I've never played HOI. Is it like Axis and Allies?
BTW HOI 3 was a much worse version of HOI 2, while AOD is pretty much HOI 2 but improved 1000x
Its a real-time full world strategy where you gotta build up your war-infrastructure (including roads and factories) produce units, research tech and fight massive engagements. While fighting the war, manage supply lines and naval routes hoping you don't get picked off by subs.
scariest match i ever had against the pc (who is f****** smart btw) i was playing Canada it was 1939 who i have found out how to turn into a big war machine. creating my joint invasion force looked over and noticed a fog of war over half of britain, by the time i could bring my force to help, the Axis had already won.
Then russia allied with the Axis and by 1945 the US and I were allied fighting off invasions on both seaboards. I had some nukes, but was unable to strike at anywhere important by the 1950's it was looking pretty bad, but by the time game had ended we had managed to push them off of North America.
Forgot to mention, Nationalist Spain won the Spanish Civil War and Britain wasn't wholly defeated they were holding out in india with help of the small remaining american supported china group, (rest of china had fallen to the Fascist faction)
Australia had held out but it looked like it was about to fall just as the game ended