Dai Senryaku VII: Exceed: Great, Modern-Day War Strategy Game

If you've never heard of Dai Senryaku VII: Exceed, don't worry, because most gamers haven't. It isn't because this is a bad game; it's because it's only recently come to America from Japan.

This is the second of the Dai Senryaku (Grand Strategy) games to be released in America. The first came out on the old Saturn system. Up to this point, the series has had a WWII format, but Exceed has expanded beyond those boundaries. Dai Senryaku VII: Exceed (DS7E) uses incredibly detailed, historically accurate military units in modern day war. Instead of the standard square grid, this turn-based world domination strategy game utilizes a 64 x 64 hex map. There are 8 countries to choose from, 25 missions, 100 + maps and well over 400 different units, including air, sea and ground, to use. Players have three modes of play to choose from, Free Play, Mission, and Campaign. Each country can field up to 50 units at a time, which can really become a handful until you get a good grasp on the game.

The game includes units from 1960 through the near future and even some prototypes. Most units have more than one type of weapon and can carry different types of armaments. You can play as America, China, England, France, Germany, Israel, Japan or Russia. This is a very detailed game; in it you'll run your own supply chains, repair units, assaults, alliances, etc. Luckily, the game has an interactive tutorial that will help you with every aspect of the game. If you like to be in control, you'll love this game.

The graphics are very realistic in this game, especially when it comes to the units. These aren't the anime figures Japanese games are famous for; instead you'll find very detailed units with historically accurate weaponry. They operate on a 3D board that's just as detailed.

Each mission has multiple outcomes and multiple ways to reach to reach those outcomes. Players can even create their own missions and scenarios using the in-game map editor. Multi-player mode is customizable, allowing players to control the difficulty and adjust the game balance. This is a great, modern-day war strategy game that will appeal to folks who enjoy a lot of realism. It has a great deal of replay appeal and is well worth the $15-20 price. If you're a fan of strategy, I recommend picking this game up.