Activision Incorporated both developed and published the classic shooter Battlezone especially for play on the personal computer. It was released in the late nineties and features some real time strategic elements, but is primarily an action-packed shooter from the first person perspective. The user pilots a tank.
Battlezone revolves around the premise that the world saw a huge cover up scandal at the hands of the Soviet Union and the United States of America in the fifties. Scientists from each nation discovered some alien bio-metals deposited in areas of meteorite crashes. The ore was quickly harvested by both nations, for they learned that it could be turned rapidly into super vehicles and weapons. With all of Earth’s available bio-metal depleted, the Space Race began in earnest. It was not a display of power and technology, like the people were led to believe. It was a race to find and control more bio-metal deposits, and it started a virtual war in space.
The user is in charge of one of these advanced units in the form of a battletank, and is charged with defending the U.S. bio-metal deposit from the Soviet onslaught. Besides the specific unit that the user commands, he is also in charge of other vehicles in the squadron. He has more offensive units in his charge, and also has the ability to send out harvesters into presumed safe zones to gather bio-metal scraps. This metal can then be put in the Recycler and turned into more units and weaponry to attack, defend or harvest metal. Aside from the machinery, the user is also able to shoot as a soldier on foot. He has the ability to jump out of failing vehicles and shoot at the enemy with his sniper rifle while making his way to his next command. He is also able to blow away the pilot of the enemy tank and steal his vehicle, if he is a good enough shot. All of the missions play out in three-dimensional first person perspectives.
Battlezone is a simple but effective little strategy shooter. The biggest problem the user will likely face is the lack of available space and ore, making him choose what type of vehicles he will manufacture early in the game. He also has a limited number of pilots for the offensive machines, which also affects his strategies. There are not a lot of variables, making the game a simple enough strategy as far as micromanaging or depth. But there is enough available to strap the user’s mind a little bit, and still provide plenty of high-speed shooting action to boot. This is pleasant play and is recommended for download.
Written by:
~Shannon
