Waterloo (video game)
A ground-level wargame of the Battle of Waterloo.
Waterloo is a turn-based strategy game developed by Personal Software Services and released in 1989 by Mirrorsoft in the UK and in 1990 by Strategic Simulations in the US. It simulates the Battle of Waterloo, allowing the player to command either Wellington or Napoleon using historical or custom orders. The game is notable for its three-dimensional ground-level perspective and a natural-language command system that models the fog of war.
Quick Facts
- Designer
- Peter Turcan
- Developer
- Personal Software Services
- Publisher
- Mirrorsoft (EU); SSI (NA)
- Genre
- Wargame
- Modes
- Single-player
- Platforms
- MS-DOS
- Amiga
- Atari ST
- Archimedes
Facts from the source article.
Gameplay
The game presents the battlefield from a simple three-dimensional perspective rather than the traditional overhead view, limiting the player's knowledge to what can be seen directly and through subordinate reports. The player may move around the battlefield to observe events but risks death or capture near the front. Orders are issued to subordinate commanders using natural language commands, and these commanders may ignore orders they consider unfeasible. Messengers take time to deliver orders and combat reports, and may be killed or captured, causing delays or non-delivery to units in combat. The player cannot micromanage individual units. The game runs from 11:30 am to 9:30 pm, after which the computer assesses victory, defeat, or an inconclusive result.
Reception
In Games International (Issue 9, September–October 1989), Mike Woodhouse described Waterloo as a marvellous simulation of a pivotal historical battle, impressed by the programming quality. He noted that the ground-level perspective and order delays made it different from typical computer wargames. However, he found the interface a real pain because the program did not highlight new developments each turn, leaving the player to deduce changes. On slower machines, completing a game could take over five hours. He rated gameplay 3 out of 5 and graphics 2 out of 5, recommending the game to military history students but warning board wargamers to try it before purchasing. In Computer Gaming World (Issue 73, July–August 1990), M. Evan Brooks, who had studied the battle at the US Army Command and General Staff College, praised the documentation, background history, and order-issuing method, though he noted ambiguities in attack and defense orders. He considered the three-dimensional perspective a radical departure and the resulting uncertainty made it the most accurate of ten Waterloo simulations he had played. He found graphics very good, though commanders and dispatch riders appeared somewhat like Gumby. He criticized constant map redrawing on slower machines and the lack of audio, giving an average rating of 3 out of 5, stating the simulation teaches why commanders struggle to achieve battlefield success.
Frequently Asked Questions
What platforms is Waterloo (video game) available on?
Waterloo was released for MS-DOS, Amiga, Atari ST and Archimedes.
Who designed Waterloo (video game)?
Waterloo was designed by Peter Turcan.
Is Waterloo (video game) single-player or multiplayer?
Waterloo offers single-player play.
More in Turn-Based Strategy Games of the 1980s
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