Antic
Software
1
Player
Red Alert is a combination game of arcade style
action and strategy involving a theme that seems to be one of
America's favourite phobias, nuclear attack from the dreaded
Commies.
The initial scenario is an outline map of North
America which you must defend for as long as possible against
missile attack from the East, either across the Atlantic or over the
North Pole. To add further interest the Ruskies have managed to slip
the occasional submarine into the Pacific so you need to watch your
back. At the beginning of each game you are given free range to
deploy laser bases and silos for ground to air missiles as well as
cities to defend. This is where the strategy comes in, in building
the best defence to protect your cities from destruction for the
longest possible time. Laser bases are computer controlled automatic
weapons and if cleverly placed will earn you high scores without
intervention on your part. Any missiles that do get through must be
destroyed by using the mouse to launch ground to air missiles. You
also have a Space Cannon which is satellite mounted to be used as
appropriate. At the beginning of the game, at least on level 1, you
can relax while your laser bases, if properly deployed, look after
incoming missiles but as time progresses these missiles come faster
and more thickly. There are 3 levels in all requiring more action
and quick thinking on your part.
Generally a game does not last long, at least
until you become an expert, but there is always a new high score to
strive for as each successive high score for each level is saved to
disk. Once you become expert in defending North America you can
redefine the map to show Europe with the missiles coming from -
guess where? Yes, it's those Commies again. Europe seems to be
harder to defend as it is more congested and there is a danger of
blowing up your own bases if they are sited too closely together.
I have to say that Red Alert is not a particularly
spine tingling game and would probably appeal more to the less
experienced game players. The main objective is to simply build a
high score by lasting as long as possible before annihilation. It
doesn't seem that you can actually beat the Russians, maybe there's
a message there somewhere.
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