Thank goodness for WWII, or companies like Nival Interactive wouldn't have found such a fertile creative source for their games. The Russian developers have earned a respected niche in the RTS wargame market with their Blitzkrieg series and, despite going through a few name change developments (the last was Frontline Kursk), their latest war baby still has Blitzkrieg stamped all over it.

The one main alteration is the concentration on one particular battle, in this case the decisive engagement between the Russians and Germans in the middle of the War at Kursk (1943) which became the largest tank battle in history. So in the single player campaign you have 20 missions to complete, divided evenly between the two sides.

It's the usual Blitzkrieg top-down view (though you can use the mouse wheel to zoom down for a reasonably close impression of the action) with the Fog of War obscuring the enemy's whereabouts. Newcomers to this series will notice that the accent in the gameplay is not on building barracks and factories to churn out hordes of troops and tanks to rush the foe but almost the reverse; having to make use of very limited weaponry and soldiers, often against considerable entrenched odds.

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The maps are large but you only gain more supplies and reinforcements (which usually means either recon or bomber air support) as you progress from target zone to target zone. Depending on how tough you like your challenges, you will be saving and reloading frequently as each square foot of terrain has to be planned meticulously and fought for cunningly because there's frequently only one solution to each assault.

After a few missions you'll start to see a familiar pattern emerging as your small brave band arrives at yet another heavily fortified town to tackle the carefully and strategically placed forces arrayed against you. It may look like history but it doesn't feel authentic.

Indeed the graphics are detailed without being cutting edge but you feel a warm glow when you barge flaming tanks out of the way or crush buildings and foliage in your path. General battle effects noises are adequate but more time was clearly spent on the lush music score to create the right atmosphere.

History buffs may take some pleasure in exploring the extensive Encyclopaedia that provides plenty of documentary facts and figures about the battle and its units. You might even be tempted to buy on the basis that you get a free copy of another WWII RTS (Hearts of Iron II) thrown in, plus the chance to play multiplayer 'capture the flag' missions online. But after the last shell has exploded, you'll look back and realise this is essentially just another Blitzkrieg clone.

Too similar to the preceding Blitzkrieg series to raise too many eyebrows, though wargamers who like fiendishly tough missions and mounds of historical background might still relish the challenge.