In Issue 14 of
Imagine, Roger Musson liked the color coding of unit counters, making for easy recognition. But he warned, "since it is a big game, it takes a big investment of time and effort to play it. But seeing a major battle recreated this way, in this much detail, is a very rewarding gaming experience." He also noted that this was not a game for beginners, saying, "If you don't have previous experience of this sort of game, it would be better to pick up one of the smaller TSS [
Terrible Swift Sword]-type games before tackling such a large example as this." In Issue 30 of
The Grenadier, Dr. Peter Perla liked the quality of the components and the maps, but noted shortages of several types of markers. Perla also thought the addition of extra rules concerning artillery and brigade retreat were well-designed, but given the number of counters and the length of the battle, he called the "Grand Battle" scenario "a grueling test of player endurance." In addition, he suggested that this was not a good team game, especially for the Union. Perla estimated that "A Union team of two or more players will leave all but one with little to do for several turns." Perla was not impressed with Berg's new rules that prevented an all-out assault by the Union, designed to simulate the hesitancy of the Union commander,
George B. McClellan. While Perla agreed that some sort of system had to be in place to give the game a semblance of accuracy, he felt that the rules as designed allowed the Confederate player to plan an overwhelming early assault, knowing that many Union units would not be joining the battle until later. Perla concluded that the game was "a near miss. Despite its flaws, however, it comes close enough to be a worthwhile addition to the Civil War gamer's library." ==Other reviews==