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A great game that was the sleeper of 1998...

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: January 05, 2000
Author: Amazon User

I grew up placing my head into the "sight" for Battlezone at the arcades. Shooting my happy little green enemies with my little green bullets. So, naturally, I was interested in the souped up 90s version of Battlezone. I wasn't disappointed.

Activision took the Battlezone franchise and created the first successful hyrbid of Real Time Strategy (RTS) and a First Person Shooter (FPS). You've got all the excitement of a good simulation/shooter in the game plus a good depth of strategy.

Despite being a '98 game, it still looks pretty. It's also plenty challenging. I did get to a point, however, where I was tired of fighting the same old Bad Guy ships, so eventually I weaned myself from the game. I've heard the the game shines in multiplayer (death match).

If you're looking for an inexpensive, but good 3D title. This is a definite win.

Among the best total gaming experiences ever!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: February 17, 2000
Author: Amazon User

What a ride! The sounds are pumping! Few other games mixes game control, graphics, and suspense-filled music and voices like BZ! The single-player missions are 5 stars all the way! They keep you nervous and hustling! I remember sneaking around with an armor division through a long fog-filled canyon with distant sounds of howitzer shells and machine gun fire buzzing in all around! Very Vietnamish! In addition each of the units you control have large amounts of personality in their radio chatter. This is everything C&C is except better! How is it better? You are fighting WITH the troops and buildings you control! Well conceived and ORIGINAL plot with all the Wing-Commander-style interim annimations and radio chatter to back it up! Spend the 12 bucks and you will be utterly happy for a couple months at least! The drawback is that there are no on-line dedicated servers running BZ games. Also check out my review for Tribes!

Maybe one day...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: February 21, 2005
Author: Amazon User

There is only one game out there older than 5 years that I still feel the obsession to play to this day. The single player mode is enthralling, but the multiplayer is where this game shines. The factor that you had the ability to build your own maps to battle on was such a dominating factor. Now that the game is slowly dying, I am afraid that there will no longer be a game that has the amount of creativity at this level.

THIS GAME IS INCREDIBLE

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: March 20, 2001
Author: Amazon User

This game is probley the best action game in years. The graphics are incredible, even without 3d acceleration. You start off as a commander in both the American and Soviet campains and work your way up to more complex missons. The story line is belivable and brilliant. Battlezone also has a suprising ending. The game is worth every penny.

A LOST GEM IN A SEA OF GAMES

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: June 10, 2001
Author: Amazon User

This game is truly a Masterpiece of Stategy mixed with a First Person shooter. A lost gem and one worth finding. The ONLY drawbacks were you must keep video and sound card drivers up to date! It had some minor glitches with some drivers I had. I am running Battlezone on an AMD Thunderbird 1.2GHz with 512mb ram and a 3Dfx Voodoo5 video card and it looks AWESOME!! So for a game that is over 2-3 years old it still shines with the BIG boys!!

A game to be remembered

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 5
Date: April 13, 2003
Author: Amazon User

A fine-tuned mix of action/strategy.
After it snapped up the rights to Atariýs classic coin-op Battlezone, there was a concern by some gamers that Activision would take the quick-and-easy route by dressing up an old favorite and shoveling it out the door in the hope that nostalgic name recognition would see it through. Activision had much bigger plans in store. Mixing elements of action and strategy along with sharp graphics and an entertaining story line, this new Battlezone emerges as the most addictive, ingenious and approachable game to appear in a long while.

While there is a nice tie-in to the original -- you still drive a tank (a hover tank to be exact) -- this is not the Battlezone you remember from the arcades. Set during the space-race of the late sixties, Battlezone kicks off with a good old fashioned "Us versus Them" conspiracy tale that pits the USA against the Soviet Union in the dark reaches of space.

It seems that during the early days of the space program an alien alloy (referred to as bio-metal) was discovered on the moon that allowed researchers to make amazing advances in technology. Unfortunately, competition for this mysterious metal became fierce as both superpowers (U.S. and USSR) began amassing forces on the surface of the moon. The Soviets launched covert operations under the guise of its space program; while NASAýs highly-publicized lunar mission became the cover story for the USAýs secret military build-up on the moon.

While the story is a bit far-fetched, itýs extremely well done and very entertaining. More importantly, the story translates into a solid premise for both the action and strategy portions of the game. The single-player mode can be played from either the U.S. or Soviet sides, but the game is designed to be played from the U.S. side first. During the first few missions on the U.S. side, players are gradually eased into Battlezoneýs seamless mix of real-time strategy and action, and from there, chances are youýll be hooked.

Starting with a bio-metal recycler (the most basic construction unit), youýll construct vehicles to scavenge scraps of bio-metal, build base defenses, and construct new base vehicles capable of building more advanced structures and vehicles. You command all the action from the cockpit of your hover tank, one of several specially-designed attack craft capable of negotiating the harsh environments of alien worlds.

Controlling the action should be second nature to most action fans, with a combination of mouse and keyboard controls (joysticks are also supported) similar to those in Quake. But unlike the easy key re-mapping of Quake and its ilk, customizing the controls to your liking in Battlezone can tricky, and occasionally impossible. My preferred mouse/keyboard configuration -- A for forward, Z for back, Left shift for left strafe, and X for right strafe -- canýt be duplicated in Battlezone simply because the Left shift key canýt be remapped. Additionally, getting a customized setup in place is a pain if you want to re-map a key thatýs already in use, since youýll have to change that key first, then re-map the desired key.

The rest of the interface however, is a textbook example in efficiency. By using just a few number keys on the keyboard, you can easily manage all aspects of command; whether itýs building tanks, defenses, or ordering an attack, youýll hardly ever need to take your eyes off the action. About the only time you need to divide your attention between action and management is when you have to designate construction areas for your constructor, or specify locations for turrets and howitzers. Other than these few instances, youýre free to be a mobile and active part of the fight while still commanding the bigger picture.

Under your command is a range of offensive vehicles made up of fast scout craft, well-armored tanks, deadly bombers, and mobile artillery; the opposition has the same. Using the same simple control interface used to build your base, youýll order your forces to defend a building, attack a target, hunt for enemies, or follow you. But unlike most games, where you send wave after wave of expendable units at an enemyýs defenses, the catch is that youýll only be able to have ten offensive and defensive vehicles at any one time -- and every vehicle needs a pilot. When a tank or vehicle is destroyed, these pilots are ejected and must make their way back to the base on foot. Unfortunately they also make tempting targets for passing vehicles. Even if youýve got enough resources on hand, you wonýt be able to build a new tank until there is a pilot to take the wheel.

This last bit plays a large part in how youýll fight in Battlezone. Youýve got to pick your fights with care, hitting vulnerable targets in swift aggressive strikes to avoid taking losses, and youýve also got to know when to retreat behind your defenses.

This continuing process of fast attack and constant defense gives the battles in Battlezone a constantly evolving and dynamic feel and throughout each of the single-player missions, chances are youýll learn something new. And when the single-player game is exhausted, Battlezoneýs support for up to eight players is certain to extend its life for some time to come. Standard deathmatching is available, as is the full strategic game. While the deathmatch option is a fun no-brainer, most players will gravitate to the chaos and conflict of the multi-player strategy games. This is some of the most intense multi-player action youýll find as fierce battles erupt for control of sparse scrap fields, friendly pilots get squashed, and defenses are laid to waste. Itýs fast, furious, and incredible amounts of fun.

With its raucous multi-player action, flawless presentation, and effortless interface, itýs hard to find much to complain about in Battlezone. If you ever thought that action and strategy was an unholy alliance, sit back and let Battlezone re-write the rule book for you.

Great Game!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: February 06, 2000
Author: Amazon User

This is one of the best games yet by Activision. It allows you to command and control completely, but unlike most other C&C games, you're actually in on the action. And you're not stuck in one vehicle either, you're able to pilot a variety of tanks from scouts to bombers.

Do you love First-Person action or stratigy games?

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: March 23, 2000
Author: Amazon User

If you answered yes to both questions, than this game is for it. It puts the sole command of tanks, turrets, and buildings all at your fingertips. But it also lets you get into the action, fighting in a whole range of vehicles with many different types of weapons.

It is Activisions best game yet, and it could not get better. The graphics, physics, textures, and crashing of the vehicles is realistic.

Not only are the vehicles a positive, but the story line is awesome. It always makes you want to know more, so you keep playing.

I think that anyone that appriciates real-time stratigy, or first person action would love this game!

Action-Strategy that keeps you coming back for more!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: June 12, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Battlezone is by far the most fun and entertaining game of all time. It excels in every aspect!

The story is based on the (fictional) discovery of an alien "bio-metal" that has landed on Earth in a meteor showing in the Berring Straight. This bio-metal can be shaped and trasformed into powerful fighting machines. The Americans feel this is the key to controlling space. But they have miscalculated one possibility: the Red Soviets have found the metal too, and the countries are then pitted against each other in a war to end all wars...

As far as gameplay goes, Battlezone brings a new perspective to gaming; the action/strategy combo. While you still control vehicles and resources, you are also a formidable combat unit, capable handling things like enemy attacks and mission objectives all by yourself. The AI for units in this game sadly falls short of spectacular. They have trouble navigating tough terrain and do not take full advantage of their fighting abilities during combat. However, they do make powerful wingmen to have on attacks or for defending targets such as your base.

Battlezone provides endless hours of intense excitement for experienced or novice gamers. It is most assuredly a must-have!

Battlezone "First Edition"

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: May 06, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Battlezone is one of the first and most outstanding online multiplayer games ever developed. Released in 1998 on the ANET server platform for PC Windows with over 90% of players accessing the game through 56k modems, Battlezone supported instant action, strategy and deathmatch games. In 1998, only a few Activision, Inc., a few visionaries understood the coming importance of online multiplayer gaming for the genre, deathmatch, strategy and team play. This online game, developed in 1998, is it still actively played and supported by a group called the Battlezone Club (http://www.battlezoneclub.org). This game incorporates the longest development for online battle design and action as well as strategy of any game ever developed, which includes, in my humble opinion, "Full Spectrum Warrior" and many other "followers." The original is still in being developed by this non-profit organization for its community of players.

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