Game: Med Front
Publisher: Columbia Games
Price: USD 40
Scale: corps/division?; strategic
Rating: B
Another anticipated release to complete the "Front Series" is Med Front (MF). This will at last add the final chapter to the European theatre. Inside are the 50 block units needed to play the Spanish Civil War campaign and the North African theatre during the WWII campaign. In comparison to East Front (EF) and West Front (WF) [their previous releases], MF is very small in scale. What MF will do for the owners of EF and WF is allow the last release in the series (Euro Front) to tie in all the maps and block units for one massive Europe at War system.
For those of you not familiar with the "block games", a little detail is needed. Columbia Games produces an interesting series of games from many historical periods, using wooden blocks with a sticker on one side to give the unit's value. As a unit gets replacements or loses steps in combat, the block is just turned to a different side to show the unit's current strength. What makes the blocks work so well is that your opponent can't see your unit's type or value. The game has total hidden movement on maps with large hexes! This gives the game a true "fog of war" aspect, while keeping the game mechanics relatively simple.
In addition to the block units, the latest WF rules; the MF rules; and a beautiful playing map are contained in the box. If there is one thing that Columbia Games produces extremely well, it's the maps to their games! At USD 40, the Med Front price falls in line with their other releases' values.