C&VG


Overlord

Categories: Review: Software
Publisher: Cases Computer Simulations
Machine: Spectrum 48K/128K

 
Published in Computer & Video Games #80

Overlord

Described as "based on" the historical Overload by Max Hastings, this is a fairly straightforward one-player game of the D-Day invasion and subsequent campaign by Ken Wright, designer of Blitzkrieg and Napoleon At War. The game starts with the Allied invasion, and the player, taking the Allies, has a choice of invasion beaches, allowing alternatives such as the Pas de Calais landings to be tested. The game ends when the Allies reach Paris or one side falls below 40 per cent strength. The best feature of the game, and the one into which most effort has gone, is the computerised German defence, which is very good and never predictable.

Unfortunately, the game is based on the same playing mechanism as Ken Wright's earlier work. This has now had most of the bugs taken out of it, and gives more realistic combat results, but it can still cause unpredictable movement. It is true that perfect control cannot be achieved in war, but at the strategic level of the Normandy landings there was better control than the game provides. Also, Corps and Army formations are lumped together as having seven sub-units each. This means that Second British Army (real strength 12 divisions) is the same size and of lower fighting value that II SSS Panzer Corps (2 divisions). It is right to suggest, as Max Hastings does, that some German units were stronger than some Allied, but overall the Allies were far stronger, which is why they won. At all but the easiest of the three levels offered by the game, they are lucky to scrape a draw.

This is an average game, neither particularly accurate nor inaccurate, interesting nor boring. But every game that Ken Wright has designed has been better than the last one. Some day he may produce something very good indeed.

Other Reviews Of Overlord For The Spectrum 48K/128K


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