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Hearts of Iron begins back in 1936, covering from the Spanish Civil War to the Winter War.

Over the years there have been many computer games that modeled the strategic aspects of WWII, but none have been as impressive as Hearts of Iron promises to be.

The game covers ten years, beginning in 1936 and stretching to 1946 (a timeline that would allow for everything from the Spanish Civil War, to the Winter War, to a possible West/Soviet confrontation in the ashes of Europe) and encompasses the entire world. Players control the mighty nations of the era, commanding air, land, and sea forces. Diplomacy and political considerations will play an important part, along with the research of new technology (there will be literally hundreds of developmental choices).

Games about WWII are always welcome, but what really sets this one apart is the attention to detail. That, and the fact that this is an all encompassing game. Very few global strategic WWII computer games have ever existed, and those that have tended to focus on a limited time frame, such as beginning when Germany invades Poland or covering the period from D-Day onwards. The fact that Hearts of Iron begins all the way back in ’36 should make for some interesting gameplay.

Paradox is best known for their excellent Europa Universalis I and II. Hearts of Iron is actually a modification of that system, which means that we don’t have to worry about whether the system works or not. Setting the game during WWII should also be a boon for Paradox, as there are more gamers interested in that period than the period covered in the EU series.

Previewed by Scott R. Krol, PC Gameworld.