PixlBit

And the fall of the white dogs...?

This is one of the last games I added to my collection. It was a poor seller and is consequently somewhat rare, though most collectors seem to be indifferent towards it. One weird thing about this game is that I once purchased a used copy of WCW Mayhem from a GameStop which happened to contain this game instead, and I can't help but wonder if some bored employee swapped out the chips from the games.

As always, the Training Mode seemed like a good place to start. I know some people like to recklessly jump into a game and figure everything out on their own, but I like to know what I'm getting into, thank you. The game introduces each aspect individually, making it easy to grasp once it all comes together. The missions of the campaign mode tend to offer a lot of direction, so it usually isn't difficult to figure out what to do, but rather, do it in time to be prepared for an encounter with the enemy.

There are two ways to play, Pilot and Commander. The difference between the two is likely obvious: in Commander, you call the shots of building and controlling units, but in Pilot, you control only one unit directly, and everything else is handled automatically. The Pilot mode is best described as the game's easy mode, as sufficient units are usually supplied and deployed properly. As these tasks are being handled, minutes can go by with no action and nothing much to do. The Pilot mode is a bit too slow-paced to be of much enjoyment, so the Commander mode is the way to go. Across these modes are three factions to choose from: American, Soviet, and Black Dogs, all of which have their own set of vehicles and structures, though they all function pretty similarly. Each faction has different missions, with a total of more than sixty for all of them combined.

For people who want some no-nonsense action, there is an Arcade Mode. This mode strips the game down to its most basic form: driving a tank and blasting enemies. The goal is to play through the stages and defeat all of the enemies with just one life, trying to reach a high score. Like any good arcade game, it starts out easy, with simple, weaker enemies, and grows ever more difficult as levels are completed. The only downside is that there is no way to save the game, meaning it must be completed all in one run.

The controls are a little clunky, mostly due to there being so many functions. The C-buttons are used to move your vehicle, and the analogue stick aims the weapon. Commanding units is done with the D-pad, using a small menu in the top-left portion of the screen. This forces one to move the thumb off the stick in order to command other units, making it impossible to do whilst attacking enemies. Fortunately, the action is rarely hectic enough that it becomes a problem. An alternate way of selecting units is by aiming the reticle at them with the analogue stick and pressing the A button.

The presentation is a mixed bag. The graphics are competent enough, with the only downside being the heavy fog, though sometimes that's atmospheric. Textures are fairly detailed, with a unique look to each planet and unit. Where the game stumbles is the sound department. The music is generic and repetitive, and the quality is tinny and scratchy, it is akin to the playback of a worn cassette tape. Fortunately, the music can be muted independently of the sound effects, lessening the annoyance.

Battlezone is an interesting mix of shooting and real-time strategy, so long as it's played as that mix instead of one of its simplified modes. With three campaigns to play, it would take quite some time to conquer it all. It's a solid choice for anyone who'd like a little strategy with their action... if one can find a copy.