- You sunk my battleship!! -
Everyone loves the Battleships board game, so here is Minefield by Donald Campbell, which is a PD game based on the idea. Only this time we're driving tanks across a minefield made from 64 square tiles. Our opponent is your beloved Atari ST, who is trying to do the same and the one with the most through wins!
There are three difficulty levels, with the first being "Dead Easy", which makes your ST appear rather dumb, and it fails to learn from its mistakes. The second level is "Quite Easy" and marginally better. Then "Intelligent", which is the most fun and even uses its cannon to locate mines. Sounds like fun, right?
It sure does! So, let's take a gander at a screenshot before we carry on reading...
As you can see, I shot the square ahead to reveal a mine. Wow, that was a close call. Phew :)
We begin each game by placing five mines secretly on your opponent's board (the ST will do the same). Each player takes turns to safely guide a tank from one edge of their board to the other. We play by selecting a square from along the bottom row. Our tank can only move upwards or diagonally upwards. Once a square tile is used, it’s removed from play. Of course, this is obvious and will also restrict your options later on.
To help locate enemy mines, use your cannon and fire at any tile. The explosion will either result in a face or a skull: a smiley face means the tile is clean and free to use. However, if you see a skull, then stay clear, otherwise it's instant death - and for the duration of the game. Both players repeatedly take turns until no tanks remain, and the one who safely returns home is the winner. Gameplay is simple and easy-peasy to learn!
As you can see, I shot the square ahead to reveal a mine. Wow, that was a close call. Phew :)
- Play The Game -
We begin each game by placing five mines secretly on your opponent's board (the ST will do the same). Each player takes turns to safely guide a tank from one edge of their board to the other. We play by selecting a square from along the bottom row. Our tank can only move upwards or diagonally upwards. Once a square tile is used, it’s removed from play. Of course, this is obvious and will also restrict your options later on.
To help locate enemy mines, use your cannon and fire at any tile. The explosion will either result in a face or a skull: a smiley face means the tile is clean and free to use. However, if you see a skull, then stay clear, otherwise it's instant death - and for the duration of the game. Both players repeatedly take turns until no tanks remain, and the one who safely returns home is the winner. Gameplay is simple and easy-peasy to learn!
Clever people are still here, as they don't care about flashy graphics! Let's see a screenshot...
Visually, this game will blow your socks off!! I'm talking 200+ colours, 50fps scrolling and all in overscan. Okay, okay, there's nothing like that, but a game like this needs nothing more than to be functional. The board is basic but clear, the faces are cute, and the skulls look cheap, but I don't care. Nor should you.
I wasn't expecting much in the audio dept and that's exactly what I got. The old YM chip struggles, as I fear Donald wasn't much of a musician. There are a few basic effects, but it's pretty lame, and the tanks sound like a wasp is trapped in a spider's web. Not good. However, just like amateur graphics, it doesn't matter.
Sometimes the computer shoots itself in the foot thanks to its earlier decisions.
- Graphics & Sounds -
Visually, this game will blow your socks off!! I'm talking 200+ colours, 50fps scrolling and all in overscan. Okay, okay, there's nothing like that, but a game like this needs nothing more than to be functional. The board is basic but clear, the faces are cute, and the skulls look cheap, but I don't care. Nor should you.
I wasn't expecting much in the audio dept and that's exactly what I got. The old YM chip struggles, as I fear Donald wasn't much of a musician. There are a few basic effects, but it's pretty lame, and the tanks sound like a wasp is trapped in a spider's web. Not good. However, just like amateur graphics, it doesn't matter.
Fancy aesthetics are nice but never necessary, so let's take a look at a screenshot...
...but, as you can see, we humans aren't too clever either. Sigh!
...but, as you can see, we humans aren't too clever either. Sigh!
- The CryptO'pinion -
This game is superb fun, but it's not perfect, and I have a couple of quibbles. For example, it's a massive shame that there's no support for two players. Also, I'm not convinced about its three difficulty levels, especially when watching the computer make some terrible mistakes. Also, the 8x8 grid layout is restricting and can leave both players with zero options towards the end, even though a couple of tanks might remain.
It's time I stopped being an idiot and remembered this isn't a commercial release. Technically rubbish, yet here I am about to explain why you should play Minefield. It's all about gameplay, and I’ve played dozens of battles and loved every moment!! Minefield is one of the most enjoyable "PD" games I have ever played.
