Winter War: over 500,000 Soviet soldiers attack Finland, a country with a population of 3,700,000, and the Finns drive them back, inflicting 5 times their own casualties. Experience heroic struggle and make tough choices You are the commander of the scarce Finnish troops. Your only goal - to save your homeland and your people from total annihilation. Would you risk losing your experienced troops to try and capture the enemy tanks? Would you try to save the stragglers during the retreat and risk losing everyone, or cut your losses and establish a new line of defence...?

The game is challenging and uses real historic scenarios as a backdrop

Strategic Mind: Spirit of Liberty is the latest offering in the Strategic Mind series of tactical war games. As with the previous games in the series, it's challenging and uses real historic scenarios as a backdrop.

You can play two campaigns: historical and “what if” alternate history. In the historical campaign you can play through a number of missions throughout the 1939-1945 timeline, spanning three wars: Winter War, Continuation War, and Lapland War. The historical campaign has smaller-scale but action-packed operations, covering all of the iconic historical battles. Complete numerous objectives grounded in history and narrated by a number of historical characters. In the alternate history campaign you play a shorter campaign with larger operations, centred around the “what if” events. Help the Germans take Leningrad, cut off the allied aid shipments to USSR by taking the port of Murmansk - but that is only the beginning.

Those that enjoyed the previous games in the series will feel right at home here. The graphics are as robust as ever, however the vocal acting, once again, is below par. However, that shouldn't detract from what is otherwise sold, engaging gameplay.

The graphics are as robust as ever

It goes without saying that this isn't a game for the casual player. The mechanics are incredibly intricate (although easy to quickly master) and for some the progress may feel slow and cumbersome. However, those that are familiar with the genre will totally love the historical accuracy and challenging scenarios that are delivered here.

This is a game that has been lovingly crafted to appeal to a niche element of the gaming community. What it does it does incredibly well. Yet another wonderfully conceived and presented addition to the franchise.

8

Nick Smithson