Microprose has long been known for their dominance in the simulations genre. One of their best known successes was M1 tank platoon. It had everything from multi-tank control to hills and air strikes. Building on the success of M1, Microprose has nearly completed its long-anticipated next-generation tank sim, Across the Rhine.
With the anniversary of D-Day recently, there seems to have been an influx of tank games. Across the Rhine will soon rumbling forth to do battle with the likes of NovaLogic's Armored Fist on the sales floors of software stores around the country.
Across the Rhine is a World War II simulation where you follow the course of the war with some of the most famous tank divisions in Europe: the American 4th and 10th Armored Divisions or the German Panzer Lehr Division.
Across the Rhine is a lot like many of the Microprose games that you have come to love. As the player, you have many different levels of control throughout the game, from the driver of one tank, to a level of control that allows the player to integrate armor, artillery, and infantry all at the same time. There is quite a variety in the playable tanks available to the player. For the Americans you have the M4 Sherman and the M18, and on the German's side you have the Panther, Panzer, and Tiger. Each tank has it's own terrific texture mapped decals and camouflage.
The graphics in Across the Rhine are stunning. In addition to the previously-mentioned camouflage patterns on the tanks, there are beautiful trees, and rolling hills to hide behind. Microprose has even gone so far as to include rotoscoped animations of infantrymen. Across the Rhine will also include a window type view, where the player can look at an overhead map, a zoomed in over-view, and an inside the tank view.
The Window view can help a player plan his or her strategies much more efficiently. With the ability to see where obstacles, trucks, trees, or other tanks might be, the player can better decide what his next move should be.
Though this may be just a short preview and overview of a very detailed game, I'm sure that Across the Rhine should fill the void of tank warfare sims just fine. And as for the battle between Across the Rhine and Armored Fist, well, we'll just have to wait and see. Stay tuned to IE for full reviews of both games as the finished versions become available.
