The General for Windows

A computerized version of the classic board game Stratego, The General does a yeoman's job recreating the original. Your army faces an enemy force across a game board interrupted by two impassable lakes.

The goal is to capture the enemy flag while keeping yours safe. Until they fight, the identity of your units remains unknown to the enemy, and vice-versa. The game evolves into a series of assaults and bluffs, as you sacrifice weaker pieces and send your stronger ones smashing through enemy lines. The full version of the General provides eight computerized opponents and 36 opening arrangements of your units.

But the demo version provides access to only one of each. The graphics are passable, but we are a bit disappointed in the demo's simpleminded enemy AI. Nevertheless, the free version is a diverting work break, and Stratego fans might consider $20 a fair price to unlock opponents with more game.