Verdict! Stalingrad: Advance to the Volga, 1942 (Overview & Review)

[@WayneHansen]

Hey everyone! I hope you liked the video. If you did, I'd love to think I earned your subscription. It really helps me to get more of these great games to show off! You can also help by buying me a Coffee or 1/10th of a wargame at ko-fi.com/wargaminghansen OR subscribing to my Patreon: www.patreon.com/wargaminghansen OR making a one-time donation: paypal.me/wargaminghansen

[@drapichrust7]

Thanks Wayne - just preordered this yestarday. Good to know that it was the right decision ;)

[@WayneHansen]

Haha, definitely. You won't regret it, great game overall.

[@davidwhitehouse615]

Thanks Wayne for another good review, honest as always. I have played the game and agree with everything you said, except the control markers. I’m getting on a bit and need all the help I can get😊 Thanks again.

[@WayneHansen]

Thanks David, I'll always be honest, you know that. Yeah, I feel like the control markers are totally dependent on the person. I don't need them, but someone else may want them. At least they come with the game, so you have a choice to use them or not!

[@vincec5260]

Great Verdict video mate :)

[@WayneHansen]

Thanks Vince! Can't wait to review your games, bud!

[@vincec5260]

@@WayneHansen Hopefully not too long now :) Be gentle ;)

[@brucewachtler9093]

Excellent review. I agree that this game is a real winner. An extra bonus is that you can play through the game in two to two and a half hours which is a perfect length for me. I’ve played it three times (1W, 2L) and look forward to more plays. Can’t wait to see the upcoming games in the series as well.

[@WayneHansen]

Well said Bruce. I could have talked about more, but I hate when my reviews go beyond 20 minutes. We all have lives, we don't need to be watching videos on YT all day. Wait, did I just say that?

[@TheTheshadow32]

Great review. I had the exact same feeling about this game. The Soviets that will never move, no decent counter AI… BUT in the end it captures a great challenge for solo play. I still hesitate between this and TP:S and the desgners previous 2 player game about Stalingrad but as a pure solo game, it works. It is still a great addition to my other Stalingrad games, from the excellent campaign book of Stalingrad with the Bolt Action systep towards the campaign scenario I found for Up Front, Pavlov’s House of DVG even my own solo design of Pavlov’s House with the CoH solo rules. You can play Stalingrad games forever frankly. The only one I HATED was Stalingrad Inferno on the Volga. Stay away from that dud … with its ridiculous ahistoric set up and dumb AI… For this game however a great 8.5/10 !

[@davidwarren3221]

Outstanding review buddy! I just got this in and waited for your playthrough and review. Now I'm glad I got it. Maybe Mike will come up with an optional rule set for soviet counter attacks to add some more flavor to it but sounds like it's great just as is.Can't wait for his next one in the series which I believe is set in Manilla.

[@WayneHansen]

You're going to have fun with this one, it's one of the best out-of-box solo games I've played.

[@michaelrinella6384]

Manila 1945, yes. Player is the American side.

[@Tombonzo]

Another Classic review, Wayne. Thank you!

[@WayneHansen]

Appreciated as always, Tom!

[@jonsmith9518]

Miss your analysis Wayne. Hope you’re back soon.

[@Demy1970]

I will watch today and open the game soon. I like the way you keep your videos in a basic fashion so us dummies can figure the game out. Just me the dummy, sorry guys

[@WayneHansen]

Harold, trust me, sometimes it takes a while for a game to click for me. You are not alone!

[@jpro8908]

Have done one playthru thus far and yes indeed it is quite good. A little house rule for me that I am using is that I commit my forces to an area before flipping the soviet counter over for an added fog of war and difficulty level. Also using all the optional rules. Amazing replayability! Will be getting the next in the series for sure! Oh and yes I agree with the area control markers as well as at the end of my game I was no longer using them or using the area count track. I ended up with only one grid resisting on the last turn. Was a close one!

[@DaveKohr]

The official rule for revealing is "An Unrevealed Soviet Unit is Revealed (9.4) after movement into the Area is completed but prior to combat." (8.1) so your house rule is how you're supposed to play the game.

[@juddvance7721]

Excellent review as always, Wayne!

[@WayneHansen]

Thanks brother!

[@batesmt25]

I have this game. I have thus far played twice, and lost twice. The game system is great. I am really looking forward to his second game in this series. I agree, it is the best solitaire game of 2023.

[@WayneHansen]

It's still early in the year... but this one will be a strong contender for sure.

[@RiccardoMasiniWLOG]

Thanks for the video. Your first impressions are very much aligned with mine, both on the Pros as well on the Cons side. Interesting remarks about quality of life components and visual interface. I am definitely not an Eastern Front aficionado, but I still can recognize a good solo game when I see one (have you ever tried Stalingrad: Inferno on the Volga by Ventonuovo? It's very good, too, and a bit more varied in the Soviet response). Anyway, can't wait to see other volumes in what promises to be a very solid solitaire games series. Arnhem? Ortona? Bastogne? Tobruk?

[@WayneHansen]

I appreciate that Riccardo! Seems like a lot of people are having similar thoughts about the game. I haven't played Stalingrad: Inferno on the Volga before, another one of those games that has eluded me.

[@RiccardoMasiniWLOG]

@@WayneHansen it's a very good game, and I was surprised to see how a block game could actually be used to create a very good solitaire! Also, 1-3 players, event cards and top notch components. If you have the possibility, I strongly recommend it.

[@michaelrinella6384]

Thanks for posting! 👍

[@WayneHansen]

My pleasure Michael, congratulations on the successful game!

[@andrewnr3238]

Really enjoyed your Stalingrad “mini-series”. The game is at the complexity level that I’m comfortable with, just a bit worried about the approx 60 euro price tag in my neck of the woods!

[@WayneHansen]

Yikes Andrew, I've said it before, but I feel bad for y'all on the other side of the ocean who have to pay so much for wargames. I will say this game is an absolute joy and has tons of replayability. But you'll have to decide if it's worth it to you.

[@andrewnr3238]

@@WayneHansen Yes, generally speaking Wargames are made in the USA and Euro games are made in China. Both genres are often about Europe but rarely manufactured in Europe; one of life’s little ironies!

[@samgilson9419]

If I could only buy one, should it be this or Pavlov’s House?

[@boardnwargames]

Great review. What do you think about replayability? Do you think the game will still feel fresh enough after e.g. 10 plays?

[@johnloy9331]

SOLD!😉

[@WayneHansen]

Nice John! You won't regret it. And if you do, well you can always yell at me.

[@e-4airman124]

thank you

[@e-4airman124]

thank you