edgar@csri.toronto.edu (Edgar LeBel) (12/19/90)
At the World of Commodore show a couple of weeks ago I picked up Overrun! by SSI. It is a modern-era wargame in which each unit is a single vehicle (APC, tank or helicopter) or infantry squad. The gameplay is very similar to Kampfgruppe, in that there is an orders phase in which you give your units orders and an execution phase when the units do what they are told. The "command" simulation it enforces is that the "chain of command" between you, the battalion commander, and the unit must be unbroken, so that if the command tank of a particular platoon is destroyed, there is no way to control that platoon. They do have a degree of autonomy, so they will defend them- selves and continue to execute their last order when out of command, but will not accept new orders. The disk comes with 2 executables: one for the hypothetical NATO-WP battle in Europe, and one for the various middle-east wars of 1956, 1967 and 1973 as well as hypothetical, such as US-Iraq, (I've never even heard of a 1956 middle-east war). There are also 4 scenarios for each "theatre" and the ability to build maps and create your own scenarios. To aid you in creating scenarios there is an enormously detailed booklet which lays out all vehicles, weapons and combat formations for the various armies and time periods. I found the scenarios so unbalanced in favour of the computer that I had to set the maximum handicap level for myself just to have a chance. I really like the way the game plays - setting objectives for the various platoons and individual vehicles, setting ranges and assigning targets, as well as calling in artillery and smoke barrages. There are the effects of terrain and visibility to take into account, as well as troop morale and skill ratings (which you can set when you create a scenario). If that kind of stuff interests you, then this game is worth checking out. As for user interface, it is simply OK. The graphics look basically like they were ported from an IBM PC which is to say blocky and simple (but the colours are nicer than a PC). Also, the sound effects are PCish - no digitized sound! This is pretty bogus; I mean, they could have jazzed it up somewhat. At least there is mouse control - no arcane Kampfgruppe-style key commands. Instead, there is a whole slew of little gadgets on the bottom of the screen used to control the units (but the keys work too). So it is easy to play, if not visually appealing. Still, I don't require voluptuous graphics to enjoy a game, but if you do, be warned! My assessment of the game would be to give it an 8.0 because it plays well, has a realistic feel, there is a lot of historical data and the ability to design scenarios. If I placed a higher premium on presentation, it would get a lower mark. One more thing: it cannot be installed on a hard disk, or even run from df1:. That's right, df0: is hardcoded into it. This is pretty stupid, but at least it never goes back to the disk once it is loaded, so you can remove the disk and put it away. It is also NOT copy-protected (there is a manual check) so make as many backups as you like. I used newzap to alter the binaries to accept OVR: instead of df0: but that didn't work either. They have another clever check in there somewhere. Hobie Orris