Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Grant – Lee – Sherman: Civil War 2: Generals builds on the solid foundations of Robert E. Lee: Civil War General by offering an even deeper, more strategic turn-based experience. Players command either Union or Confederate forces on a hex-based map, maneuvering brigades of infantry, cavalry, and artillery across varied terrain to outflank and outfight the enemy. Each turn requires careful planning of movement, supply lines, and combat engagements, making each decision feel weighty and historically significant.

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The game offers multiple modes to suit a range of playstyles: you can jump into a single battle, tackle a mini-campaign spanning several linked engagements, or immerse yourself in the entire war from Fort Sumter to Appomattox. This flexibility lets newcomers learn the ropes on smaller scenarios before tackling the full-length war campaigns, where attrition, reinforcements, and morale play out over dozens of turns. The level of granularity in unit management—down to individual regimental strengths and experience—adds layers of tactical depth.

One of the standout features is the terrain editor, which empowers players to craft custom battlefields complete with rivers, woods, hills, and fortifications. Sharing these bespoke maps via Internet, modem, or local network play extends replayability, as you can pit your own creations against friends or the community at large. Whether you’re recreating historical clashes like Shiloh or inventing entirely new confrontations, the editor offers near-endless variety.

Graphics

The visuals in Civil War 2: Generals strike a balance between period authenticity and practical readability. Hex maps are rendered with clear terrain icons—forests, swamps, hills, and roads—so players can easily gauge movement costs and defensive bonuses at a glance. Unit counters display regimental colors and numerical strengths, ensuring you never lose track of your forces even during large-scale engagements.

Adding to the historical atmosphere are the hand-painted artworks by Mort Künstler, whose evocative battle scenes and soldier portraits appear during scenario briefings and victory screens. These illustrations lend a cinematic quality to the otherwise austere strategy interface, reminding players of the human stories behind each order of battle. While the game’s engine shows its age by modern standards, the cohesive art direction and period-appropriate design keep the immersion strong.

The user interface is functional and designed for clarity: tooltips explain unit stats, context menus streamline orders, and the minimap gives an overview of the entire theater. Unit animations—such as marching columns or smoke from musket fire—are modest yet satisfying touches that bring hex tiles to life without bogging down performance, even on modest hardware.

Story

Although Grant – Lee – Sherman: Civil War 2 doesn’t follow a traditional narrative campaign with cutscenes, its presentation of the American Civil War’s major battles and campaigns provides a compelling historical framework. Each scenario opens with a concise overview of the battle’s background, orders of battle, and strategic objectives, immersing players in the context that shaped key decisions for both sides.

As you progress through mini-campaigns or the full war, you witness the ebb and flow of momentum—Union offensives up the Mississippi Valley, Confederate stands along the Atlantic Coast, or desperate cavalry raids behind enemy lines. The absence of loading-time cinematics is offset by descriptive text and period artwork that evoke the stakes of each engagement, from securing supply routes to eliminating enemy corps.

Players with an interest in military history will appreciate the attention to detail in unit organization, chain of command, and historical orders of battle. While there are no character-driven subplots, the overarching narrative of a divided nation in conflict comes through clearly in scenario design, victory conditions, and the gradual attrition of manpower and morale on both sides.

Overall Experience

Grant – Lee – Sherman: Civil War 2: Generals offers a richly detailed strategic wargame experience that caters primarily to history buffs and dedicated strategy fans. Its blend of deep turn-based mechanics, flexible scenario design, and multiplayer options makes it a title you can return to for dozens—if not hundreds—of hours. The terrain editor and online play community further extend its lifespan, providing fresh challenges long after you’ve conquered the included campaigns.

On the learning curve side, newcomers to hex-based wargames may find the interface and multitude of tactical considerations daunting at first. However, the game’s scenario structure lets you scale complexity gradually, and the in-game help screens offer essential guidance on mechanics such as supply, morale, and combat resolution. With patience and practice, you’ll find the payoff in tight, rewarding bouts of Civil War command.

In an era when many strategy titles chase real-time spectacle, Civil War 2: Generals stands as a reminder of the enduring appeal of thoughtful, methodical warfare simulation. If you crave historical authenticity, robust scenario creation tools, and the chance to rewrite—or faithfully replay—the pivotal battles of America’s defining conflict, this game remains a compelling choice.

Retro Replay Score

6.9/10