CPS: Enemy Action, Ardennes, the Battle of the Bulge 1944, Board Game

I like this game very much. To be accurate, it is actually three games in one as there is a standard player vs player, German solo and Allied solo game included, all complete and each a different gaming experience. The game system takes a bit of getting used to and I would strongly advise that you play the player vs player game first, even if you play as both players against yourself, to understand some of the mechanics. Play the first couple of turns a few times through before diving into the German or Allied solo. The game mechanics are very clever and produce a very enjoyable experience. I am two thirds of the way through the German solo game and the AI game system makes the US a very credible opponent. The game is tense, and the card-driven system works very well to allow the German player a degree of freedom but also restraints so you are always forced to make compromises in your quest to advance. Historically the game seems to play very well. Components are of very good quality and the rules are well-written. I did find that I needed to dedicate the time to read them several times, and the accompanying tactics and event cards, to get the most from the game. It is an effort that I have found very rewarding. Highly recommended!

For the company which supplied the game, and Amazon's shipping, I have nothing but praise. For the game itself, I have a love/hate relationship! This is a very realistic simulation of the choices, risks, and frustrations of the Battle of the Bulge. That's both a blessing and a curse. It's a blessing in that the card driven game play mechanics and the chit draw system are beautifully done, and someone who appreciates the ironies and struggles of this battle from a historical standpoint simply has to get this game for its solo play, since you are able to play as either side, or engage in a 2 player skirmish. That being said, good luck finding another dedicated soul within 50 miles who will spend the amount of time required to read the *multiple* rulebooks and have the patience to use the player's aids. 2 player games probably won't happen in your lifetime. Accept it. But the solo play is brilliant, if you can understand the way the rules work. Something else to accept is that you will not, strictly speaking, play the game correctly the first time, or two times, and maybe even three, as there's a lot of stuff to remember about how the game's AI makes its decisions for the opposing forces. I love the intricacies of how the Allied player tries to strengthen the bending front lines while my Wermacht bears down with all its might to capture much needed supply points. The bad: this is going to take a while. You need a full day to learn the rules and setup, particularly if you like clipped or rounded corners on the pieces, as you'll be doing that yourself. For the price, this should not have been cheap white core pieces. The "boards", and there are two of them, are huge, and they're not boards...just paper. Sharply creased, fragile paper. The first time I unfolded the German solo map, it already had 'whitespace' areas at the folded corners, where the color had come off in the package. Not a big deal as the areas were so tiny someone else might not have noticed. I immediately purchased a poster frame to put the map in, to preserve it long term, as multiple foldings would have destroyed the map. Again, for the price, this should not have been the case. They could have mounted a board and made a paper overlay for the other map. The last downside is that with the size of this game's footprint, and the time it takes to setup and breakdown, with the intricate steps in every phase of play, you won't be taking it down and putting it back up every time you want to continue your game, and it won't finish in a day...this needs a dedicated table. If you can stomach the inconveniences and the price tag, and you're a history buff, this is a must have just for the uniqueness of the play, particularly as a solo match against the game's wonderful and thoroughly realistic AI. If you aren't a buff who needs a Battle Of the Bulge game or get irritated with big setups, this isn't for you.

Excellent Game! I really like this game and the fact that it is 3 games in one is a huge plus. Good components and good visual appeal.

Extremely poor quality control. You would think that a game costing $160 would have taken steps to check their product BEFORE sending it out for delivery. Both Solo instruction books are so badly mangled that they cannot be opened.

A great simulation, but a less good board game - If you want to appreciate this period of history a bit better, this is a great solo experience for doing so. It will absolutely show you the dangers of the German push, and why the Allies were able to repel. I'm by no means a WWII expert or enthusiast, and don't have a ton of experience with war games/military history generally. However, this got me digging a bit into the history of the Battle of the Bulge and some of the internal politics in both sides. Even though this is a pure wargame with no political components, those political considerations come back to bite - especially on the German side where the German high command imposed strict rules on the movement of troops. The issue was that the field commanders thought the German high command's plan was too ambitious, and wanted to pursue a more modest victory. In order to keep them from doing so, Berlin imposed strict orders about which divisions could move where, which severely hurt their ability to maneuver. The game expertly models the frustrations this caused, which might increase or decrease your enjoyment of the whole experience. There's no attempt to balance, mitigate the impact of chance, or simplify, so if you're coming from a Eurogame background like me there may be some systems shock. I've spent hours on a detailed plan of attack, reviewing the rules, making sure I understand the consequences of my actions, really thinking about it, and had the whole thing come apart because of bad rolls or chit draws. In addition, it might just be that wargames are more niche, but it's got a high price tag for what feel like pretty flimsy components. With that said, it's an experience I haven't gotten from any other game - one of coming up with a plan, executing it, and needing both luck and deep, deep strategy to succeed. That's very very cool.

Very good solitary game. Highly complex, but youtube play along helps.