Civil War, History Comes to Life on the Playstation and Xbox 360

Between 1861 and 1865 our nation faced one of it's darkest times. North vs. South brother against brother, it was the period of the Civil War. It's a time in American history that is well studied and interesting, if you into history. For those of us with a bit less of an attention span Activision has brought the Civil war off the pages of our history books and onto our home gamin consuls. Amazing graphics, hard game play and interesting facts are all loaded into this great game for the Playstation 2 and Xbox 360 game systems.

The graphics of the game look great. You can see the blood sweat and tears of every man trying to fight for what he believes in. When a cannon ball hits the dirt you can see the debris fly through the air, if a tower is blown apart, you can see every splinter. The guns are so well designed you'll appreciate the authentic feel they give the entire game. Some of the computer generated characters look a bit pixilated but only if your looking for flaws in the game. And if you're playing this title on the Xbox 360 you'll get the entire scope of its graphic potential.

The game is hard, really hard. You might spend hours or days on the same mission trying to figure out the best way to achieve your goal. You really have to think about what you did wrong the last time, where key enemy positions are and how the best way to distribute your limited ammunition supply would be. Of course you can up the difficulty is you desire or lower it for a more casual and enjoyable gaming experience.

The battles that you participate in truly happened, and the odds are never in your favor. This game delivers history to us in a whole new way by putting you in charge of a soldier from the North, or South. That's right you can experience the war on both fronts, as a Yankee or Rebel. Many players will enjoy the feeling of being thrust back into the 1800's but don't expect this game to play out like a Medal of Honor or Call of Duty Title.

Civil War is a game based in the 1800's so the technology and weapons are going to reflect the time period. There are machine guns stations through the battlefields, and sniper rifles but they are all very low tech. Many times you'll find using the rusted knife they equip you with is just as effective as your gun, so please keep in mind the era the game takes place in. Your not storming Omaha beach on D-day you're fighting at Bull Run taking cover behind a wooden wagon drawn by a horse.

The game is great for anyone wanting to relive the events and great battles of the Civil War, but it may not be for everyone. If you enjoy true high powered shooting games then you may be disappointed, but if you're a history buff who plays video games then I highly recommend this game. Another bonus is that the game was sponsored in part by the History Channel so you can rest assured that every detail was carefully thought through and the information you're getting is accurate, right down to the amount of powder you load into ever shot.