Normandy '44 Review - from GMT Games

[@bdp5742]

Great review Matt! I agree with everything you've said here, especially the part of setting out counters and "playing" the Examples of Play in the rulebook-very helpful for learning the ins and outs of play. I've got Stalingrad '42 and Ukraine '43 (just finished a scenario today) and I'm ready to get back to Normandy. I really love the map that Simonitch and the gang have created, and the player aids are well done and easy to use. Who cares that it takes a while to set up? What with the pandemic I've got time to savor each and every game. One thing I like to do to enrich the game is read James Holland's excellent history of the battle- Normandy '44. And for S42 and U43, Prit Buttar has a great trilogy that brings it all to life while being, as with Holland's book, very engrossing and easily readable.

[@MattWhiteWargames]

thank you!

[@raygun6271]

Good review! Actually just purchased this game a couple of hrs ago & you've made me feel even more confident it was the right decision...Thanks:)

[@alanshackelford6450]

I enjoy this one too. I wish it had a longer temporal scope and went to Cobra and Falaise Gap. That though would be a much bigger game.

[@davidwarren3221]

Hey Matt, great review,looks like Salerno 43 is already being shipped also from Mr.Simonitch

[@MattWhiteWargames]

Thank you! Yes - looking forward to Salerno!

[@brianfoley1805]

I enjoy your reviews...good work!

[@charleslatora5750]

I love the 4x games. I never seem to have any problem understanding the rules. The words, sentences just make sense. Clarity. This will be on my table soon. Waiting on Salerno 43. Got France 40 n Stalingrad 42 expansion on P500. Got all the others. Simonitch's games are my absolute favorites. MMP SCS not so close second place for me.

[@charleslatora5750]

Great video sir. Thank you.

[@jjflash30]

Great video! Love the 4x game system. Looking forward to getting the upcoming reprint and playing for 80th anniversary.

[@alansalazar9543]

Matt - your reviews are always excellent.

[@MattWhiteWargames]

thank you!

[@idjester]

good review Matt... hope all is well..

[@davidwhitehouse615]

Thanks! As always a good solid review.

[@chrissteadman4614]

Thanks Matt, a very clear and useful review. 👍 Spurs me to get this on the table soon.

[@kennethkloby2726]

Thanks Matt, I just finished the campaign game setup and am psyched to play it. I'd like to recommend a YT video on WW2TV, German Armoured Units in Normandy on DDay. The video runs about 90 minutes and goes into deep detail about the Pz and PG divisions during the pre-invasion period and the early part of the Normandy campaign so it matches up well with the game. The information presented represents more than a decade of research by the presenter. Numerous photos and OOBs are shown and the narrative is great. Good Luck.

[@MattWhiteWargames]

Sounds great - I will check that out!

[@WARdROBEPlaysWWII]

I appreciate the smaller scenarios in games like this.

[@WARdROBEPlaysWWII]

I would also enjoy a follow up covering the breakout.

[@WARdROBEPlaysWWII]

The chrome or exceptions is what throws me off a bit and why I spend time in the Rulebook.

[@landsurfer66]

Mine is still in shrink. Perhaps this will be next. Playing Battle Hymn Gettysburg at the moment.

[@WARdROBEPlaysWWII]

The ZOC Bond series is one I’ve played the most of and enjoyed. Still haven’t played H44.

[@marchanna]

I'd like to get this on my table again but it's a slog really with the combat restrictions. Not near as much fun as Stal 42 Ukr 43 Bastogne 44 and Holland 44. I wish he would stop tinkering with the combat restrictions! :) thanks for the vide.

[@przemekbozek]

I've only played N'44 in the series and it quickly left my collection - didn't really like the game too much - the strict limits on the attacking combat factor made this game a "bean counting" for me. Plus, all the little exceptions made me constatnly reference the rules - whilst little unit-specific rules added a lot of chrome it increased complexity as well whilst not enhancing gameplay (at least for me). Need to try Dark Summer, it's at a similar scale (both unit scale and maps) and see hoe both compare

[@MattWhiteWargames]

Dark Summer is a really good game - it may well be perfect what you are looking for.

[@przemekbozek]

@@MattWhiteWargames Thanks Matt, need to give it a try😁

[@WARdROBEPlaysWWII]

Agree on exceptions.

[@przemekbozek]

@@WARdROBEPlaysWWII Thanks. Got Dark Summer a couple of weeks back, will need to give it a try soon😁

[@vstar7196]

Dark Summer was released by GMT three years after Normandy ‘44 for people who couldn’t handle the complexities of a real simulation game. Normandy ‘44 provides a realistic gaming set-up of the actual campaign. That’s why the rules are detailed and thorough. Dark Summer is an abstract (simplified) representation of D Day for those not intelligent enough to truly challenge themselves.