Comes up short in its attempt to be the definitive WWII tank sim.

Panzer Commander comes close but still misses the mark in being the definitive WWII tank sim. The biggest problem is with the lack of dynamic gameplay elements ranging from the limited commander order options to the absence of enemy infantry. The limited platoon order options are without a doubt, the biggest weakness with Panzer Commander. You can order the tanks in your platoon to engage the enemy, attack a selected target, hold fire and line up in preset formations.

On the surface, this might seem to be enough but after playing numerous scenarios, you crave for more command flexibility such as ordering selected platoon tanks to proceed to specific locations on the battlefield. Or there might be a situation where you want only one tank to follow you and have the third tank go to its own position. Sorry, no can do, and this results in utter frustration especially when you factor in the inept AI of your platoon's tanks. They end up offering only short-term help as they quickly become battlefield rust buckets. Most of the time, they just get in the way or attract enemy fire and thus end up being a liability to your survival!

The other miss is with ground personnel. Blowing up enemy tanks and buildings is okay but it's a sim right? So where are all the foot soldiers? The tanks feature the use of a machine gun but to use it for knocking down a building or blowing up a truck is a waste. Bring on the infantry! Think about the potential - your tank encounters enemy ground troops, when all of sudden a foot soldier fires a bazooka at you or maybe a soldier starts tossing grenades at your tank. That's wild action but not here. It looks like tank sim fans will have to wait for Wings Simulations' Panzer Elite to see if these elements are brought to fruition.

It's too bad as there are many areas where Panzer Commander excels such as the tank control options, tank graphics and the game's exemplary manual. The tanks are fun to control as you are can take the role of commander, driver, main gunner or machine gunner. Each role has its own nuances so by mixing it up you never really lose interest in controlling the tank.

The tank graphics are topnotch with tread pattern marks, engine exhaust and cannon smoke being especially nice touches. Unfortunately, not all of the graphics are on such a high level - trees appear too flat in their appearance and the damage model for buildings is highly unrealistic. Fire a shot at any part of a building and no matter where it hits - the whole structure collapses. The different fields of battle also come across as being too barren and many of them end up looking the same after awhile.

I can't discount the fact that Panzer Commander is not a bad game, it's just that it could have been better with the addition of only a few more features. Let's hope SSI can incorporate them into the sequel. At a minimum, all that's needed is full command of the tanks in my platoon. As a Panzer Commander I don't think that request is out of order, is it?

Reviewed by James Diaz, PC Gameworld.