Defcon
by Encore
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Video Game Reviews of Defcon
Customer Review: An interesting surprise
Summary: 4 Stars
This is not an all too typical "mindless" destroy-the-world-and-savor-the-victory game.
Game Play
The game interface is essentially a world "threat board" format with easy scrolling and zoom features. The interface may sound simple; but the simplicity is augmented by tastefully done effects and a graphical somberness that makes the board seem all too real (think WarGames the movie). At times, in real time mode (you can accelarate time as well), the game seems uncannily real as one tries to reposition naval fleet assets, decide strategic issues on first strike options or not, deciding which assets to sacrifice and which to protect, and managing air assets. Again, one needs to immerse oneself in the game to see how truly intriguing (and addictive) the game is.
Basically, game play starts with a timed asset deployment stage. It is part of the gameplay to sweat out racing against the clock to deploy assets or you lose them (and you will sweat it out). The asset deployment is followed by a timed countdown from Defcon 5 to Defcon 1 with new capabilities available as the condition reaches Defcon 1. Trust me, this is not boring. During the countdown you are racing to discover your enemy assets, trying to redeploy forces, planning strategy, and hoping for more time. Once Defcon 1 is reached, gameplay continues with redeploying assets, protecting assets, reevaaluating strategy, and quickly deciding which changes need to be made. The display shows graphically the destruction you are raining on your enemy (including death counts and shrinking city sizes) or that your enemy is raining on you.
Notes: While I don't think I ever had to run a tutorial for a game before, I had to in this case. The interface is well done but not, perhaps, as intuitive as other games. It took a while to figure out how to deploy some forces, to understand the need to think quickly (which adds to the game), and the need to plan. Once you run through two or three games, the interface becomes second nature, but it may be a minor challenge at first.
Overall
Overall, I think this is a great game. It has some sobering surprises that I don't want to spoil other than to note. The music is exceptional and adds to the mood. In all, if you like something a little different, like fast pace but not mindless games, and like strategy, you may become quickly addicted to this game. A solid four stars.
Customer Review: only for hardcore gamers/ computer programming geeks
Summary: 1 Stars
1st off: though it says it supports vista, not true at all. It took me an hour just to get the configurations correct for the resolution, graphic drivers, etc.
2nd problem: It doesn't work!! Kept getting error messages. The game might have been fun if I could blow people up, but it wouldn't let me place any missiles, which puts one at rather a disadvantage in a nuclear holocaust.
3rd: their website sucks and seems designed for very computer literate beings. I'll stick with brainless 1st person shooters.
Customer Review: A Pleasant Surprise
Summary: 4 Stars
I bought this game on a whim. Nuclear war seems the most dramatic historical event possible, so I thought I'd give it a shot. The game has a modest appearance that allows a subtle artistry, which is impressive.
The makers of this game do not take the subject of nuclear war lightly. As I played the game, I found myself awestruck that humans have actually prepared for this.
I found myself absorbed, calculating the success probability for nuclear bomber strikes and hoping to sneak my boomers close to the enemy's shore. The ideal plan would be to devastate him with an SLBM strike. And where are his ballistic missile subs? They are, no doubt, sneaking along my coast preparing to rain nuclear hell upon me.
This game confirms my belief that "concept" is the most important criterion for a quality game. Its shortcoming is that its single-player mode is limited. But that's a minor thing. Four stars.