A new year, lots to look forward to, perhaps a time to reflect on the year gone past, too. That’s what the fine folks at Strategy and Wargaming did and put together a list of the 5 best strategy games of 2022.
Included in the list is one of the first game releases by Matrix Games for 2022: Campaign Series: Vietnam 1948-1967.
The 5 Best Strategy Games of 2022 – Click the image to read the article!
Here’s what they had on their minds regarding CS: Vietnam:
Campaign Series: Vietnam is a classical hex-based, IGO-UGO, operational (and tactical) level wargame focusing on the jungle conflicts of Indo-China, with scenarios spanning several conflicts, starting with the First Indochina War, from 1948 to 1954 all the way to the late 1960s with the American invasion of Vietnam. In between both conflicts, CS: Vietnam also represents the South Vietnamese Civil War of 1955-1964.
It’s a wargamer’s game for those interested in Vietnam; what it isn’t, is a game that will please every palate, if you don’t enjoy jungle warfare and/or love the idea of playing a classical hex-based game then this isn’t the one for you. If you happen to be one that loves both, then I’m happy to give it my endorsement. CS: Vietnam isn’t going to be known as a wargame trailblazer (unlike the excellent Decisive Campaigns: Ardennes Offensive), its developing team decided to play it safe but there are some new things in here that set it apart from the game it’s based on (the original Talonsoft Campaign Series) such as airborne units (there’s a surprising degree of control for helicopters), different factions can have different objectives and supplies play a major role. The game isn’t lacking in the content department either, with more than 100 scenarios reflecting the changing nature of jungle warfare from the late 1940s to the mid-60s.
In Strategy and Wargaming’s 3 and a half stars review, it was stated that “I might be becoming an old bat that enjoys slow-paced, methodical turn-based games. Given that the last game on this website to receive a 5-star rating was Ardennes Offensive- a truly unique gem of a game that improved on the genre in almost every way- I don’t think it’s fair to attribute the same score to Campaign Series, mainly because it stays so glued to the typical wargame formula it’s hard to praise something for playing it too safe. I also don’t know enough about the Indochina Wars to fully appreciate the game and I’m almost certain that if I did, there would be little doubt in my mind that Campaign Series: Vietnam would earn four and a half stars based on mechanics and details alone. If you don’t enjoy the Vietnam style of warfare, then Campaign Series’ latest endeavor might be a hard sell if you’ve grown accustomed to more modern titles.
Thank you, Strategy and Wargaming!
