Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Combat Command 2: Danger Forward brings the depth and precision of a traditional hex-based wargame to your desktop, immersing you in operational-level World War II campaigns that rarely receive mainstream coverage. The game’s core mechanic revolves around hex-based movement and combat resolution, allowing players to plan multi-phase attacks, coordinate artillery barrages, and execute flanking maneuvers with realism. Each turn represents 12 hours, so careful time management is crucial—hesitate too long, and the enemy will entrench or counterattack.

One of the standout features is the emphasis on command and control fidelity. Units can become disorganized if they stray too far from headquarters or operate under poor communications, reflecting the real-life challenges of paradrops and glider landings. When you order a paratroop drop or schedule an amphibious landing, you’ll need to account for weather, enemy anti-aircraft fire, and the ever-present risk of scattered drops. Mistimed or poorly supported operations can leave your forces isolated, turning a daring beachhead assault into a desperate fight for survival.

The scenario list spans dozens of engagements—from the rugged Sangro River line to the frozen forests of Hurtgen, the siege at Anzio, and bold airborne raids at Primosole Bridge. Each map is painstakingly crafted, and victory conditions vary: sometimes you must hold a bridgehead for X days, other times you aim to capture strategic towns before reinforcements arrive. This variety keeps gameplay fresh, offering both short scenarios (6–8 turns) for quick sessions and sprawling campaigns that can absorb weekends.

Artificial intelligence has also been fine-tuned to offer a serious challenge. Whether you’re facing the German defenders at St. Vith or commanding British commandos during Sword Beach, the AI adapts its defense lines, counterattacks at opportune moments, and exploits gaps in your formations. For solo players, this ensures each battle feels like a real contest of wits rather than a predictable scripted engagement.

Graphics

Visually, Combat Command 2 adopts a classic wargame presentation that prioritizes clarity over flashiness. Terrain features—rivers, towns, elevation contours, and forest hexes—are rendered in subdued earthy tones, making it easy to distinguish unit counters and control zones at a glance. While there’s no 3D engine or real-time animations, the static hex maps convey the strategic layout effectively, reminiscent of board wargames but with digital conveniences like zoom and customized overlays.

Unit counters are color-coded by nationality and type, with clear icons for infantry, armor, artillery, and specialized parachute or glider formations. Icons update dynamically to reflect losses, suppression, and entrenchment levels, so you always know the combat strength of each formation. A handful of optional graphical filters allow you to adjust contrast or toggle hex grid visibility, which is helpful if you prefer a cleaner look or want a more traditional board-game aesthetic.

When special operations occur—such as an amphibious landing on the Salerno beaches or glider insertions at Maleme—simple but effective splash screens and narration notes appear to heighten the drama. These brief interludes won’t win any awards for cinematic flair, but they do a commendable job of breaking up the tactical grind and reminding you that you’re orchestrating historic battles. Tooltips and on-map icons also animate when you select units to perform paradrops or river crossings, offering clear visual feedback on planned routes and potential interdiction zones.

Overall, the graphics serve their primary purpose: communicating complex battlefield information without clutter. For players who value substance over spectacle, the visuals are more than adequate, and they complement the deep mechanics rather than distract from them.

Story

Although wargames traditionally place less emphasis on narrative, Combat Command 2 manages to evoke a sense of historical context through scenario briefings and event-driven flavor. Before each mission, you’ll receive concise but informative historical notes outlining strategic objectives, force dispositions, and equipment strengths or shortages. These vignettes lend purpose to your orders—whether you’re holding the line at Bastogne in freezing conditions or racing to secure the Primosole Bridge ahead of German reinforcements.

Individual unit histories add further depth. Veteran regiments carry experience markers that reflect past engagements, and these modifiers influence morale and combat performance. Watching a green parachute battalion struggle against seasoned Fallschirmjäger brings the human side of logistics and training into stark relief. Coupled with period photographs and archival maps in the briefing screens, you gain a palpable sense that these battles once shaped the course of the war.

As the game unfolds, scripted events—such as weather shifts, reinforcements arriving late, or sudden supply shortages—can reshape your strategies and force you to adapt on the fly. For example, in the Sicily campaign, a sudden spring storm might ground your glider insertions or delay naval bombardments off Gela, mirroring the historical frustrations of Allied commanders. These dynamic conditions reinforce the narrative that control is fleeting and fortunes can turn overnight.

While there’s no branching storyline or character-driven drama, the interplay of operational challenges and historical authenticity creates a compelling backdrop. You’ll become invested in each battle’s outcome, not just for the satisfaction of tactical mastery but because you’re replaying lesser-known theaters of World War II with genuine stakes.

Overall Experience

Combat Command 2: Danger Forward is a specialist’s delight—a deeply strategic war simulation that demands patience, foresight, and respect for historical accuracy. Its meticulous attention to command-and-control limitations sets it apart from generic hex wargames, making every paradrop or beach landing an exercise in risk management. If you relish charting artillery zones, optimizing supply lines, and juggling reinforcements under the fog of war, this title will reward countless hours of careful planning and tense decision-making.

The learning curve can be steep. Newcomers to hex-based wargames or WWII operations may find the interface initially daunting, and the rulebook is dense. However, an in-game tutorial scenario eases you into the basic mechanics, gradually introducing more advanced features like glider insertions and river crossing penalties. By the time you face the formidable defenses at Stolberg Corridor or attempt Operation Sealion hypotheticals, you’ll have a solid grasp of movement factors, combat odds, and the importance of HQ proximity.

Multiplayer is available via PBEM and hotseat modes, offering friendly—or fiercely competitive—matches against human opponents. These exchanges can be even more unpredictable than the AI, as real players exploit creative tactics and bluffing strategies. For dedicated wargamers, organizing campaigns against friends extends replayability tremendously.

In summary, Combat Command 2: Danger Forward may not cater to casual audiences seeking fast-paced action or high-end visuals. Instead, it delivers an immersive, historically grounded wargaming experience that illuminates some of WWII’s most intriguing but overlooked battles. If you’re looking for a thoughtful simulation that balances operational detail with engaging scenarios, this game stands as a top choice in the hex-based genre.

Retro Replay Score

5.6/10