14 DAY TRIAL // Wars are not won by individual courage or by great tactical decisions, especially in the modern age. Logistics, planning, careful use of limited resources, and investment in the future, are the strategic decisions that lead to victory.
And the path is difficult. It means pushing volunteers through deserts, it requires the sacrifice of brigades to ensure a big maneuver succeeds. Leaders need to sacrifice soldiers and only think about how quickly they can be replaced.
Wars in the Americas is the first downloadable content pack for Strategic Command: American Civil War. The DLC is developed by Fury Software and published by Slitherine, like the core experience. The package introduces five new major wars of the XIX century.
For players who have managed to deliver a winner for the War Between the States, the new campaigns on offer are: The Conquest of Mexico (1846), The Eagle and The Empire (1863), Paraguay Under Siege (1866), Ghosts of the Pacific (1879), and Remember the Maine (1898).
The first and the last scenarios are based on two defining events in the history of the United States, the conflict that bloodied many of the commanders of the Civil War while showing that it could become a superpower and the one that cemented its reputation,
The Eagle and the Empire is an alternate history campaign. It gives players a chance to explore what might happen if Napoleon III and the Confederacy formed an alliance, seeking to reach their dual aims of conquering the Union and Mexico.
There are new French forces to command or battle, an extended timeline to December 1866, and new events that explore how the various armies and leaders could interact. It is probably the most interesting part of the entire DLC.
The two South American scenarios are smaller in scope: Ghosts of the Pacific is based on the real battle for the Atacama and its resources between Chile, Bolivia, and Peru, while Paraguay Under Siege recreates the real-world 1866 conflict, the bloodiest that involved only countries from Latin America.
The core mechanics of Strategic Command: American Civil War remain enjoyable. Players do need to be careful about troop movements and battle lines. But it is equally important to consider when and how to invest in recruitment, alliances, or the tech that can give troops an edge. Resources are always limited and throwing more men into the fight is always tempting but not necessarily the best course of action.
The DLC campaign that showcases all the game has to offer is The Eagle and the Empire. Its setup might not be entirely possible from a historical point of view. But its events, choices, and strategic quandaries captured my attention and created very enjoyable play sessions.
Don’t expect any presentation tweaks in Wars in the Americas. The game uses a traditional turn and hex-based strategy style. It’s designed to offer players access to info and give them space to develop and implement plans. The sound design is well-adapted to the historical period.
Conclusion
It will take patience to win all these conflicts. Start with the smaller ones, like the invasion of Mexico or Paraguay Under Siege. But do spend most of your time with The Eagle and the Empire, which is very well designed. American Civil War is an engrossing strategy game and I am curious to see what other conflicts it can depict.
A review key was provided by the publisher.
