Take Command - 2nd Manassas

A Jaunty Pop song once pondered on the point of war. The answer, of course, is that it provides a resource for a massive amount of war simulator games - of which some are good, some are bad and some are so slow that you can't decide what they are. As you've probably guessed, 2nd Manassas falls into the final category.

This American Civil War battle recreation game has taken the complexity and difficulties of strategic warfare in the 19th century and done its best to accurately emulate them in an RTS game. Trouble is, it ends up feeling like you're playing through treacle when compared to similar games. Tlie fast pace and fluidity of games like Rome: Total War has been drained off, to offer what the developers hope to be a more authentic battle experience.

2nd Manassas may well be keeping it real, but with only three types of unit, infantry, cavalry and artillery battle dynamics are fairly limited. Plus, with many of the battles taking a minimum of two hours, you really feel like you're there with your troops as you move to kill the enemy. Slowly. The game's looks won't make you swoon either, with 2D soldiers marching (slowly) around 3D landscapes, and the repetitive sound effects ensures that grating your elbow seems a more preferable option.

If you're a reality fan looking for a full-on Civil War experience, this is it. However, if you're looking for a more casual and enjoyable experience as a military general, steer well clear.