Combat Mission : Shock Force

Combat Mission: Shock Force
Developer(s)	Battlefront.com
Publisher(s)	Paradox Interactive
Series	Combat Mission
Platform(s)	Windows
Release date	July 27, 2007
Genre(s)	Turn-based / Real-time strategy
Mode(s)	Single player
Rating(s)	ESRB: T
Media	1 DVD-ROM
System requirements	Intel Pentium 4 2 Ghz, 512 MB RAM, 128 MB video card, 1 GB free HD space, Windows XP, DVD-ROM Drive
Input methods	Mouse

Combat Mission: Shock Force (CM:SF) is a computer video game that covers a fictional United States invasion of a middle-eastern country focusing on US Stryker Brigades. It was released on July 27th, 2007.

• Current Version: 1.08 as of 2 April 2008

Overview

CM:SF depicts fictional battles in the year 2008 between the Syrian Army and US Stryker Brigades. This is the original incarnation of Battlefront.com's Combat Mission series using the new CMX2 game engine. CM:SF features vastly improved graphics and 3D modelling. Modelling of infantry features a 1:1 representation, where every single soldier is depicted in the 3D world by its own animated graphic. The new engine also features real world lighting conditions, and models sun and star positions in the sky. Also, the engine allows the game to be played in real time or 60-second increments; a first for the Combat Mission series.

You are given the choice to play "BLUFOR" (as represented by the models in-game, BLUFOR means you play as the U.S.), "OPFOR" (Syrian Regular Army units utilizing Soviet-bloc equipment such as AK-47 assault rifles and T-72 tanks). As a sub-selection of OPFOR units, you can choose to play "insurgent" units, which represent irregular guerilla forces drawn from the Syria's in-game population and are styled after common media images of insurgent forces in Iraq.

According to the developer, "The two releases are, in order:

• 1. Near future modern warfare (Combat Mission: Shock Force)
• 2. WWII western Europe 1939/45"

Also from the developer:

The setting for CM:SF is 2007 (sic) Syria after a coup removes the current Assad government...the premise is that UN is called upon to remove the illegitimate regime. Support comes from all major nations and nearly all within the Middle East region. Leading this liberation is a coalition of mostly NATO states, with a strong contingent of Arab/Muslim states involved directly in the immediate and long term rebuilding of the nation. The player is in command of one of the more interesting missions - to slice through the center of the country and join up with other coalition forces around Damascus.

Graphics capabilities are being upgraded drastically from the old engine:

Reception

IGN reviewed CMSF and noted that "the poor interface design and lack of a flexible or responsive AI makes it difficult to appreciate", however their review was performed on the first release of the game. GamingShogun reviewed the latest (1.07) version of the game, saying it was "one of the most fun battle simulations" they have ever played, rating it an 8.4/10.

References

External links

• Interviews with developers at combatsim.com
• Official Game Website
• Tom's Hardware Guide Preview
• Out of Eight Preview
• Arsgeek.com review
• CMMods A site to find modifications and scenarios for Shock Force.

Notes