The Strategy Informer reviewer is obviously not qualified to review a game of The Star and the Crescent's caliber. The developers built a phenominal real time strategy engine to replicate realalistic force on force engagements. The factors that influence the fight such as terrain, weather, hit probabilities, kill probabilities, etc are based on real world research, not on dungeons and dragons 8 sided dice, like so many other simulations. The symbology (the little box with the oval) used is exactly what we use in the military every day. The game is not intended to be a Close Combat series clone, but people who are military history buffs, prior service, aspire to military service, or who are in the service will really enjoy this game. This game is a great primer for wanna be Pattons and Napoleans, and goes well beyond the limits of most real time strategy games by incorporating realalistic effects, real logisitical challenges, and a real sense of the fog of war. Overall this is a great game. If you are not familiar with the symbology, you can download a copy of Army Field Manual 1-02 (FM 1-02 formerly FM 101-5-1), just google it. I highly recommend this game. Do not be put off that it's not "pretty" to look at, it does exactly what the developers intended for it to do. It is hands down the best real time sim. available.