Panzer Front

Panzer Front
Developer(s)	Enterbrain
Publisher(s)	Agetech, Inc.
Platform(s)	PlayStation
Release	September 10, 2001
Genre(s)	Tank combat Simulation

Panzer Front was first released in Japan by Enterbrain in late 2000. It achieved commercial success. It was then released in the USA and Europe in the middle of 2001, receiving generally positive reviews.

Panzer Front is a realistic World War II tank simulation game. It features over 40 WW2 era tanks - US, UK, Germany & Soviet Union - all with their own different attributes, abilities and weaknesses. It also has 6 fantasy tanks and 2 modern main battle tanks.

Panzer Front has 25 missions, based on real events. Examples include the destruction of a British armored column in the Battle of Villers-Bocage; the US Army's defense against a ferocious German counterattack in Le Dezert; the defense of the Reichstag by two desperate Tiger II's in Berlin and several based on the Battle of Kursk.

The designers of the original game released an updated version, Panzer Front Bis, in Japan around the same time that the original Panzer Front was released in the rest of the world. Bis (French for 'improved') features all the original tanks and missions of Panzer Front, with additional tanks - including Japanese tanks, 10 more missions and a mission building feature. Bis was never released outside Japan. It was due to be released in Europe in the middle of 2002, but JVC, the UK developer, shut down its video game branch before Bis could be converted and released.

Panzer Front Ausf.B

A Sony Playstaion 2 version of the game was released in early 2006, called Panzer Front Ausf.B. It follows the same simulation pattern of the earlier games, having six World War 2 tank battles, and a training mission. One battle is set in France 1940, the rest in North Africa.

The battles

The first mission pits the player as a German Platoon or Zug commander during the Battle for Merdorp, Northern France May 1940. This battle is credited with being the first large-scale armour Vs armour battle of World War 2. The player using a Panzer II light tank, against French Somua S 35 and Hotchkiss H35 tanks.

The second battle to play is as an Australian Tank commander, leading a troop of captured Italian Fiat M13/40 medium tanks, attacking the Italian Fort Pilastrino January 1941. The Italian defence being concrete pillboxes, Fiat M11-39, M11-40 tanks, anti tank guns and infantry. The player can change to play either the Italian units or a British Matilda tank attacking a nearby airstrip.

The battle of Beda Fomm is next, during early February 1941. Default setting is as a Cruiser IV or A13 MkII commander, leading a troop of three tanks holding back Italian tanks and infantry during this pivotal desert battle.

The German tanks are back in the battle of Agedabia April 1941, chasing the British tanks and field guns across the desert. This is the fourth battle in the game.

Ras El Madauar is the fifth battle. You play German Panzer III tanks advancing on the British stronghold during the Afrika Korps advance on Tobruck 1942. Going head to head with British Cruiser IV, Matilda tanks and QF 6 pounder and QF 2 pounder anti tank guns.

The final battle to play is re-capture of Fort Capuzzo as a Heavy Matilda tank troop. Opposing forces are German Panzer I, Panzer II Panzer III, and panzer IV tanks. Also Panzerjäger I, SdKfz 222 and the 88mm gun. Italian infantry and anti tank guns supporting.

Most missions feature the ability to call in High Explosive, or smoke artillery barrages, and some airpower, such as Stuka or Hawker Hurricane. The player also has the option of changing to play the opposing force, and change which unit he commands. All missions feature over half a dozen units to command. And the game features many types of tank or vehicle to play as, from BMW side-cars to the Heavy Tiger I tank.

Each mission involves advancing or manoeuvring on a large battlefield, with buildings, trees, hills and water features. Most battles involve over twenty or more units per side, plus whole companies of infantry. The player having free run of the battle field, to go where they want. However, friendly units will advance on a set course, leaving a gap where you should be on the line, so the player should operate where designated.

A score board at the end of each mission displays numbers enemy units killed, and a score. This score will only be saved if the player has used the set unit and type of vehicle. The player can change which unit he commands, and what type of unit they uses. Every other unit on the field can be changed to another type. But doing this prevents your score from being saved.

The tanks

Types of vehicle available in the game are the early war types, up to 1942. Many more are available than on this list.

Tiger I T-34 M4 Sherman M3 Lee or Grant Stuart tank Crusader tank Panzer IV Ausf.D to F2 Panzer III Ausf.E to J

Also most early war anti tank guns including the PaK 38

External links

• Panzer Front at MobyGames

=Discussion forum

http://p208.ezboard.com/bthepanzerfront