Classic Software: THEIR FINEST HOUR (Century Communications)
War games have never been best sellers due to their initial complexity and reliance on historical accuracy. If ever a strategy type program was going to crossover from bum fluffed heavy metal fan to a WH Smiths Top 10 consumer, Their Finest Hour would have been the game to do it. After rave reviews by the computer mags, it was given the cold shoulder by the high street chains as being far too specialised, ensuring it then (as now) cult classic status.
In June 1940, France fell to Nazi Germany quicker than anyone had expected. All that stood between Hitler and European domination was Britains R.A.F and Royal Navy. Hitler planned to invade England with a motley fleet of ships (this would probably have been possible with the RAF out of the way.) The German Luftwaffe had 50% more fighters than the British as well as hundreds of bombers. Herman Goering convinced Hitler that his air force could clear the skies for the invasion to commence. You control RAF Fighter Command from your claustrophobic bunker somewhere in England. It's 6am August 12th 1940 and the Battle of Britain is about to begin. You start the game by choosing between keyboard or Kempston control and then entering a game speed. There is an option to play a one day game or the full campaign!
A weather forecast is then wired in; clear skies mean enemy formations will be spotted quicker as they fly over the Channel. You then have to plan your defences by positioning ground artillery to protect vunerable ports, radar stations and airfields. Repairs and fresh pilots can also be assigned.
Once your defence plan is finalised you start the game proper and wait for the first sign of enemy aggression. On the screen is a map of southern England which you can whizz your cursor over selecting areas to gain information. There are six radar stations, nine ports and ten airbases consisting of Spitfire and Hurricane squadrons. Clicking onto enemy formations will also give information on the type and numbers of aircraft approching (although this maybe an innacurate report.) The program uses an icon system, similar to the Fourth Protocol, to scramble your squadrons to intercept or patrol the coastlines. Ariel battles are fought by entering a figure from 1-6, depending on the aggression level wanted and pilot fatique. A small group of Spitfires can lay waste to large numbers of slow cumbersome bombers but watch out for the fighter escorts. To win the battle it is necessary to inflict heavy losses on the Luftwaffe whilst avoiding fatal damage to your defence. Each game sees the Germans adopting new tactics.
After a few games it becomes fairly straight forward to defeat the enemy and that's when you should start upping the program speed. At the slowest level (255) the time passes at one minute every 5 seconds. At full speed you will be lucky to even see them coming!
THEIR FINEST HOUR by John Wilson and Nicolas Palmer. RE: 9th DEC 1985 R.R.P. 9.95p (DAVE)
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