|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
| From: Pulse Down and Away Below Review by James Stevens Drumbeat by Deadly Games. Developed by Rene Vidmer and Deadly Games. Category: Vehicle Sim, Strategy. System Requirements: A Macintosh running System 7.0.0 or newer, 8 MB RAM, Most submarine simulations make an effort to be as accurate as possible when it comes to creating the way a sub fights in combat--the techniques it needs to use and the vulnerability of a sub. When Deadly Games created U-Boat, the company didn't sweat a lot of the realism. Player interaction was limited to a few mouse clicks, a few computations and steering where the boat would go. The strategy remained, but the player was rather limited. However, U-Boat excelled in one significant area. The game felt more like a submarine than any previous sim. U-Boat was positively claustrophobic. Deadly Games seemed to sense this and packaged headphones with the game, which really enhanced the player's experience. Those players who discovered the joys of U-Boat can now revel in the sequel, Drumbeat. Drumbeat features exactly the same engine and graphics (with a couple of minor changes here and there) as U-Boat. It also features the same atmosphere. What's new is that a successful player will be able to move further and further into the Atlantic, eventually taking part in missions and raids along the east coast of the United States. The player is given command of a submarine stationed at the U-Boat pens in Lorient. From here, the player sets sail and is given basic orders every now and again. In effect, the player is simply heading for waypoints out in the ocean and is to patrol them. Along the way, any shipping that happens to come in range is fair game. Additionally, the player will be alerted to particular ships to either hunt or be wary of. Once a waypoint is reached, the player will be given another assignment and can freelance on the way there. WIthin these basic constraints, the player is given dramatic freedom. As with real subs in WWII, the player's biggest ally is stealth while the biggest enemies are the fragility of a sub (an airplane can take a sub down quickly and painlessly) and a sluggish top speed (slower than virtually every ship that can be encountered in the game). The player must use his or her wits to survive along with the inherent capabilities of the ship he or she commands. Gameplay is simple. The player steers from the basic menu, viewable at all times. From here, the player can also command the sub to dive or surface, change speeds from full reverse to flank speed ahead and give the command to fire torpedoes. The chart room is used for keeping an eye on where the sub is located, while the captain's quarters contain the log. There are perhaps two dozen places to click in the entire game. Once a ship is spotted, the player uses the TDC to determine ship distance and angle. The player needs to use the included handbook to determine what type of ship has been spotted and that ship's height at its waterline. By moving in slowly, the player will hopefully get in close enough for the kill. Torpedoes are also readied at the TDC and launched from the main screen. Getting a hit is difficult in Drumbeat, and sinking an enemy ship can be tougher. The player has an uphill battle against any warship and must be very careful to sneak up to even the puniest merchant ship. The merchant ships are the natural prey of the U-Boat and the player will always be alerted to ships in the vicinity. Once a ship has been destroyed, the tonnage is listed in the player's log for future reference. One thing of particular interest is the inclusion of a close to literal translation of the actual handbook issued to German U-Boat commanders in the war. An endnote comments that it was edited only for clarity and redundancy and that the "very teutonic, very leaden" prose style of the original has been kept. It's a fascinating document to flip through between gaming sessions. The biggest disappointment with Drumbeat is that there is only one save slot. It makes each encounter more gripping, but it is disappointing to the gamer wishing to share the experience with a friend. Still, this is more than worth playing. I highly recommend this to any war gamer interested more in the experience of running a sub than in the logistics of doing so. |
|||