I really enjoy this game, despite the sometimes insane difficulty. I've had a really hard time playing Warsaw Pact. The AI is merciless and relentless. The graphics work well for it and the game plays quite speedy on a modern PC. I've had no technical problems playing on Windows 10 x64 (or Windows 7 x64).

I'm an old school wargamer and this satisfies that enjoyment and has a modern feel being RTS. So, buy this if: You like semi-realistic RTS, modern warfare, a real challenge, an excellent set of single player campaigns. You may not like this if high-difficulty is off-putting or you are expecting more of a game-style RTS with base building and such.

Best game where you fight war.

Won't recommand for linux user, there is a major video bug reported but not fixed after more than a month.

The graphics may fade. The units may age. But time cannot erode solid diamond gameplay.

Fantastic game. Why?
1. zoom system means that you can scale what you see from the entire battlefield to the regimental markings on a single tank - vast improvements over the RUSE system as well, the funny counters no longer appear
2. each battle escalates as it progresses BUT unlike RUSE which had a semi Age of Empres resource system, units appear appear from off of the board
3. the whole meta-game, for the first battle you play you actually only have a few units available, you need to unlock others as you complete the campaigns, play other people e.c.t. - your strategy will therefore be reflected in your army, did you unlock the artillery, or the helicopters?
4. I am actually a miniature wargamer, this game is like an epic version of my favourite game in real life - 'Battlegroup:Kursk' - there is a whole supply mechanic which means you have to really plan your offensives, and defensive moves.

If you like strategy, real strategy, then you may just be looking at the best game ever, I cannot praise it enough. If you are not so sure then I have had friends who have played this game and not enjoyed it so much: it can be confusing, complicated and annoying at first, but getting past the learning curve is well worth it.

Steam Review Showcase [4:06]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AISLuAMOCBs

+ Zooming from ground to strategic view is absolutely seamless
+ Persistent battle groups; units retain experience and losses are final
+ Can play as NATO or Warsaw Pact forces
+ Skirmish game mode is available, in addition to a thick campaign
+ Unit unlock system is excellent, and encourages play of both single- and multi-player; this increases incentive and replayability
+ Deck customization adds to the emphasis of strategy and the need to be prepared for future matches (particularly online)
+ Vehicles, commands, and terrain are all extremely detailed in just about every facet
+ Fantastic, challenging AI that punishes mistakes quickly and adopts well to the player's actions
+ Boasts an absolutely superb audio design; gunfire feels weighted and satisfying
+ Every bullet and shell is rendered; physics engine handles fire exchange beautifully
+ Single-player has meat enough to be worth the price as it is (and multi-player is arguably the main focus)

- Decently large learning curve that will certainly turn away those less experience in the genre
- Requires creation of a 3rd party account
- Lackluster and largely unhelpful in-game tutorial

Quite an amazing game. I recommend that you buy it, and it was TOTALLY worth 20 bucks. The graphics are amazing, the troop diversity makes the game much more challenging, and honestly, it gave me an overall good time. Trust me. It will give you a good time, too.

Against popular opinion, I will state mine. Wargame: European Escalation, is the BEST title in the Wargame series IF you are a fan of old-school RTS like I am. This game stays truer to its roots than any other game in the series. Missing only the base building.

+Good graphics that hold up even today.
+/-A campaign mode that allows you to mission-by-mission test new units and get the hang of the game mechanics. Unfortunately this campaign isn't very interesting.
+Truly competitive up to 4v4 RTS battles.
+Strategic environments where marching tanks into cities is suicide, marching infantry through fields is suicide, and approaching any forest can lead to instant death from what tricky enemy awaits within. Helicopters are a powerful tool indeed, but be careful or else anti-air will take your prized Apache.
+The sounds of the weapons are something you can feel, they hold up quite nicely.
+/- PvE is present as you can have matches versus bots that hold up in fun. However just as the campaign was lackluster, the AI is as well. It becomes very predictable and boring without the dynamic of a real player.
-There's an annoying blue line on the screen that never goes away.

I give this game a 9/10 and will personally deem it the best game in the entire Wargame Franchise. Wheras the newer games really changed how they view "RTS", this game keeps the classic tactical gameplay many of us are used to, minus the base building. My friends all wanted me to play Airland battle (The sequel) though this one kept me hooked. It's so much more of a classic, and I'd definitely recommend anyone play this. Make sure you bring friends though, as this multiplayer is abandoned and dead for the most part.

As someone who played R.U.S.E for around 200~ hours, I adore this game. It is everything ruse was, but far far better.

1. very very good stat cards tell you exactly how a unit will perform.
2. Big open maps that allow you to move around and attack/defend from a number of locations.
3. Standard unit selection and order process makes it easy to pick up for any RTS gamer.
4. A exceptionally pretty game that also runs smoothly

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This game isnt without flaw, there are a few things that annoy me.

1. Camera doesn't always want to pitch up as far as I want
2. terrain details are not always blatent, which means you will sometimes mispostion your units.
3. Kind of confusing for the first 1-2 hours.

I know this game is a bit old and not as flashy as Red Dragon BUT:

If you're new to the franchise EE offers a very good step by step tutorial to learn the mechanics.

Airland and RD do not have this.

So if you bought the franchise pack give this game a spin before playing the newer titles, it'll help you
get the hang of the mechanics.