Game: Enemy at the Gates
Publisher: The Gamers, Incorporated
Price: USD 59
Scale: division/regiment/battalion level (one hex equals 5 mi/8 km)
Rating: A
Enemy at the Gates (EAThG) is the latest (second) game in The Gamers' Operational Combat Series. It boasts four 22 in × 34 in / 56 cm × 87 cm maps and 2240 counters! This game is definitely not for the beer and pretzel game player, and the box claims that the Campaign game can take up to 140 hours to play! The first game in the series was Guderian's Blitzkrieg (GB), and it was half of the size of this monster. The rules are now in their second edition, and have changed quite a bit from the original game - you may need The Gamers' magazine Operations #12 to apply these changes to GB. In keeping with their almost unbelievably excellent support of their products, I have been informed by The Gamers that early next year they will have a package (including counters) to upgrade GB to the new format, similar to what they did for their other games, in the form of a replacement countersheet for their registered customers. One can see that it's important to get those registration forms mailed in!
EAThG starts with the Soviet winter offensive in 1942 that eventually surrounded and captured Stalingrad, and ends during the German offensives to break through to the Stalingrad defenders and/or stabilize the front. Both sides face logistic nightmares, with the Soviets faring only slightly better. Since the Soviet army is not at the point militarily as it was from late 1943 to 1945, some of the same inherent problems that existed for the Soviets in GB still exist in EAThG. Included in the game is an abundance of Italian, Rumanian, and Hungarian allied (to Germany) troops, and with them are the usual special rules. Most of the minor ally troops are of average to good quality; their only drawback is the huge area they must defend against a concentrated and well armored Red Army.
Aesthetically, the game is in keeping with GB; all of the counters are clearly visible, and the maps are great to look at. The new rules make the game move more quickly (a needed change, considering the scale of EAThG), with each player only having one turn each instead of the two turn system in GB. Also, some of the "gamier" tactics and rules ambiguities have been cleaned up, allowing for a more realistic game. The supply rules, on the other hand, are a little more complex than in the original rules. They now incorporate combat supply, attrition supply (you know, food), and fuel supply. Hip Shoots that were optional in GB are now standard in EAThG, allowing the Germans greater flexibility on overrun attacks.
Enemy at the Gates is worth every cent of the USD 59 list price; I heartily recommend it as a good improvement over Guderian's Blitzkrieg.