Although Patton Strikes Back is unarguably the worst game of Crawford's career, it was a novel (and noble) attempt to attract non-wargamers to the fray through simplified combat, colorful animations, and excellent help functions and database.
A commendable effort that would not be taken up again until SSI's phenomenal Panzer General.
Review By HOTUD
English 
Comments and reviews
There are/where few like Chris Crawford. Exentric perhaps but being in the first wave of computer programming and trying to get the dynamic of battle down to the enjoyment for keyboard generals, none rank higher. I have been in awe, and battled enemies thanks to this guy, since "Eastern front 1941" on Atari 600 XL tape. My love and hat of to a genius. Thanks for the hours of struggle, fun, concentration and if lucky winning over the computer once and a while. "Maybe someone should saunter over there and grab that piece of fine real estate". Enjoy.
Everyone raving, but I do not get the game. No instructions, no booklet, not even the games tutor shows you what to do. You have lots of armies, but no way to go from one to the other and cover them all. For instance, it would be nice to be able to drag a box around several armies and move them all. Or have a button that takes you from one army to the next so you can cover them all. I can't even figure out what to do when I have given all the armies orders which is a lot of work in itself. More work that it should be. I think this game could be something with some work, but as is, it stinks. Hell, some instructions would make it a better game. How can someone make such a simple game and leave off so much?
I loved this game as a kid - this game actually got me fascinated with the Battle of the Bulge. I always played as the Germans - only because I like the idea of being stacked up against heavy odds and the outcome of the Western Front hangs on my shoulders....if I don't get to Meuse River before Dec 24th....the JABOS come in and Patton STRIKES BACK!
Now.....ON TO ANTWERP! ....which was the insanely ambitious overall objective of Hitler's "Wacht Em Rhine" Operation.
I thought this was a great game. What was not obvious about it was it had integrated facts about the Battle of the Bulge. If you strayed too far from the actual events as they unfolded, you would lose. The Allied victory was that close.
my favorite war strategy game of all time. great macro level play. Would have benefited from the ability to format one own units.
Best game I played back in the early 90s. Wish it would be released as an educational app for history classes.
Loved this game despite all the criticism it received from the grognard-elitists.
My husband LOVED this game, we had it on an old Mac years ago.
Can we still buy it to run on Windows 7? It would make him very happy...
This game got low marks because Crawford renigged on his promise to give Patton options he didn't have thanks to "Sir" Bernard Law Montgomery - enough food, fuel and ammo to say "fuck it" to the V-2 sites that Churchill wanted shut down, and go straight for Berlin before the Russians got there, and then be able to continue the game by kicking the Red Army all the way back to Moscow with the help of repatriated German troops. One of the few games where you could get banned from the pirate BBS' by uploading it because it was such utter crap.
No comment nor review for this game at the moment.