** Important note: There are already patches and mods available from the game's main Web site. Go there and make sure you are running with the optimum configurations. Even things such as sounds have been addressed. There is also some great FAQ, which is handy since the game was packaged without any kind of manual for gameplay.

Most Real Time Strategy games follow a standard setup and deliver their gaming experience with all of the freshness of a Ford Pinto with a new paint job. Sure, it looks better, but underneath, it's still a Pinto. 

• What would happen if a group of hardcore fans, as opposed to professional game designers churning out the next money-maker, got together and tried to deliver something from "the heart?" 

• What if someone created something based solely on fact/realism and avoided certain exploited liberties (ex: unlimited ammo supplies) that most developers succumb to, in an effort to make the game more "fun" instead of accurate? 

What you get is a labor of love, and something steeped in historical correctness. What you get is "Civil War Bull Run Take Command 1861".

I've played several battle sims over the years. Some have been (attempted) historical re-enacted games, while some have been fiction meant more for fun and something "different" (ex: Starcraft). While I respect the freshness of the latter, I opt for the realism factor when given the choice. The problem, usually, is non-enthusiast developers create games based on books and notes, and inevitably leave out subtle nuances or downright distort fact. This game, however, was created by genuine fans and scholars - and it shows. That, from a hyper-technical perspective, is the only major flaw to this simulation (see the graphics review). Otherwise, it is a war-gaming fans' dream come true. While there are subtle audio and visual glitches, the game is otherwise a moving snapshot of a major historical event in this country's foundation. 

The Battle(s) of Bull Run took place in Manassas, VA., which is a town I pass everyday on my commute to work. Thanks to this game, it all looks different to me now. Where there is now Starbucks and strip malls was once trails and obscure passages to enter the battlefields from the Civil War. One of the things that sets this game apart is the ability to play it from various perspectives. Also, the creators have left it open for fellow enthusiasts to add to the game as they wish. That, alone, makes the game infinitely deep and the replay value is limitless. You can mod the sounds, terrain and every subtle thing you can imagine. They clearly made this for Civil War buffs - who will want to expand this to fit their knowledge of the battle and the Civil War, in general. Though it's been a long time since I have played it, I do not recall such depth from the previous legendary CW game "Sid Meier's Gettysburg." That game, although very well received by most players, is nothing compared to Bull Run. This is not a "clicker" game in which you just click your way to victory. This game moves and shifts on you, which keeps you on your toes.

One of the features allows you to know your progress as the battle is underway. It, more or less, "grades" your success as it unfolds. You can also place yourself in any league of command you wish. You are not stuck with only one perspective. Also, as mentioned before, there are real limits to your abilities such as ammo. The guns of the period required a lot of labor - just to fire a shot. You must insert the powder, wad and ball/bullet ... along with the firing flint/cap. Although this game does not make you actually DO this work, it takes into consideration the time involved, and your troops act, accordingly. Your firing lines won't be rattling off unlimited rounds of fire in hopes of hitting something. You must build your lines (single file, double, etc) and plan your attacks with precision and strategy. You also need to know when to release your men into a skirmish, and allow them to go hand-to-hand all-out fighting. That's the key to winning when you've choked down their main line and want to snuff out the random firing that can slowly damage your otherwise victorious assault. Don't assume your enemy will lay down their arms and have a seat in the grass just because the main part of the battle is concluded. It was WAR, folks. Some of those men were fighting to the death to protect (literally) their families. The designers knew this. It shows.

Little details such as soldier morale and having (sometimes inept) message couriers make this truly realistic. Things can be going along fine during a battle, and suddenly one of your flanks takes a barrage of hits with no support. You have to forget the spoiled past of gaming when things went predictably the way they were laid out for you. In this sim, things can go seriously wrong with no warning, or a surge of positive support may emerge just when all hope is lost. It is a moving, changing environment - the way it should be. Only people who can (mentally) put themselves in these situations can create such a emulation with this depth.

The sound is well done, with the usual gunfire, cannon-blasting and "hoots" from troops you might expect. Some of the sounds seemed a bit generic or "bottled," but that was a minor issue. No one knows exactly how it sounded during that battle - only what the weapons sounded like, in general. Check the site for more audio modifications - as they may be available. 

The graphics are the game's only real "weakness," but considering it's more about the gameplay and not how pretty the trees are, it looks fine. The designers are relative novices, here, but the work is still great for a battle simulation. The main objective is to ensure key characters and objects are clear and that the visuals don't distract or hinder the playability. Mission accomplished.

Considering the infinite depth of the game, and the various ways in which it can be played, I have barely scratched the surface here. In a month (more) of playing it, I imagine my review will be very different, in a positive way. As it is refined (by yourself or outside parties), it will evolve and morph into a world of its own. This is one game that will make someone flat-out CRY if they were to experience a hard drive crash in the middle of playing it. It is that engrossing. 

Gameplay: 9.0
There is no actual printed user manual, but the tutorials are very nice, and crucial (for me!). Once you get the feel for a certain way of playing, you can change and approach it from a different scenario. Then another. There is consistency without (negative) predictability. Some of the play may get familiar with experience, but don't interpret that to mean "stale".

Graphics: 7.5 
The game was not created by a think-tank of cutting-edge graphics whizzes. It was done by skilled war-buffs. There is sometimes a primitive look to it, but the engaging gameplay makes that easily ignored. It may look a little dated, but plays fresh and intense. 

Sound: 8.5
The sound sampling seems very good. I am not overly familiar with actual cannon-fire, but have fired muzzle-loading weapons quite a bit. Though there are dozens of guns firing at once, it's easy to tell the sound is good enough to enhance the experience. You can hear the troops' jubilance and grunts - mixed with the weaponry.  

Difficulty: Medium
The endless approaches to playing the game make the difficulty levels change like the wind. It can be played very leisurely, or hard-core deeply in an all night battle that will leave you drained and mentally exhausted.

Concept: 9.0 
The approach of building a game for the love of the period and not an excuse to cash in on a fan-base shows like the sun in the desert. It easily stands apart from other RTS games I have played. Obviously, I cannot claim to have played them all, but from the ones I have experience, this is my own personal favorite. It just feels different - right from the opening montages. It looks and feels ...  real. 

Overall: 8.5
There is so much to this game, there is no way to fairly cover it in a single write-up. It could best be done in Chapters (like a diary) over time. Since that is not possible, I am left to the format that exists here. I will, no doubt, receive an onslaught of emails asking why I left out this and that, and welcome it. Maybe I am missing some goodies from my already enriched experience. When I reviewed "Gods and Generals" in a positive way, I was barraged by folks that disagreed with my assessment. I enjoy the escape from modern gaming and the chance to step back in time to more simple and realistic gaming. I enjoyed G&G for it's pace and realism with the weapons and such. However, there are apparently a lot of people out there that don't like "primitive" weapons, thus did not like my favoring of the game. Likewise, if you are not a gamer that appreciates ultimate realism and attention to detail, this will not please you much at all. You will run out of ammo and need a supply wagon from time to time. There are no Spaceships or laser-grenades, and the Master Chief does not make an appearance. However, if you are a history buff who likes their gaming to be real and historically accurate (with all its faults and limitations), you should embrace this game whole-heartedly. It also invites you to communicate with other players via the online boards - which has not appealed to me in most other games. Such interaction and support makes this game grow more than what comes out of the box.