Pros and Cons: Hearts of Iron III

Basic Information:
Developer:  Paradox
Genre:  WWII Strategy, Simulation
Platform:  PC
Release Date:  Aug 7, 2009

What You'll Love:

• The detail put into the main aspects of running a country during war-time
• Historical detail and accuracy (generals from MacArthur to obscure 1 star generals are included for all major countries)
• Large list of selectable countries (Can you repel the German invasion as Luxemborg?)
• Any unit imaginable is recruitable with the right research (from infantry to tanks to battleships to submarines to bombers to men on horseback, this game has it all) 
• The option to have certain aspects AI controlled for beginner players
• Plays in real-time opposed to turn-based

What You'll Have Mixed or No Feelings About:

• The addition of the espionage tab (whatever it's called)
• Not much has changed since Hearts of Iron II

What You'll Hate.........Or Find Hilariously Bad:

• Incredibly crash prone without an old version of Microsoft Visual C++ installed
• Difficult to pick up and play even with AI help
• The tutorial is incredibly insufficient
• Interface is still counterintuitive in some parts

Games Similar to This:

• Axis & Allies (1998)
• Civilization games
• The Third Reich (board game)