As this will be the last Games Comer before we hit a new millennium I decided to have a search around for the games have been re-issued or combined into compilations, which have appeared in previous Games Comers as well as a few new up and coming items.
CIVILISATION. Publisher Crucial at £ 4.99. [recommended machine power for this is a Pentium and 16 megabytes of RAM plus you must be on at least Windows 95]. So here you have it the original Sid Meier's classic strategy game and possibly one seminal games of the strategy genre for under a fiver. You by now know the gist of taking your Stone Age nomadic tribe from its humble beginnings right on through to the greatest civilisation ever known. You may feel that Civ II has better graphics, more features and overall is a little tidier. What the heck for a fiver you can't go far wrong really now can you. If you are new to PC gaming this must be one to start with.
CLOSE COMBAT TRILOGY. Publisher Microsoft at £ 24.99. [machine recommended is Pentium and 16 megabytes RAM with Windows 95 at least]. Here they are in all their glory the realtime games that look like turn based games which may have put you off in the past. You are operating at a tactical level. You command units comprising troops, artillery and armour of various capabilities and affected by factors such as morale and conditions. If you are into WWII then you have Close Combat I which drops you in Normandy, Close Combat II - Operation Market Garden where you can be Axis or Allies and Close Combat III which places you squarely on the Russian Front. These games come with all the usual goodies like hundreds of historically accurate weapons, vehicles, troops and situations and appropriate detailed information. You can design your own battles by picking the fighting units and an editor for all those what if scenarios you always wanted to try. So there it is three games at E8.00 a throw which must be value for money and well worth picking up if you haven't played them before.
CLOSE COMBAT IV Battle of The Bulge. Mindscape £ 34.99. [recommended machine power for this is a Pentium 200 and 32 megabytes of RAM plus you must be on at least Windows 95]. My junk mail informs me that this the fourth version is hitting the streets any time now and the publisher will be Mindscape. This will be the Battle of the Bulge and feature everything from surprise attacks, saboteurs, spies, paratroops, King Tiger tanks, famous Generals, direct and indirect fire and limited ammo. As you would expect the detail of the graphics is excellent with the maps based on Aerial photography and with good quality sound effects. You also have battle continuity so your success (or failure) will have a direct impact on the whole battle. If you happen to get this for Christmas then write and let the rest of know what you think of it.
SID MEIER'S GETTYSBURG. Publisher EA at £ 14.99. [recommended machine power for this is a Pentium and 16 megabytes of RAM plus you must be on at least Windows 95]. Well what can I say. I reviewed it, I love it, I still play it when time allows and will continue to do so. One of the games of the decade with all you would expect from a designer with such consummate skill. Yours at a knock down price so if ACW is you era then don't miss the opportunity.
GREAT BATTLES COLLECTOR'S EDITION. Publisher Interactive Magic at £ 14.99. [recommended machine power for this is a Pentium and 32 megabytes of RAM plus you must be on at least Windows 95]. At least two of the games in this collection of Alexander, Hannibal and Caesar have been reviewed in LW so if you are into the ancient period then here is your chance to emulate these great generals at the princely sum of a fiver each. You have an initiative based command system, which accurately recreates the challenges of ancient warfare, leaders with strengths and weaknesses. You have a complete scenario editor, which permits you to create your very own stand alone battles and the ability to mix in units of different periods. So would the elite forces of Alexander have held their own against the Roman war machine? Create an alternative scenario and find out.
Well that's about all from me except above all don't get too serious, life is far too short. FUN AND ENJOYMENT are the objective and wargaming, in whatever form, is the means we employ. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Millennium. Best regards, Graham. Secretary, Solo Wargamers Association. [glempson@netcomuk.co.uk]
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