent to the player. Each unit is modeled to historically accurate detail. The airborne divisions dropped into Holland are elite troops, better trained and equipped than the garrison units they first encounter. However, unit performance is based on a number of factors, including morale, cohesion, fatigue, and supply. So the longer your parachute units are in action and the more losses they incur, the less combat effective they become. The game even keeps track of the number of bullets in the game, so when a unit runs out of a certain type of ammunition, its combat capability drops accordingly.

Keeping in mind that the graphics consist of nothing more than unit counters on a map, Highway to the Reich is a beautiful game and a marked upgrade from Red Devils Over Arnhem. Maps now have a hand-drawn look, along with better textures and an antialiasing option that sharpens the lines and text. Zoomed out, it feels like you're looking at the same sort of high-quality paper maps used by the military. Panther Games also included map and scenario editors, along with detailed PDF documentation on how to use them, so you can create your own settings and campaigns.

The game has a somewhat steep learning curve, and it takes an hour or two to pick up the basics. Thankfully, there's an informative 122-page manual that features a comprehensive two-step tutorial, along with tables, charts, and a glossary. We only wish that the text weren't so small, because you really have to squint to read it.

Highway to the Reich is a rich, rewarding game and a great example of how the designers are using the PC to push wargaming into new and exciting directions. The elegant gameplay system makes it one of the most accessible operational-level wargames we've ever played, and it's worth your time if you're a veteran wargame fan or if you've been thinking about jumping into wargaming.