Hearts of Iron II: Doomsday

It feels a bit too much like its big brother, but all of the speculative history, nuclear tension, and Cold War spice make it a great addition to Paradox's stable of strategy games. It's also a great bargain when you consider the sheer amount of game you get here for less than $20 and the extra hours you'll get out of what modders will undoubtedly create with the scenario editor.

But if you get your kicks closing howzatwork-gaps or scribbling 10-page After Action Reports (AARs) novellas on message boards, Doomsday's probably a $20 bargain-basement ticket.

Another solid, old school war strategy simulator - a war gamers ice cream sundae.

In the end I must say this game does a great job of simulating the experience of Axis and Allies the board game, just updated and enhanced with the power of a computer.

Be wary, though, as Doomsday, like its predecessor, can suck away hours to no end. And in the final analysis, that’s not a bad thing at all.

No matter what you decide, Hearts of Iron II and Doomsday represent some of the best turn-based strategy you’ll ever play.

A huge disappointment.

We’d be tempted to give the game another editor’s choice award, actually, but what holds us back most is that the expanded timeline and the cataclysmic war between the Allies and Warsaw Pact is really only for those who love the burden of taking on such a massive conflict.

Adding the nuclear arms race and using more modern forces adds to the fun of this well made RTS.

This stand-alone expansion delivers extended gameplay and adds nuclear strategies to one of the most detailed WWII games on the market. Great for fans of the series who wanted just a few more years to complete their world conquests.

This game is most definitely not one for the faint-hearted; the sheer scale of the beast is truly something to behold. [May 2006, p.97]

The superb strategic game just got better. [May 2006]

Oh my fudge, this game is well worth the price if you or anyone you know is big on A: History (WWII Era), B: Control Freak or C: Gets a kick out of screwing with said history. If you like Risk you will enjoy this. Seriously.

This Swedish smorgasbord doesn't have enough meat. [June 2006, p.93]

Verdict for Churchills? If you already own HoI2 then think long and hard before coughing-up for Doomsday's jumble of minor enhancements and questionable alterations.

If you like complicated war games with Everest-sized learning curves, then this is the game for you.

Arguably the finest HOI game to date, as an expansion pack it’s probably best left to the hardcore fans and genre fanatics.

In all, Hearts of Iron II may attract a few new players – the price is right, and it does allow for a longer campaign which alleviates some of the abruptness inherent in the original. However, for those who just couldn’t handle the original, this expansion isn’t going to cut them any slack either.

With Doomsday, you get the original game along with the improved mechanics and the extended Doomsday campaign. To top it all off, the game is bargain-priced and definitely packs a lot of play for your dollar.

Hearts of Iron 2 acolytes will dig Doomsday; I just hope its scope doesn't scare off new players. [Aug 2006, p.50]