The Components
Hedgerow Hell comes in an envelope containing a map and some miniatures.
The Map: This is the core of the supplement. It's an Overlord-sized medium-weight paper map. It's double-sided, with the "Hedgerow Hell" scenario on one side and the "The Cadets of Saumur" scenario on the other. Each map shows all the terrain for the Overlord scenario, plus the starting positions for all the troops. There's also introductory text, rules, and copies of many of the informational cards that you'll need to play. The maps are bilingual, printed in French and English.
Miniatures: This expansion also comes with six Dodge WC-63 truck miniatures. These are plastic miniatures, uncolored so that either side could use them.
The components are fair quality. Cardboard maps would, of course, be nicer than the paper, but that clearly wouldn't be cost effective. The minis are a nice addition. The expansion earns an average "3" out of "5" for Style.
The Gameplay
There are two Overlord scenarios in this expansion:
Hedgerow Hell: This scenario shows an American push into a fortified German position. Hedgerows make movement difficult, but there are also roads which can allow you to speed across the terrain if you're positioned right. The Allied player can earn points by exiting troops off the far side of the roads, providing an alternate path to victory.
Trucks. The new truck miniatures are also used in this scenario. The 2-figure truck units may be moved up to another unit and then "heal" that unit, removing one truck for each figure restored to the other unit.
The Cadets of Saumur offers the opposite situation as Hedgerow Hell. French troops are dug in, while Germans must cross a river and railroad tracks to break through the French fortifications. Henry emphasis is placed on a river, with rules for rafts, pontoon bridges, and blowing up bridges all in effect.
Relationship to Other Games
Hedgerow Hell is a supplement to Memoir '44. It's designed around Overlord play, which means that you need either a second set of the base game or else Operation Overlord to play.
The Game Design
Generally, Hedgerow Hell depends upon the strengths of Overlord-style play, which means that you'll either enjoy it or not based upon what you think of multiplayer M'44 play (and my general assessment is that it's a clever and interesting extension of Memoir '44's core two-player play).
The "Hedgerow Hell" scenario is tough, with several interesting tactical nuances. The hedgerows do genuinely remain a constant part of battlefield tactics, as does the possibility for the Allied player to, at any time, make a push for the exit. The trucks also introduce some interesting tactics for the Allied player.
I have yet to play "The Cadets of Saumur" but it looks like it'll feature some interesting tactics concerning the river as the Axis tries to push into it, and the Allies try to kill troops before they can make the crossing.
Overall, both scenarios seem well considered but otherwise pretty average, and thus I've given them a "3" out of "5" for Substance. However, they form nice entry routes to overlord play if you want to get Operation Overlord and try out some multiplayer battling.
Conclusion
Hedgerow Hell features a well-designed pair of scenarios which are just what you need to turn Operation Overlord into a usable game system.
