TalonSoft is have recently announced the completion of their latest title which is now in the shops.
Operational Art of War, Volume I, designed by Norm Koger and Tribal Rage, is a new real-time strategy game. Similar in style to their previous modern wargames 'Eastern front' and 'Battleground Ardennes', but on a grander scale.
Here are some features of the game:
Norm Koger's The Operational Art of War, Vol. 1 1939-1955
- a. Covers all nationalities engaged in hostilities from 1939 to 1955.
b. Flexible and easy to use "Point and Click" movement and combat system allows for airborne and amphibious operations, rail movement, strategic and tactical bombing, ferrying, and much more.
c. Stunning 16 bit High Colour graphics.
d. Variable play modes, including human vs. computer, or human vs. human via "Hot Seat" and Play by Email.
e. Many different types of offensive and defensive formational deployment settings
f. Over two dozen highly detailed, historical scenarios of varying complexity. Just a few included in Vol. 1 are the WWII Allied invasions of Normandy, Sicily and Italy (each a separate scenario!), the 1940 German invasion of France and their 1941 airdrop on Crete, furious slugfests on the "Eastern Front" (Operation Typhoon, The Korsun Pocket, Operation Uranus), as well as the 1950 Communist invasion of South Korea.
g. Several "Hypothetical" scenarios, such as the U.S. vs. the Soviet Union in 1945, and a 1955 Warsaw Pact attack through Nato's Fulda Gap (West Germany).
h. Map scale can vary from 2.5 to 50km per hex, with game turns ranging from half-day to full weeks.
i. The comprehensive (elegant but simple!) combat resolution procedure covers many variables, such as deployment, proficiency, readiness, organisation, mobility, formation integrity, air and artillery support, reserves, fortifications, and much more.
j. Nuclear and chemical warfare options.
k. Variable turn length, combined with the possibility of multiple rounds of movement and combat, keep you on the edge of your seat during play.
l. Many customisable options allow you to easily control the games visual presentation, as well as the amount of information presented.
m. Detailed combat results but only if you want the details!
n. Four different view modes: "Zoom-in" and "Zoom out" in 3D or 2D!
o. Full-blown scenario and map editors. With the variable distance and time scales, the limits are left up to your imagination!
p. The scenario editors sophisticated Event Editor allows you to factor in a myriad of historical and "what if" situations. Occurrence of specific political and/or military events can be randomised, or linked to a side conducting a specific action or even engaging in a type of warfare.
q. Huge equipment database containing hundreds of tanks, planes and other equipment. Using the editor, you can decide exactly what equipment each unit will have!
r. The scenario editors realistic Environment Editor allows for different weather zones in large maps.
s. Comprehensive and richly illustrated 162 page Players Guide, packed with unit data and reams of useful information. Also includes a "hands on" tutorial to help a novice "get his feet wet".
t. Additional scenarios to come for this ever-expanding series.
u. Lively, entertaining and informative on-line discussion board (www.talonsoft.com) devoted to The Operational Art series and frequently visited by the games designer, Norm Koger.
Other Reviews:
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© Copyright 1998 by Rolfe Hedges
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