Unlike most wargames, Combat Mission uses a crude but passable 3D engine. Various camera settings can zoom in on the action or even provide a top-down view. Line of sight is particularly well modeled in this view, with sound even playing a role. If your men hear something that sounds like infantry… or worse, a tank, you'll get the word "Tank" with a question mark indicating this.

There is also a wealth of independent scenarios here, most based on historical battles. A lot of attention to detail was paid to terrain, buildings, units involved, and placement. Several kinds of tanks and transport vehicles are available for each side and the unit types are as detailed as any turn-based wargame. Combat Mission takes none of the unit detail shortcuts that games like Close Combat had to take. A handy and fairly easy to use scenario editor is also included and fan sites are already popping up with new scenarios to play.

There are also a few "operations" (mini-campaigns), but there aren't enough of them really. A full string of scenarios taking one group through the whole theater would have been welcome, if totally unrealistic.