1984 Games Workshop (UK)
by Demented Den, The Major, Macabre Mick and Einstein
I still remember vividly trying to play this game and never succeed. Well, the reason why is because this game is only for two players! I knew it could be played by two, but I always thought it had a computer-against option.
Anyway, as a strategy war game in 1984 this was very good. There weren't many like this, besides the classic Stonkers and a few others. And they were all a bit too amateurish or simple in play. Sort of speaking, D-Day polished what Stonkers had initially pioneered. It's not the prettiest game, graphics are only symbolic, but let's be frank, what more do you need to play a game like this? Of course, with a bit more glitter here and there, this would have been bigger. That happened later, eventually, with Rebelstar and others.
The game as a few very useful functions, like the option of auto-deployment of forces, which is always irksome but turns out to be a great help. Of course, this is mostly good for a quick play, and not so for serious challenges. The cursor selection system is also very functional.
By 1984 there wasn't any better games for fans or experts of military strategy, D-Day comprises the essential features, and 4 great scenarios on WWII history. Terrain is filled with natural and man-made obstacles and pushes your thought to come up with solutions never before seen this complex.
For example, in Stonkers, the battle mainly happened in the surroundings of the bridge, which is a natural choke point in real military, but the lack of variety besides that, made the game's long term appeal short.
If D-Day allowed challenges against the computer, I think it would be much more remembered nowadays and maybe even a classic. Just for that omission and the long fastidious loading routine, I will rate it with just a 4.
