Panzer General is a staple strategy game. It is not RTS (Real-Time Strategy), as many wargamers don't wish to rely on quick reactions to be able to play our wargames.
As a console game, it is one of the best strategy games around. The experience and promotion system rewards the careful player, while the upgrading process and the nature of victory points rewards the swift. Unlike many of it's predecessors, the units are developed such that combined arms (that is, artillery, infantry, and armor all mutually supporting each other) is required to succeed for very long... a realism factor. There are no rolling armies of Panzers (tanks); instead, there may be rolling armies of Panzers supported by a number of infantry units, or infantry reinforced with Panzers--it's up to the player. 4/5 stars for a console strategy game.
As a computer game, however, it is a "beer-and-pretzels" wargame. That is, a game to enjoy as amusement, not for it's realism. I give it a 3/5 as a computer game, due to it's excellent gaming community which has developed a number of different maps, scenarios, campaigns, and different takes on the units based on alternate historical data. I would recommend the Steel Panthers series of games to the serious wargamer.
