Following the fall of Tobruk in May 1942, the Commonwealth forces in the desert struggled to reach the last real defensive position before Alexandria and halt what seemed to be an unstoppable Afrika Korps. In a series of battles stretching from June to November 1942, they first stopped the Axis offensive and then began one of their own that shattered Erwin Rommel's legend of invincibility and drove the Germans and Italians out of Africa.

Designer Brian L. Knipple"s masterpiece is one of the largest games we've ever made, with four oversized maps divided into hexagons at a scale of two kilometers across each hex. Some scenarios use only one or two maps, allowing players to wage war in an afternoon or set it all up and play all weekend.

The game system is the most involved Avalanche has published, the same as that in Island of Death and in some of their earlier games that are now out of print like Red Steel and Red Parachutes. Each day is divided into four game turns. At the beginning of each day, players receive reinforcements and artillery ammunition. Players then alternate turns conducting movement, bombardments and attacks. Units that achieved breakthroughs during combat have the chance to attack again if their formation leader successfully activates them.

Units are grouped in formations - divisions and some brigades. Players make most of their decisions based on what they want these formations to do, and then move the battalions that make up the formation to execute it. Formation identification is important for assigning artillery support, executing breakthroughs, and many other game functions. Each unit's formation affiliation is indicated by the historically-accurate symbol in the upper left corner of the playing piece (several Italian divisions have their provincial flag instead, as Italian infantry division badges were very plain).

Ground units are rated for attack and defense strength and morale. Combat is resolved via a tried-and-true odds-based table; a differential in morale is a serious advantage (for example, if a unit with an attack strength of 2 and morale of 6 attacked a unit with a defense strength of 2 and morale of 4, the odds of the attack would be raised from 1:1 to 3:1 for the +2 morale differential).

Tank units are rated for all of the above, plus armor quality. Armored vehicles battle one another in a separate armored combat step, and also have to face anti-tank guns. Differential in values is again the key, and both sides have some very capable tanks (the German PzKw IV 'Special' or British Sherman) and some poor ones (the Italian M13/40). Warfare in the desert will be decided by tanks, and though the Axis has at this point highly-skilled formations like the two Afrika Korps panzer divisions or the Italian Ariete division, the Allies have many more tanks.

Artillery units are rated for offensive and defensive support. Each artillery unit has a corresponding support marker that's placed on its target hex. These can be used twice before the unit's ammunition supply must be replenished. The Allies over time have a much greater supply of artillery ammunition, allowing them to use their artillery much more freely than the Axis.

New to this system is a game-within-a-game for air combat. Every air squadron that participated in the campaign is present, rated for air-to-air combat (attack and defense) and bombing strength. Players assign squadrons to missions, and if they obtain air superiority can do great damage to the other side's supply infrastructure - a key concern of the Axis player, who is badly outnumbered in the air.

Scenarios include the Australian and South African spoiling attack in mid-July, the late June battle for the Mersa Matruh position where slow response almost cost the Commonwealth the bulk of the New Zealand Division, the first Axis attack on the Alamein line in early July, the last Axis attack to break the Allied line at Alam el Halfa at the end of August, Operation LIGHTFOOT: the Eighth Army's attack against the Axis line in late October and the massive campaign from the end of June to the beginning of November 1942.

Troops fighting in the campaign include Australians, New Zealanders, South Africans, Greeks, Free French, British, Italians and Germans, with an optional U.S. Army armored division included as well. (used by g2 with the permission of Avalanche Press from the AP website).

Avalanche Press is known for its high quality, easy to learn war games with quality maps and counters. Whether you are a Grognard or new to war games, you will appreciate the amount of effort that this company puts into its games.