14 DAY TRIAL // I inch my recon Sdkfz 234/2 8 Rad forward just two spaces, ready for the glut of Soviet units that probably await just beyond the city. I spot only two regular infantry units and one T-24. This makes me a little too cocky and I commit artillery, tanks, and my own infantry to try and annihilate at least two of the seen opponents this turn. No air support is available because of a winter blizzard.
A Wespe and Panzerwerfer suppress the enemy, and a Tiger deals with the T-24, but I am unable to destroy both infantry squads. And then the Soviet turn happens and I am punished for moving forward too fast. Another T-24 finds a way to attack the Wespe, while a KV-85 and a SU-85 blunt my Panzer thrust. I will need to bring up more infantry and carefully use my tanks if I want to reach the isolated southern flank.
Panzer Corps 2: Axis Operations - 1944 is developed by Flashback Games and published by Slitherine Ltd. I played the game on the PC using Steam. This is the seventh downloadable content pack for the turn-based strategy title, with a focus on the later stages of World War II on the Eastern Front.
The previous DLC drop allowed players to win the battle of Kursk, which was a disaster for the Wehrmacht in the real world, and then take all the Caucasus region for the Germans. In Axis Operations - 1944, fans will get two full campaigns.
One will reflect the massive real-world problems that Germany faced on the Eastern Front. The other is designed to still deliver a stiff challenge but with the German forces on much better footing. The quality of the writing is decent but I cannot decide if the pompous nature of all officers is ironic or not.
Mechanically, Axis Operations - 1944 is familiar. Players have access to a wide variety of hardware, ranging from mainstays like the Panzer IV to prototype tanks and planes, and need to create a force (complete with commanders) to achieve specific challenges.
The DLC adds Elite objectives, for the most dedicated of fans, and plenty of new toys to play with. Both Russian and Allied forces are numerous and well-supplied, creating tough tactical puzzles.
All the battles are tough and even small missteps can lead to quick losses. It’s important to use aircraft, when available, and artillery, to soften units up before trying to destroy them. Keep forces as cohesive as possible and resist the urge to scout too far ahead.
Axis Operations – 1944 does not tweak the presentation of Panzer Corps 2 too much. The game still looks solid, offering players all the information they need to make good tactical choices while featuring some carefully modeled military units, including some of the biggest and most powerful tanks of the conflict. The soundtrack adds to the World War II atmosphere and the combat effects sound good.
Conclusion
The DLC's biggest weakness is the relentless focus on the Wehrmacht and its allies. It is becoming clear that the Germans will remain the focus for the moment, which robs strategy players of the chance to engage with the challenges that Allied forces faced. Panzer Corps 2 could really use the variety.
A review key was provided by the publisher.
