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WarGames: DEFCON 1 (PS1)

War Games: DEFCON 1 PSX
Genre: Action, Strategy / Tactics
Perspective: Behind view
Setting: Sci-Fi / Futuristic
Published by: MGM Interactive
Developed by: Interactive Studios Ltd.
Released: 1998
Platform: PlayStation (PSX, PS1)

Although the game for the console and PC contains the same campaign and content, but the gameplay they differ. So, for the version of PlayStation is a tactical shooter with elements of driving, while the version for PC is a real-time strategy.
The essence of the game is the management of military equipment (at the same time you can directly take control of only one unit) and perform tasks by completely or selectively destroying enemy troops with some variations. The name of the game is a reference to the movie WarGames in 1983, but the game and the movie themselves have little in common.
The game features two warring parties: NORAD and W.O.P.R., who are fighting full-scale war against each other (in the movie W.O.P.R. is a supercomputer installed at the command post NORAD, but nothing goes to get him out of control). NORAD has at its disposal "human" troops (infantry, armored vehicles, aviation), while the troops of W.O.P.R. are robotic devices.

Gameplay

The player controls a separate unit of equipment. Each type of technology has a basic and additional weapon (the second can be replaced by a special ability, for example, camouflage). The ammunition of additional weapons is limited and measured either in units or in percent. Replenishment of ammunition and repairs are made by calling a transport helicopter.
Also available is a quick menu, in which you can order the unit under control to return to the base, call all or a certain unit, and also call a transport helicopter if there is a computer or command center nearby.
On the site of destroyed enemy equipment or buildings, various bonuses may appear, such as a shield (drained over time and when hit by a player), increased damage caused by the player, repair, replenishment of ammunition.

Game modes

Variants of modes are a single campaign for one of two sides, cooperative passage together with another player or a duel.

Campaign

Each of the campaigns consists of 15 missions, which become more difficult as you progress. Before each of the missions, a loading screen is displayed, combined with a briefing, where you can read the premises for the mission, its general purpose, the list of selected equipment, and the first tactical task. In each mission there may be several tasks that are activated in order, after the previous one, and which can be viewed on the same screen. The list of provided equipment after the start of the mission is replaced by a certificate, where you can read a description of all types of equipment and buildings.

Mission tasks are of the following types:
  • Destroy all troops and enemy buildings in a certain location;
  • Destroy a specific object;
  • Deliver any or a specific unit to the specified location;
  • To prevent the destruction of an object (as a rule, neutral) by enemy troops - in essence, a variety of the first type.

Co-op and duel

These modes are provided for playing together. The screen is divided diagonally, each player is given his own mini-map.
Cooperative passage of the campaign does not change the mission.
In the duel mode, each player receives one of the bases located in opposite corners of the card. The goal of the match depends on the mode of the duel:
  • Standard match - the goal is to destroy all enemy equipment.
  • Capture the marker - on the enemy base a marker is installed, which, being captured and brought to the player's base, restores its technique after destruction. You can return your captured marker by driving through it. Flying technology can not capture markers; when the unit carrying the marker is destroyed, the latter falls to the ground. The goal is also to destroy all enemy equipment.
  • Duel with the restoration - the destroyed technique is restored on the base. The match is played until one of the players comes out.
In the campaign mode, there is a time factor. The scale, stylized by DEFCON, passes over time from the status of DEFCON 5 to the status of DEFCON 1. The scale shifts in the opposite direction when destroying enemy equipment and buildings - thus, the game assumes active player actions. If during a certain time the status remains at the DEFCON 1 mark, bombers fly over the player's troops and destroy them, which leads to defeat.

List of military equipment

In the brackets after the title, the main and additional weapons are indicated.

NORAD

Reconnaissance jeep (machine gun / smoke bomb)
The tank "Dragoon" (80 mm gun / flamethrower)
Tank "Assassin" (coupled 105 mm cannon / missiles x2)
Rocket tank (long-range machine gun / missiles x4)
Laser Tank (Pulse Laser / Camouflage)
BTR (machine-gunning / disembarking or landing of 6 soldiers)
Combat helicopter (machine gun / missiles x2)
VTOL (twin machine gun / missiles x2)
Truck (missing / fixed gun installation)
Transport helicopter (missing / landing or landing of 6 soldiers)
Hovercraft (machine gun / missiles x2)
Patrol boat (machine gun / missile x2)
Transport on the air cushion "Otter" (machine-gunning / disembarkation or landing of 6 soldiers)
Destroyer (form factor - battleship) (105 mm gun / rocket)

W.O.P.R.

Three-wheeled motorcycle (twin machine gun / smoke bomb)
Walker MkI (twin 80 mm cannon / rocket x2)
Khodun MkIII (missiles x2 / missiles (x4))
Khodun MkIV (missiles x2 / missiles (x4))
BTR (machine-gunning / disembarking or landing of 6 robots)
Mantis (laser beam / camouflage)
Hover tank (laser beam / missing)
Phoenix (machine gun / missiles x2)
Shuttle (absent / landing or landing of 6 robots)
Turret locomotive (missing / mounting of turret)
SEC (machine gun / missiles x2)
Dreadnought (105 mm cannon / missiles x4)
Reconnaissance drones (machine guns / smoke bombs)

Reviews and criticism

  • The most popular and authoritative website in the gaming industry GameSpot in its review of the game put her score of 7.6 points out of 10 possible with the status of "good."
  • PlayStation Magazine: The Official Magazine put the game 4 points out of 5, and the magazine Electronic Gaming Monthly - 7.12 points out of 10.
  • On the Game Rankings site the overall rating of the game is 78.47%, and on the MobyGames site - 81%.