Great Naval Battles
Great Naval Battles | |
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![]() Cover art for Great Naval Battles: North Atlantic 1939-1943. | |
Genre(s) | Ship simulation, strategy |
Developer(s) | IO Design Group (1–3) Divide By Zero (4–5) |
Publisher(s) | Strategic Simulations |
First release | Great Naval Battles: North Atlantic 1939-1943 1992 |
Latest release | Great Naval Battles V: Demise of the Dreadnoughts; 1914-18 |
Great Naval Battles is a series of computer games by Strategic Simulations which simulate combat between naval vessels. It consist of five separate games, four of which depict various phases of World War II. Each game combines a wider view of the action on a fleet scale, as well as controls for individual ships.[1] SSI covered similar themes in another naval game, Fighting Steel, which was released afterwards, in 1999.
Games in series
The game series contains the following games:
- Great Naval Battles Vol. III: Fury in the Pacific, 1941-1944 is a direct sequel to #2 and depicts the remainder of the Pacific Ocean war. It was not considered to be as strong a product as the previous two games, as it had some problems with bugs. the game structure was problematic due to some attempts to include air combat.[4][5]
Gameplay and dynamics
Every game provides a choice between individual ship views and fleet command views. Players can choose individual stations to operate during the game.[9]
Background music
Great Naval Battles: North Atlantic 1939-1943
When "British" is being selected for the gameplay, Rule Britannia is being played. Whereas if "German" is being selected, Unter dem Doppeladler is being played.
Great Naval Battles Vol. II: Guadalcanal 1942-43
Great Naval Battles Vol. III: Fury in the Pacific, 1941-1944
Great Naval Battles 4: Burning Steel 1939-1942
Great Naval Battles V: Demise of the Dreadnoughts; 1914-18
Reception
Computer Gaming World's reviewer in January 1993 stated that North Atlantic 1939-1943 was the first computer game to replicate "that 'joy of miniatures'". He cited several flaws in the gameplay but concluded that "for all the problems ... there are a half-dozen very nice features. For every minor disappointment there seem to be several glitzy positives. Frankly, I'm spending a lot of time playing it".[10] A September 1993 review in the magazine of America in the Atlantic, Super Ships of the Atlantic, and Scenario Builder praised the latter's "infinite" replayability from the latter's random engagements, and stated that "SSI's efforts in refining and expanding this series are to be commended ... it has the potential of becoming the recognized placebo for practictioners of historical naval combat in this theater".[11] A survey that month in the magazine of wargames gave North Atlantic, Super Ships of the Atlantic, America in the Atlantic, and Scenario Builder three-plus stars out of five.[12] In April 1994 the magazine said that the CD version of North Atlantic 1939-1943's inclusion of all expansion disks and editors "made it a good buy for aspiring captains of the Bismarck", concluding that "It would be hard indeed to find a more comprehensive simulation of ship-to-ship naval warfare in WWII".[13]
Computer Gaming World in July 1994 rated Great Naval Battles Vol. 2, Guadalcanal 2.5 stars out of five. The reviewer praised the "simply superb" graphics and ability to automate or manually control systems. He criticized the inadequate documentation, reporting that he needed more than ten hours to learn how to play, and lack of replay value in the historical scenarios and "boring, ahistorical, and monotonous" campaign. The reviewer concluded that SSI should combine its graphics and detail with Gary Grigsby's Pacific War's game design.[14]
See also
References
- ^ a b c Game review from Game Bytes magazine issue #21 at ibiblio.org.
- ^ Great Naval Battles: North Atlantic 1939-1943 at MobyGames
- ^ Great Naval Battles Vol. II: Guadalcanal 1942-43 at MobyGames
- ^ Great Naval Battles Vol. III: Fury in the Pacific, 1941-1944 at MobyGames
- ^ Game listing, the-underdogs.info website.
- ^ Great Naval Battles Vol. IV: Burning Steel, 1939-1942 at MobyGames
- ^ Game review at Gamezone magazine, worldvillage website.
- ^ Game listing for game #5, dawdle.com.
- ^ Wilson, Johnny L. (January 1993). "Strategic Simulations' Great Naval Battles: North Atlantic 1939-1943". Computer Gaming World. p. 136. Retrieved 5 July 2014.
- ^ Dille, H. E. (September 1993). "SSI Expands Operations For Great Naval Battles Series". Computer Gaming World. p. 130. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
- ^ Brooks, M. Evan (September 1993). "Brooks' Book of Wargames: 1900-1950, A-P". Computer Gaming World. p. 118. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
- ^ "Invasion Of The Data Stashers". Computer Gaming World. April 1994. pp. 20–42.
- ^ Bruce, Josh (July 1994). "How Does Ironbottom Sound?". Computer Gaming World. pp. 114–117.
External links
- Great Naval Battles series at MobyGames
- Article comparing all games at naval wargame website
- Review of game 1 at naval gaming website
- Review of game #4 at subsim.com