Fresh new look
Perhaps you need to already be a fan of the game. There is a cult following for this game albeit it is small. This game traces roots all over the place from different countries and platforms throughout the past 20 years.
I have played the original TG16 version a hundred times over, back and forth, both allied and axis and in reverse too, for the past 15 years or so. It is my favorite strategy game, and is my equivalent to the game of Chess. The games history is vast and it has been ported and remade a couple times. I still have the original and the turbo grafx 16 system and the turbo express. I have it on the pc (through emulation), I have the sequel "Nectaris: Military Madness" on the PS1 (which I play on my PS3 Slim), It was ported to Wii Virtual Console, it was enhanced and released as a game on Verizon Cellphones, and last night I just found that it was enhanced again, now on my xbox 360! Check out some cult websites as the history of this game is very interesting.
I have only played 3 levels of this game so far. WHAT IS GAMESPOT TALKING ABOUT that there are the same tanks on each side?!? Each side has different tanks and planes, just like the original! Maybe they were talking about the multiplayer? The second map the Axis had a Kilroy and I didn't. It's just like the original game! For example, the axis favors the Slagger tanks, while the Allied favors the Polar and Grizzly tanks.
This is a graphically enhanced version of the original Military Madness (tg16). The maps are the same with the same amount and type of tanks. It's a 3-d enhancement, and you can zoom in and turn the camera around a little. The structure of the terrain and the maps are identical (for the most part). You will recognize the layout of every map. The AI seems very similar. Knowing their m.o. and how they are programmed (like offering up a Charlie for bait or a diversion) is key to winning the matches!
I don't know how I would rate this game if I never knew of the original. It would probably seem dated, primitive, and boring, like the review before me. I cannot possibly see how any veteran fan of MM would not love this updated port! I more than welcome this fresh new look of a beloved classic!
UPDATE 12-16-09
I have played this game for hours and am through the middle of the advanced campaigns. A couple of changes I have noticed (minor) is that the game no longer shows you the range of indirect-firing tanks (Hadrian, Atlas) in numerical value on the screen. You have to press the x button to see the range on the land. also it seems these tanks will fire one more hexagon range. If it has a range of 5, it will be six hexagon spaces away. It doesn't count the hexagon right next to it anymore. Makes sense cause these cant fire if they are right next to an opponent. Everything else seems to be spot-on like the original. I love it!