Knights of the Desert

The North African Campaign
of 1941-43

Review by Ernest Rowe II

By Tactical Design Group Strategic Simulations, Inc 883 Stierlin Rd., Bldg. A-200 Mountain Views, CA 94043-1983
Released: 1983
Catalog No. 040331
Price: $39.95
Complexity: Intermediate
Solitaire Suitability: Good

Knights of the Desert is a computer game that can be played by one or two players. The players take the role of the German general or, if two are playing, the roles of the German and the British generals. The players learn very quickly about the importance of supply as they fight their way across North Africa from El Agheila in the west to Alexandria in the east. This review is based on the IBM PC version of the game.

The cover art does get your attention but the rest of the artwork and graphics may not attract you. There are no graphic surprises for players familiar with SSI games. There is also very little pictorial description of the terrain.

It took me several readings of the rules to get some idea of how to play the game. This was followed by several attempts to get the game started, because the instructions for the IBM are printed on a separate sheet and they are vague.

The rules are poorly organized with each turn partially explained in two consecutive sections of the rule book instead of one continuous area. Although divided, the rules were detailed and once understood, they are easy to interpret. There are several paragraphs of examples which are very helpful ' Once past the problems I had with the rules, I found the game to be challenging and enjoyable. I'm still trying to figure out how to allocate my supplies as the German push the British back past Tobruk.

A player's beginning strategy is important or else the game is lost quickly. The German player must be mindful of his supply lines. If they are broken, German and Italian units die rapidly. The suspense occurs due to timing. When will the British player start to push the German back, defeating him with a superior supply situation?

Historically, the game designers were accurate in the placement of the participating units, but I question the game's unit strengths.

As a closing comment, I found that once a player gets past the rules problems and initial start-up of the game on the computer, he will find a very enjoyable game to play again and again and again.

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