This review first appeared in IPW, the newsletter for all discount games
club members. Contact colin@allusedgames.demon.co.uk for details.

Airbridge to Victory (GMT)

Around four years ago, I had a strange dream. I vividly remember finding
this lamp, rubbing it and a genie appearing, granting me three wishes.
Sadly, in the morning there was no sign of either world peace or Kim
Basinger moving into my flat!

Happily, however, my first wish came true. At long last, a well
balanced, fast paced, manageable and not overly complex simulation on
Operation Market Garden was finally available. It is called Airbridge to
Victory, by GMT games.

Arnhem must surely be a wargamer's fantasy. Massed tank columns trying
to drive across Holland, cross the Rhine and into Germany with the
assistance of a daylight assault by an entire airborne army. It's little
wonder it has been the subject of so many games and must compete with
'the bulge' as Western Europe's most popular WWII battle.

Each a.m. game turn commences with removing fatigue markers from units
not adjacent to the enemy and determining initiative and weather. The
player who rolls the lowest number on a ten sided die chooses whether he
goes first of second on this and the following p.m. turn. Weather is
either clear or foul, which affects movement and grounds all air
support.

Players receive reinforcements, some of which are airborne (for the
allies), before taking their movement phase.

It is in the combat phase, though, where this game really excels and
breaks new ground. There are three types of combat: bombardment,
manoeuvre and assault. Bombardment is by artillery within range and air
points and results in step losses for the enemy if successful. Success
depends on what type of terrain exists in the target hex, with clear
offering no shelter and woods or urban hexes offering the best.
Manoeuvre combat is based on traditional odds with modifications for
terrain, supply and either the attacking or defending units having the
best efficiency rating - a measure of a unit's training, effectiveness
and cohesion. Artillery and air support can also be added. Results tend
to be retreats and fatigue, though step losses are also possible.

Assault combat sees attacking units advance into the defender's hex.
Attackers are subject to a possible defensive bombardment, after which,
first the defender, then the attacker roll on the assault CRT. This is
modified by terrain and possible fatigue. Combat results are step losses
only and a lot of them!

It is possible for the same hex to expericnce all three types of combat
in the same phase, though by different units.

Mobile units may be able to retreat before combat, enemy units adjacent
to hexes under attack may attempt to enter the hex prior to combat. Both
cases depend on units' efficiency rating. Both manoeuvre and assault
combat die rolls are modified by armour and anti-tank effects in ways
familiar to players of the Europa series of games.

The game turn finishes with the mechanised movement phase.

Add rules for overrun and bridge blowing to an excellent situation, with
allied supply depending on one highway and German reinforcements
entering at points along both flanks and you have one hell of a game.

The combat rules are too sophisticated for beginners, but, all the same,
this is not a complex game and is playable solo. One or two points in
the rules could use greater emphasis, so read them carefully, but all in
all, this is a great game that is well worth owning.

Alan Sharif