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Large, absorbing war game packed with detail

This war game presents you with a large rule book with small type which at first sight may discourage you. But once you get as far as playing the novice game though you'll soon find that things aren't as complicated as they seem.

This war game presents you with a large rule book with small type which, at first sight, may discourage you. But once you get as far as playing the novice game though you'll soon find that things aren't as complicated as they seem.

The game is played on a green battlefield covering three screens. On this landscape are various features like trees, hills, depressions and rocks, and once you start playing, your forces.

The size and type of your forces depends on which of the seven possible game plans you have chosen; these are novice, intermediate, build your own game, attack enemy, seize and hold position, mobile defence and reconnaissance. Each of these scenarios gives you a different task and strategies with which to complete it.

The novice game gives you a platoon of five tanks and you must engage and destroy a platoon around you use the joystick and keys: the joystick to position a cursor and the G key to tell your tanks to go to it.

Other commands allow you to target your guns, fire them, hurry movement, provide smokescreen, use infantry and patrols and also get repots on the enemy forces. These commands can be issued to a number of units - besides the tanks you may have carriers, scouts, patrols and various squads.

Each unit can be controlled individually while the others are computer-controlled or you can try and control the whole lot at once. Your opponent is always the computer and, believe me, it is a very skillful and tenacious fighter.

I haven't played many war games or simulations so my approach was one of a complete novice. At first I didn't know what was going on - detailed study of the instructions is essential.

"Well, here goes nothing," I thought and sent my tanks off into battle. After a few incoherent messages, my elite unit was no more.

Hmmm... Back to the instructions once more. My second attempt was little better, but there is certainly plenty of game variation and loads of challenge if you're prepared to spend time getting to grips with the game.

The presentation on this game is highly commendable. The extensive range of options and extremely comprehensive instructions, made it easier to get into than I had imagined.

I'm not a great fan of war games, but I soon found myself enjoying this one. Setting up your own battlefields was time-consuming but worth doing. Definitely good for wargamers, and maybe there's even something here for sceptics such as me.

I enjoyed this war game. Although it won't appeal to hyperactive blasters it is an excellent alternative for those who like more strategy in their games. The action demands full concentration and you always have a tough fight from the computer whatever the odds against it.

The single-colour display is disappointing but is made up for by the strategy and thoroughness of the program.

Presentation 88%
Excellent background instructions and game options in a slick package.

Originality 68%
Real-time action unusual in war games.

Graphics 26%
Awful display makes action unclear.

Hookability 43%
Less complicated than most, but still tough.

Sound 29%
Explosions, rumblings and faint machine gun chatter.

Lastability 76%
Plenty of options and a tough computer enemy.

Value For Money 63%
Expensive even for this slick package.

Overall 56%