Previous Next

This is another offering from the seemingly prolific 'war game' situation software publishers, Lothlorien. This particular piece is written for a 48K Spectrum.

The game is set at a river crossing during the American Civil War. The screen representation shows a battlefield dissected by a river, which is randomly positioned each time the game is played. The bridge crossing the river is always approximately centre of screen. Also on the screen is marshland and dense woodland, both of which you are unable to enter.

The object of the game is to either capture your opponent's flag, or to attain a major tactical advantage over your enemy. Either of these objectives should be reached within the time limit that you have set yourself.

Once the program has loaded you are asked if you want a one or two player game. The instructions for both are very similar. You are then given the choice of playing as the Union or the Confederates. For some reason I cannot bring myself to choose the Confederacy (perhaps because I believe in History repeating itself). But it doesn't seem to make any difference as the computer tends to get into a very strong position early in the game.

As previously mentioned, the game can have a time limit set, which is counted in game turns or you can also play until the conclusion and the enemy flag captured. The comprehensive instructions (in fact a small folding booklet) give advice from setting up play to conclusion and make learning to play a rapid process.

You have choice over the number of troops and their type i.e. Infantry, Cavalry or Artillery. Your opponent obviously has the same as yourself, unless you play a handicap game. If your Spectrum is the opponent you can either have the machine with similar forces or with equal total power to yourself, with troops of its own choice.

Once your troops have been chosen they will be randomly placed on the field for both sides. You may then move your pieces around in sequence, with player 1 always first. You may move in any of eight compass directions up to a maximum of squares equivalent to the power of each unit. As the units are attacked by the enemy or the enemy artillery then their power reduces. This is also signified by a change of colour in the background square of each unit.

Once all your units have been moved, or have fired, then it is the opponent's turn, at the end of which the computer will check the strength of each unit. Play will continue with the next game turn. If you find that the evening has gone too quickly, you have the option to save game for continuation at a later date.

The game is very absorbing and I feel sure that your tactical strengths will be tested to the extreme whether you are playing the machine or a mere human opponent.

A well spent £5.50 on a well planned package, which also makes me want to find out more about the other programs from this stable.