Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

The Great Battles of Alexander faithfully translates the depth of classic hex-and-counter wargaming into a digital format, retaining the granular detail of weapons, tactics, unit morale, and momentum. Each of the ten historical battles—from the banks of the Granicus to the fields of Gaugamela—is recreated with painstaking attention to period-accurate troop formations and battlefield conditions. This attention to detail will appeal to seasoned strategists who appreciate managing line infantry, cavalry charges, and skirmishers in tandem with Alexander’s famed Companion cavalry.

Players can engage in single-battle scenarios or undertake the more challenging campaign mode, where decisions resonate across multiple engagements. Supply lines, reinforcements, and the overall morale of Macedonian forces carry over from one scenario to the next, creating an overarching strategic layer. This depth ensures that victories feel earned and setbacks demand thoughtful analysis rather than mere retry mechanics.

Artificial Intelligence opponents demonstrate realistic behavior, adopting historically plausible formations, reacting to flanking maneuvers, and capitalizing on terrain advantages. The AI does not rely on arbitrary bonuses but instead leverages the same rule set available to the player, leading to tense, authentic confrontations. Multiplayer enthusiasts will appreciate hotseat or play-by-email options, allowing for head-to-head duels or cooperative campaigns against the AI.

Graphics

Visually, The Great Battles of Alexander strikes a balance between functional clarity and historical immersion. Hex-based maps showcase varied terrain—hills, rivers, marshes, and ridgelines—that directly influence unit movement and combat outcomes. Texture work on these maps is crisp, ensuring that strategic choke points and flanking routes remain easy to identify even during the heat of battle.

Unit counters are represented as detailed 2D icons, with distinct colors and insignias denoting Macedonian phalanxes, Persian archers, or Indian war elephants. While purists may miss fully rendered 3D animations, the clear, zoomable overhead view aids in battlefield oversight. Subtle animations—such as icon highlights when selected, morale counters flipping, and movement paths traced across hexes—add a dynamic feel without bogging down system performance.

Complementing the tactical view is a clean, thematic user interface. Information panels slide in predictably, showing unit strengths, experience levels, and terrain modifiers. Tooltips and contextual help often provide quick reminders of classic wargame rules—initiative, combat odds, and sustained attacks—helping newcomers ramp up while avoiding visual clutter for veterans.

Story

Rather than weaving a fictional narrative, The Great Battles of Alexander lets history itself guide the player. Briefing screens before each scenario concisely outline the strategic objectives Alexander faced, the geopolitical stakes, and the composition of opposing forces. These historical overviews set the tone, reminding players that they are retracing the steps of one of antiquity’s greatest commanders.

Campaign progression loosely mirrors the actual timeline of Alexander’s conquests, from the initial campaigning in Asia Minor through to the climactic showdown at Hydaspes. The cumulative campaign mode adds a personal sense of investment: if your phalanx gets mauled early on, you’ll feel the consequences in later battles. This continuity fosters a “living history” sensation rather than isolated skirmishes.

Between scenarios, short text recaps describe the aftermath of each engagement: whether local satrapies capitulate, enemy morale collapses, or logistical constraints demand a strategic pause. Though the narrative remains focused on military history rather than character-driven drama, these interludes enrich the immersion and contextualize each strategic decision.

Overall Experience

The Great Battles of Alexander delivers a deep, historically grounded wargaming experience that will satisfy hardcore strategy enthusiasts. Its commitment to faithfully adapting GMT Games’ award-winning board game ruleset ensures that each battle is a careful dance of combined arms, tactical foresight, and risk management. Victory rarely comes from brute force alone; instead, success hinges on timely cavalry charges, proper use of terrain, and morale management.

However, the steep learning curve and dense rule implementation may intimidate casual gamers. A lengthy tutorial mode and robust in-game documentation help flatten the initial learning slope, but newcomers should still be prepared for substantial reading and experimentation. Those willing to invest the effort will find a gratifying depth rarely seen in more arcade-style strategy titles.

Multiplayer support, stable performance, and a scenario editor round out the package, offering nearly unlimited replayability. Whether reliving historic glories in solo play or challenging friends across email turns, The Great Battles of Alexander stands as a testament to the enduring appeal of classical wargaming. For fans of Alexander’s legacy and devotees of tactical strategy, this title remains a must-have addition to any digital wargame library.

Retro Replay Score

7.1/10