Game Time: Open General

[allancomeau]

If you’re a fan of turn-based strategy games -- or just very old -- you might remember Panzer General 2, the 1997 classic which tested your tactics across a range of brutal World War II battles.

Its varied campaigns, scenarios and engrossing game play ensured that Panzer General 2 is still remembered fondly today, but it’s not just about memories. The game has also been remade and re-imagined in various forms, and old fans and newcomers can try them out for free.

Open General is an open-source FREE Windows "evolution" of PG with some challenging and complex campaigns. Just one -- "Guderian’s Gambit…" -- makes you a panzer commander, and sees you tasked with eliminating the Poles and crushing the French, before heading east and attempting to take Moscow. (Yes, that’s often just as bad an idea in the game as it was in real life).

One note: the maps (which are detailed and very well done) are not all included in the game download. There is an option to download them as you go - otherwise you can play off-line.

 

About the game and download  http://www.luis-guzman.com/OpenGen.html

Alternate download site https://sourceforge.net/projects/opengeneral/

 

 

[Old55]

I played that game years ago one of the very few PC games I ever got involved with.

[allancomeau]

There were several variants; People's General, a 3D version, etc

 

You can still download the originals and play them BUT the emulator on Windows 10 makes it untenable.

 

OpenGeneral was created by programmers who loved the original game but wanted to expand the equipment, and get around some limitations.  They did go - perhaps - a mite overboard. There is very little encountered in war that isn't in the game.

For example with aircraft it has paratroopers, gliders (with troops), recon aircraft, fighters, light bombers, heavy bombers. as well as AA. The only thing missing is zeppelins!.  The equipment is recognized by date and country, so you get equipment appropriate to the campaign period (but you can cheat).

Edited February 13, 2018 by allancomeau

[Old55]

Thanks Allan. So it will play nicely with windows 10 or Mac? I’ll take another look.

[allancomeau]

Works great in Windows 10

Don't know about the Mac.......if some-one wants to donate one I'd be happy to test it.......lol

BTW  The default is Open General; about 12 Campaigns (each with 10 to 20 or so scenarios or battles) BUT by choosing the appropriate Equipment (efile) file there is also Latin General, the classic PG, Ancient General, and about 5 others; offering generalship from the days of ancient Greece through the 17 and 18th century up to today