Narvik (Game Designers Workshop) - reviewed by Rob Gibson

"Narvik" is closely allied to those mammoth games on the dreaded
Ostfront i.e. "Drang Nach Osten" and "Unentschieden", and is designed to
fit into their map sequence. To this end, the entire Swedish armed
forces from 1939 onwards with reinforcements potential and actual is
included in the extensive counter mix.

However, it is as a separate game that "Narvik should be judged - as a
simulation of the 1940 German invasion of Norway. Surprisingly, the game
concentrates mainly on the air and land aspects of the campaign and
treats the naval side almost as a side issue - a pity, since this was
the major confront ation at all levels between the Royal Navy and the
Kriegsmarine; and the lack of an effective naval presence tends to
unbalance the land and air games, especially the latter. Having said
that, "Narvik" is an excellent game and a fair simulation of history to
boot. The detailed OB charts are extensive and painstakingly researched
and the material quality of the game leaves nothing to be desired. As we
have come to expect in the "Europa" series, there is enough material for
a number of extensions of the basic game, both in recreating the actions
in greater detail and exploring the "what ifs" of history.

For those wanting to explore the simulation possibilities a little
further, I would recom mend the following books: "Narvik" by Donald
Maclntyre (Pan Books) "Naval Battles of World War 11 " by Geoffrey
Bennett (lan Allan) both written by seagoing naval officers and
containing hard data and material useful for revisions to the basic
Scenario/OB.