The AI: First of all one has to ask himself the question "what can we expect from the AI in a $30 video game ? " some are better then others and impressions vary from one player to the next. I find in APOS that the AI functions decently in the campaigns but poorly in the quick battles. In the campaigns/operations I am of the opinion that the AI's reactions and re-playability in general will be dependent on the human player choosing different approaches tactically. The campaign/operation battles are generated by ones actions in the strategic phase of the game then fought in the 3d environment. I am not finding that the AI in APOS which is better then the original game to be any better or worse then what we currently see in other titles which of course makes the lack of multiplayer support disappointing. When the question of why no MP support is asked the devs don't seem inclined to answer, if they have I haven't been able to find it in the various forums.
I really enjoy playing this game !!! However buying this title without giving the demo a good testing would be a major mistake. Matrix sells the game but I don't see the demo listed on there site so you will have to go to Graviteam's site to get it.
http://www.graviteam.com/
The environment: Its my opinion that the environment in this title is the best I have ever seen in a game of this genre. Trees,grass and bushes move in the wind and the environment is distributable. These are large busy maps so if you are using a lower end machine you may encounter problems.
Recommendations:
1. Read the manual before attempting to play (It isn't the best but everything you need is in there) This isn't a jump in and play title unless you are partial to being frustrated and like moaning about it afterwards. There is a controls pdf in the docs folder as well. I find the quick orders dialog to work very well for me and I keep the gui minimized most of the time...select a unit and hit space bar. I would say conservatively 90% of the complaints about this game revolve around the manual and the GUI.
2. Music: I turned it off. In game it consists of singing,On the German side of the map its Germans singing. On the Russian side of the map its Russians singing in the middle of the map its both ...at the same time, drove me nuts till I killed it.
3. Options: Lots of them !!! well worth talking a stroll through there early on. Example being the ability to turn off night battles....The campaign/operation battles will feed you a steady diet of them unless you turn them off. There are options for reducing vegetation as well as a host of others.
regards
7thcav