Computer Corner

SSI Pack,
Great Battles of Alexander
Harpoon

Reviews by Graham Empson

AWARD WINNING WARGAMES from SSI. Strategic Simulations Inc. is the company that brought you Dungeons & Dragons but it may interest you to know they produce a great deal more software than that (cries of we knew that). This package, available on CD-ROM or diskette at £ 44.99 (wallets scream in pain), contains Pacific War, Clash of Steel, Carrier Strike and War in Russia. Now by my reckoning that works out to £ 11.00 a game not bad really. All these games have been upgraded to the latest versions with the copy protection eliminated (sense does return eventually). The games cover the spectrum from simplicity (Clash of Steel) to complexity (Pacific War) all within the one package. My naval gaming sources tell me that Pacific War can numb the brain with its intricacies, but then these naval fanatics are like that (no hate mails please). It would make an ideal starter pack for a wargames beginner, giving a graduated learning curve, or for an experienced gamer to catch up on what they missed first time around. There should be enough in here to keep anyone gaming away for years.

GREAT BATTLES OF ALEXANDER from SSI. This is due out in the third quarter of 1995 and may just be what the Ancients gamers have been waiting for. It is basically a conversion of a board game of the same name (anyone out there got it?) featuring the battles of Alexander and is heralded as the first of a series. The preview literature talks of a 3D terrain model, animated figures, isometric views, pull-down menus and campaign capability, but then that's par for the course these days, it just means good graphics, nice figures and good pictures really. What really counts is the Artificial Intelligence engine and how clever that is. No news of price at the moment but estimates (don't quote me) are between £ 35.00 and £ 40.00 that seems the going rate these days (dollars don't convert to pounds very well any more).

HARPOON Pt 2. As a follow on from the review in 110 on 'Harpoon - Richard Goyer' (which I thought was excellent) members might like the following information. The original version has now been revised. The latest version is entitled 'Harpoon Classic' and is released by Alliance Interactive. This package includes the original Harpoon upgraded to version 1.5, all four original battlesets, both Designer's editions, and a new Designer's Edition 3 with 48 new scenarios. Now this adds up to in excess of 200 scenarios, so if you haven't got it then maybe this is worth a shot, or if you are a fan then this is the complete works. The drawbacks are that as far as I know it is only released on CD-ROM, needs a 20386, a sound card, 1Mb of RAM, and 2 Mb of Hard disk space, with a price tag of £ 35.99. For the same price you can have a version that runs under MS-Windows 3.1 but that's just icing on the cake, but then its no more money. As a further bit of detail you can obtain a 325 page companion book (£ 19.99) which gives details about the battlesets, strategy, tactics and modern naval thinking etc.

I am currently having a rest from ACW and trying my luck with WW II in the shape of 'Campaign'. I found the original on a 'Combat Classics release' when I swapped the remainder of my Atari Software for PC stuff. At the same time I found a heavily discounted 'Campaign II' (damaged box and slightly crumpled book) so I got that as well. Having played four battles, lost 3 then won 1, in my research for a review (hard work - really) I spotted 'Campaign', the enhanced version, on CD-ROM and thought, it's only money (£ 34.99), so I bought it. It is 43Mb on the CD-ROM, has 250 SVGA photos of vehicles, actual speeches, Battlemaps, 40 scenarios, and a map editor. On the downside again is the basic machine requirements which are:- 20486, MS-DOS 3.3 or above, 4Mb of RAM ( Expanded and extended), SVGA graphics, joystick, mouse and sound card. Still when I have worked my way through the first 10 scenarios (first four appear the same as original - and I won 3 lost 1) I will do a review. If anyone else wants to review it first they are of course quite welcome. My next source of joy will be to play D-DAY: The Beginning of the End from Impressions (auto-suggested by the Editor - thanks Kenn) which has a story all of its own but that is for another day!

If anyone out there is really into Advanced Squad Leader and you possess a standard PC (nothing super sophisticated) then this little item may be what your looking for. 'ASL G.ame A.ssist P.rogram' is not a complete game it is designed as an assistant, to help the player, by removing the need to remember all the complexity of rules in the system. Single key inputs from the player can generate results of Infantry Fire, Off Board artillery, etc. It will remind you of easily forgotten rules, can handle your dice throws, display tables and so on. It is not a substitute for your knowledge and skill but it might just help you concentrate on the actual tactics. It retails at £ 24.99 so might be worth a look at least.

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