I played mostly HOI2 doomsday, which prolongs game play into 1953, and then got the Armageddon upgrade which has an alternate universe risk style game which is alot of fun.
I’ve always enjoyed playing these games, and have gotten pretty into several of them, My favorites being Nationalist China, Soviet Union, Republican Spain, and Italy.
I was extreamly disapointed by HOI3, as the combat system seems very flawed and has been made overly complicated. I think the game it its stride with the Armageddon upgrade, by far the best and most accurate game they have made so far.
I still play, its kinda of like A&A on steroids as I head it put once. The level of depth is amazing, and even though it follows history so closely, a good player can still take his nation to greatness. I’ve played Japan once or twice and have managed to overrun China, and rather then attack south, I would always strike north, and help bring down the Soviets, which would be better position me to strike south sometime in 1943 (always played on the fastest setting) One game as Italy I managed to take Egypt, most of northern Sudan and push all the way into Iraq and nearly take Baghdad with the 2 divisions of the DAK and 2 corps, comprising 6 divisions, 2 of which were armoured, and 4 of which were motorized inf, being my principal striking force.
What great games they were and are, as no 2 games are ever the same.