Navy News :: Recreation

Combat Mission: Barbarossa to Berlin will have you battling the enemy from your own lounge room

WIN WIN WIN

The Gamesman has two copies of Tom Clancy’s newest counter-terrorism game Rainbow Six 3: Raven Shield to give away with great thanks to Owen at Ubi Soft.

There is also a copy of Combat Mission: Barbarossa to Berlin and Mech Assault for XBox up for grabs.

Entries should be e-mailed to ADFgamesmen@telstra.com with the name of the game you would like to win in the subject line.
Please only one entry per person, subsequent entries will be discarded. Please include your full name and mailing address in the e-mail or your entry won’t be accepted.

Congratulations to our recent winners P. Smythe, Brisbane, Splinter Cell; Maj Steve Frankel, Sydney, Ghost Recon pack and WO1 Carlos Von Bischoffshausen, Sydney, CFS3.

Flex your muscles

Combat Mission: Barbarossa to Berlin
http://www.battlefront.com/index
Developer: Big Time Software
Publisher: Battlefront Games http://www.battlefront.com

Following their successful Combat: Mission Beyond Overlord, Battlefront has released a follow on game named Combat Mission: Barbarossa to Berlin.

The developer has done more than just strap a couple of new scenarios to the original game engine and retitled it to cash in on the original’s success. Instead they have made numerous enhancements and tweaked the graphics to provide an exceptionally slick wargaming program.

The game is set, as the title suggests, on the Eastern Front and layers are proved with a diverse range of scenarios and campaigns to select from. Players can take the side of Finnish ski troops as they ambush Russian convoys in deep snow, command a Panzer unit in the heady days of spring 1943 or command troops as part of the Russian onslaught into Berlin in 1945.

For those not familiar with the game, Combat Mission is played in one-minute turns. Gamers select their orders for units, including target selection, type of movement and coverage of designated arcs through an easy click-and-select menu system. On completion of which the turn is started and outstanding orders are executed.

The flexible viewing option of the execution phase is one of the stand-out features of the game. Players can view the 3D battlefield zoomed right out from a satellite-type overhead view or zoomed in so they are peering through trees at ground level watching the tracers streak across the battlefield and earth and dust being thrown up by screen shuddering explosions.

The game’s developer, Big Time Software have improved their 3D graphics since the release of Beyond Overlord and have utilised them to great effect in Barbarossa to Berlin. A wide range of equipment from Soviet KV1 heavy tanks through to the German’s King Tigers are faithfully reproduced.

Gamers can play a series of scenarios or campaign battles. The campaigns are a series of several battles played consecutively on the same map. Additional reinforcements are provided for each battle and bogged and immobilised vehicles have a chance of being repaired for the next battle. Changing time and weather can change the entire complexion of the battle with thick fogs, snowfalls, rain and nightfall drastically changing visibility and detection ranges.

Gamers can also make their own scenarios and campaigns from a wide range of options. The scenario editor comes with an easy-to-use and versatile random map creator. Coupled with the wide selection of nations and equipment Combat Mission: Barbarossa to Berlin should provide endless hours of gaming.

Gamers have the opportunity to play allied or axis, which opens up a wide range of countries to select from including Finland, Italy, Romania, Hungary and obviously Germany and Russia. Combat Mission also has a multi-play function allowing games to play against opponents via PBEM or over a network.

Battlefront has released two patches that are available from the homepage. This game has won just about every wargame award and accolade available so I would suggest logging on and purchasing it from the publisher’s homepage while our Aussie dollar is still battling higher on the world markets.

Combat Mission: Barbarossa to Berlin requires at least a 500MHz processor, a 16 MB video card, 1.2GB HDD space, 64 MB Ram and a Windows Operating System. It can also be purchased as a Mac version and played on operating systems up to OS9.xx.

Rainbow Six 3: Raven Shield
http://www.raven-shield.com/
Developer: Red Storm Entertainment http://www.redstorm.com/
Publisher: Ubi Soft Entertainment http://www.ubi.com

Just as I was sure Battlefield 1942 would be the favourite of military gamers last year, I have no doubt that Raven Shield will take that title this year.

Generally speaking a game doesn’t survive this many versions and expansions and still remain profitable (unless it is that kiddie Pokemon crap). Red Storm however has hit on the magic formula and has been able to harness the amazing increases in computer power as each version hit the shelves.

Raven Shield somehow eclipses the advances of the previous games in the series and plays as the most polished CT shooter ever seen.

But, as in the previous versions, Raven Shield is more than just a first-person shooter. This version of the game has the most comprehensive planning mode yet seen that includes the option to have a full 3D walk-through of an assault team’s path before committing to the op. The other bonus, of course, is that unlike real life there is none of the anxious waiting between planning and commencing the deliberate assault. As soon as the player is happy with their plan they can launch straight into mission.

Unlike previous versions, Raven Shield also offers the chance to play the game as though an immediate assault has been required. A quick recce on the map and the player can lead a team through an assault making totally on-the-fly decisions over which door to enter, when to flash-bang and which route to take. I found myself planning deliberate assaults for my supporting teams while using the on-the-fly commands for the team I controlled to be a very workable solution. I just wish the option to use an explosive entry was included in the new menu.

The game includes all of the modern weaponry and equipment we have come to expect from Tom Clancy-inspired games. A big positive is the redesigned heartbeat sensor. Instead of indicating potential threats on the moving-map display as in the past, Raven Shield’s sensor is a binocular-style device with a limited range that is useful for a quick scan of adjoining rooms.

It means players are more in control of their environment and are no longer a slave to the mini-map, which has been dispensed with.

The HUD, however, is easily customised for a player’s preferences, although I found the default great for situational awareness.

Another new feature is a visible weapon throughout the game. Players had been asking for it continuously since the series’ debut and I found it a great addition to the game. It can be switched off for those that prefer just a reticle.

On the gameplay side, tangos are far smarter and will respond to even the slightest noise and, thankfully, teammates have been given a bit more in the brains department. I have yet to have an AI team member inadvertently bounce a grenade off a door frame and take out the rest of the team in several hours of gameplay — a refreshing change.

The new flash-bangs are far more effective and accidentally being within the effect radius produces a visible and aural degradation for the player — the effect is very good. Players also have more control over their character with a new fluid movement setting for leaning, peaking and opening doors.

Raven Shield uses a completely new game engine and the graphics and animations show its full potential. Weapons and equipment are very detailed, while movement and activities are extremely realistic. The death animations are the most disturbingly realistic I’ve seen without all of the ridiculous gore of something like Soldier of Fortune.

I have always been a big fan of Red Storm games and this game only enhances my opinion of the talented group of people working for them. A definite buy for 2003.

Mech Assault. Microsoft Games Studios. http://www.microsoft.com/games
Mechwarrior games have long been among my favourites on the PC.

Microsoft bought the licence to the franchise a couple of years ago and has released several polished variations on the theme since.

Mech Assault, while looking similar and being based on the FASA Mech universe, is not simply a straight port across to the XBox platform.

Instead, Microsoft have built a new campaign and developed the game engine around playing from a third person view.

While I would have enjoyed the increased visibility offered by a large TV for an in-cockpit view, the third-person approach works quite well.

In typical console fashion power-ups abound with upgrades to armour, ballistic and laser weapons and missiles scattered around.

Playing the campaign is quite addictive, but had me throwing my controller in disgust on several occasions as I was forced to restart a level for the 15th time.

There is no in-mission save and each level must be completed before players can progress.

On the multi-play side of things, Mech Assault shines with co-op and deathmatch battles in a variety of environments.

Mech Assault is also compatible with the XBox Live service, which is soon to hit Aussie shores.

From all accounts it is one of the leading XBox Live games in the US and already new maps and Mechs have been made available for download over the system.