|
|
|
|
|
|
History Channel: Civil War: A Nation Divided
Studio : Activision
by Activision
Brand : ACTIVISION
Platform : PlayStation2
Release Date : 2007-12-14
Publisher : Activision
Minimum Age : 12.0 Years
Maximum Age : 20.0 Years
Availability : Usually ships in 1-2 business days
EAN : 0047875753051
UPC : 047875753051
Avg. Customer Rating: (based on 28 reviews)
List Price : $29.99
Our Price : $22.50
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
Product Description |
|
History Channel: Civil War brings you into America's bloodiest war. Carnage and chaos are everywhere, and withering fire cuts down your best regiments. The screams of the wounded aredeafening, but the destiny of a country is in your hands. Rally the troops and organize a counterattack -- Your strategic decision and talent as a commander will decide if the Union is preserved or if Dixie wins its independence. |
| |
|
| |
|
Great Game |
This was the first History Channel game we purchased and it was worth the price. My son loved it so much that we also purchased the History Channel's Battle for the Pacific.
We highly recommend this game because it is fun and because of its historical tie in. Great Game. |
| |
|
Nothing Spectacular |
My brother originally brought this game. He's a college student who enjoys playing video games and has a side interest in American battles. He purchased CIVIL WAR: A NATION DIVIDED soon after it came out. He played it through and when asked afterwards about it, said the game was "just okay". I, too, enjoy playing video games from time to time and I am an amateur history buff, but I don't have as much time on my hands so I didn't get around playing CIVIL WAR: A NATION DIVIDED until recently (about a year after it came out).
The game is a first person shooter game. There are twelve different battles that you can fight in, six that you fight in as a Union soldier and six that you fight in as a Johnny Reb. Only one of the battles is available to play at the start; you unlock more battles once you "win" a battle. I use the term "win" rather lightly because there isn't much winning going on. On each of the levels you are given specific missions to complete. The visuals of the game are quite impressive and the sounds of gunfire, shouting, and sometimes cannons roaring give the impression of being in the heat of the action. However, usually your character isn't. Instead your character is set on a linear course to complete the various objectives. Sometimes a random shooter from the sidelines will fire upon you, but other than that the only fighting you encounter are the pawn-like soldiers that stand upon the trail as you attempt to complete your objectives. I was really disappointed by this. I had hoped, from the description of the box (which includes pictures that turn out to be nothing but still shots from scenes you don't fight in) and advertisements about the game on the History Channel (which was a co-creator of the game) that when you play CIVIL WAR: A NATION DIVIDED you would be involved in massive battles or at least would have the opportunity to direct the movement of troops or something. The only exploring off the beaten path that your character gets to do is find an the occasional alcove or hidden alley.
From a historical perspective, CIVIL WAR: A NATION DIVIDED does have some value. Before each battle a narrator explains why the battle came about and after each battle he explains the aftermath of each conflict. Depending on versions of the game, there are some discrepancies (for instance I know that on some versions it says that 50,000 men were killed at Gettysburg, but on the version I played it said 50,000 casualties). I also know that there's also an issue with the visuals and the overall set up of the battle, for instance the battle of Shiloh is terrible and except for the brown and blue uniforms has no distinction in it being a Civil War battle at all. Despite these inaccuracies, I still believe the game has some educational value because children--through teens are the ones that will probably be the people most likely to play the game and there's just enough interest here that might incite in them a desire to learn more about American history, especially the Civil War.
As far as games go, CIVIL WAR: A NATION DIVIDED is just a typical first-person shooter video game. In regards to educational games, it does have some flaws, but there just might be enough here to interest in kids about the Civil War that they'll do more research on their own. Recommended for kids through teenagers. If you're a Civil War buff you might also enjoy the game, but you might be disappointed in how limited the game is or upset by the flaws. |
| |
|
The description of the game is false advertisement |
Do not believe the description Americancivilwar gives of this game. It's a blatant lie.
"Control full compliments of troops and move them across the battlefield - cavalry, musketeers, riflemen and more
Command cannons and mortars, build and take forts and experience 3D combat"
1. You don't control any compliment of troops other than the one soldier you play as.
2. You don't dig a trench, let alone build a fort.
3. The "3D combat" might as well be 2D sidescrolling combat, because the game limits your movement so severely that you might as well be on rails.
In addition, this game is grossly historically inaccurate. Other reviewers have already covered how, so I'll leave it at that. This game is atrocious. |
| |
|
Shoot the dot... |
This game is pretty much just shooting at a red dot. Most of the time you are shooting at the enemy from a distance, and you cannot get any closer because of a fence you cannot overcome, because like in the real civil war one could not climb fences and leave the road ;)
So for the most part you cannot see your enemy, but you can focus your aim on an area, which turns red when it's on the enemy so you know to fire. You really don't see the enemy you're shooting, just shoot the red dot, red dot disappears, and presto, you've eliminated the enemy.
This could have been a much better game, how sad they only sold the idea of a civil war game instead of delivering a good gaming experience. |
| |
|
my 15 year old son loved it |
|
I got this for my 15 year old civil war buff son for Christmas. He LOVED the game! He's a game whiz but it surprised me that he had beaten it after about a total of 10 hours of play (not all at once). He wished it was a two player game so he could play with his friend, but thats the only complaint he had. If i get the free time i might try to play it, it looks intersting enough. As an adult i like more challanging games but if its a gift for a teen i think it's a good bet, especially if you want to get your kid interested in history. |
| |
|
|
|
