Combat Mission: Shock Force 2

tl;dr summary: Despite the jank and the decrepit engine, Combat Mission Shockforce 2 is the best military simulation of Battalion level and lower, with only Graviteam Tactics series coming close.
Combat Mission Shockforce 2 says on the storepage it released in August of 2020. In reality, it’s part of a long running series with a dedicated fanbase that started all the way back in the year 2000 with many entries in the series, expansions packs and modules. For years, the developers of the game at Battlefront chose to sell the games exclusively through their own website (and were one of the early adopters of digital distribution) and refused to come onto steam until they entered a publishing deal with Slitherine Ltd. A prolific publisher of niche wargames who offered to help BF market their games on Steam.
The first title to make it over was Shock Force 2….a game released on steam in 2020 but originally released in 2018 and was a remaster of the original Shock Force released in 2007!
I’ll eventually review all the CM games that come to Steam but the following link details my opinions of the game engine (Called CMx2), which is shared across all the titles and won’t be repeated in this review or others to keep it short and fit into Steam. If you’ve read it in any review or are already familiar with the engine, skip the pastebin link below.
Shock Force 2 takes place in 2008 and was developed and released before the Civil War in Syria occurred. In the game’s backstory, Terrorists supported by the Syrian government detonate several “dirty” nuclear bombs in several Western cities, prompting a massive NATO effort to invade Syria. The base game contains the US Army, the Syrian Army (In three flavors: Republican Guard, Regular Army and Reserve army) and Unconventional forces (In two flavors, Combatants. Who are more like local militias and Fighters, who are more heavily armed insurgent groups similar to Al Qaeda and ISIS). Additional NATO armies (UK, Canada, Germany and Dutch armies) and Syrian formations (ie Airborne Troops, T-90 tanks…etc) are available in DLC packs with additional campaigns and scenarios.
Since Combat Mission is a military simulation, the US Army is overwhelmingly more powerful than any of the Syrian factions that oppose it with no concessions made to gameplay balance. This is by design, the campaigns are focused on the Blue forces in all the modules because the Syrians and Insurgents have no chance in a stand up battle. This is a change of pace from many of the titles in the Combat Mission games, such as the WW2 titles or the recent Cold War, which are more focused on near-peer combat with most sides in the game being viable in a 1v1 fight. This title focuses more on unit preservation for the Blue side and sheer survival for the Red side. Taking out one Abrams tank is a huge loss for the Americans and a big victory for the REDFOR side, even if it took dozens of dead troops and 6 lost T-62 tanks to achieve.
Insurgent factions present a problem for the engine though. They are included alongside very built up maps that really break the spotting engine wide open, leading to crap like having vehicles turn a corner and open fire and vehicles placed to ambush them before the ambushing vehicles even get a single shot off or even spot the offending vehicle.
In terms of content, Shock Force 2 is one of the best in the CM lineup. Plenty of scenarios, campaigns and maps to keep you busy. Syria is a nice varied country so you have your desert maps, urban maps, beach maps, forest maps and valley maps. The additional modules probably give the game the most varied unit roster of any CM game outside of perhaps Fortress Italy. Being the first Combat Mission game out on Steam means it has plenty of players willing to play online and also creating unique maps, scenarios and campaigns. Not to mention that the game is completely backwards compatible with maps and scenarios made for Shock Force 1.
Overall, despite my misgivings about the base engine, Shock Force 2 is a deep and addicting game with a plenty of gameplay to be had and an excellent starting off point for a CM newbie. Hell, you can even load up Syria vs Syria matches and play a poor man’s Combat Mission Cold War if you wished to save some dollars!

just bought the game already sunk 27 hours in it. great combat your units can do some things on their own without getting wiped like some other rts games. only downsides are the graphics aren't great and the price is far too high for a game that came out in 2018.

I will keep this simple (because the game, won't)
Pros :
1) 1:1 metrics. Forget the C&C tanks that their shooting range is like 50 feet. You see your target 750 feet on the other side of the map and your range allows it? You can take it.
2) Realistic approach. Maybe the most realistic I've have ever seen. You will need everything. Cover, ground elevation, obstacles, smokescreen, morale, effective range, everything. Even the spotter, does not spot the enemies right away. He needs time to observe. In the end, the tactic is "find them first, before they find you".
3) Javelin missiles. God I love them.
4) You can play this game real time (with unlimited pauses in which you can order your troops) or turn based "wego" way.
5) Huge variety of custom made missions from a very active community that will keep you occupied for a very long time.
6) In the end, this game can actually teach you realistic combat tactics, more than any other game out there.
Cons :
1)Clunky graphic engine
2)No hold fire button (You can deal with it by assigning your units a very small target area of attack, but still)
3)No dynamic campaign
4)Soldiers get tired quite easily
Searching for an ultra realistic strategy simulator? Look no further. The game however is quite challenging for those who think like C&C tactic. You need to unlearn everything. Not necessarily a bad thing.

While the graphics are not comparable to AAA games, this game and series strength is the tactical realism the AAA titles don't have. Graphics or Tactical realism, I'll take the realism 6 days a week and twice on Sunday, every time. The depth of play will keep you coming back. Graphics are skin deep, realism is to the bone...

Outdated engine and a bit clunky BUT, it's the most authentic RTS money can buy in the civilian sphere. Played on government computers inside a secured compound as a Brigade Training Tool, I played war games while on Active Duty as a US Army Infantryman like this. This is a training tool first, entertainment second. That's the key to understanding this game and why it's priced at what it is. Governments use games like this to train Officers and NCO's in simulated warfare. I spent hours inside Bradley IFV simulation pods that used this style of war gaming but at the first person level. If you have a deep interest in real world tactics then this game will be worth the money.

I've owned & played most of the "Combat Mission" series of games - way before this title was offered on Steam - since the early 2000's. This is the best series of tactical warfare sims out there. The detail that is woven into all Combat Mission titles... is pretty nuts. It is not for everyone. If you are looking for high end graphics, sound, storytelling, even real time strategy.. then this is not for you. But if you seek realistic, turn based, battalion-to-individual-soldier-level detail, every-projectile-tracked, modern infantry and vehicle combat...then.. Try this game.

A very fun but extremely overpriced Strategy/Simulation game. I have had a great time experimenting with the various Armies and Branches. This game is in no way short of content either, there are many maps in which you can set up parameters and fight it out with organized troops or insurgents. The downside being the price, the visuals...this game looks dated and the learning curve, you'll take a few hours to learn this games mechanics, but once you do, it is an excellent time. I would say wait until a sale and get the complete edition, it would probably feel incomplete without the extra factions. Oh, and the UI is meh.