Basicly the two maps are of europe and you play as either the Soviet Union(russains) or the American allies. If you play as the Soveit Union you have no allies and have to conquer europe also you start with 3 nukes and a large army. If you play as the americans you start with no cities but bases around europe. you have the British, French, Germans, itlaians and Greeks on your side and a small army, navy and airforce. the American map is the harder of the two so i would recomend playing the russian one first if your new to the game