American Civil War Games for PlayStation 2

The History Channel: Civil War -- A Nation Divided

• Most reviewers seem to agree that watching a show about the Civil War on the History Channel is more exciting than playing "The History Channel: Civil War -- A Nation Divided." The slow-loading rifles are the biggest complaint about this PS2 game. Players see the war from both sides of the conflict while completing a series of typical video game missions.

Swashbucklers: Blue Vs. Grey

• This title, based loosely on the popular "Pirates" series from Sid Meier, is more Civil War fantasy than fact. "Swashbucklers" seems to be simply a pirate game that takes place during the Civil War. This isn't a game for history buffs with an eye for accurate details. It is more of a button-mashing fight game than a first-person shooter and its appeal to hardcore gamers is limited.

The History Channel: Civil War -- Secret Missions

• "The History Channel: Civil War -- Secret Missions" is similar to its predecessor but with more of an emphasis on stealth missions rather than battlefield play. As with most Civil War PS2 games, slow loading weapons reduce game play to a near-crawl. And while that may be nerve wracking and exciting in actual combat, it doesn't make for action-packed console game play. "Secret Missions" includes maps and historical details.

Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood

• "Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood" contains one level set in the Civil War. Chapter One of this title takes place during the bloody days of Gen. William T. Sherman's March in 1864. In "Call of Juarez," players use a pair of six-shooters or a Remington repeating rifle, which makes for more robust gun play than in other Civil War PS2 games.