Battlezone

Battlezone is a sci-fi action/strategy game played from a first-person view. By successfully combining the adrenaline rush of first-person action with strategy and resource management, Battlezone received universal acclaim from reviewers and gamers alike.

The story goes like this: The Space Race was a lie. In the late 1950's, a meteor shower pummeled the Bering Strait. In the debris, American and Soviet scientists simultaneously discovered an off-world bio-metal that they could use to fabricate amazing vehicles and weapons. They quickly gathered up all of the material that had fallen to Earth, and both sides were left wanting more. This began the real Space Race.

Battlezone puts you in command of futuristic vehicles in a fight for bio-metal on six different planets in our solar system. There are two campaigns in the game: the American NSDF campaign (Stars and Stripes Missions) and the Russian CCA campaign (Red Brigade Missions). Both sides have their own unique units and weapons.

Bio-metal scrap is the one and only resource in Battlezone. Scrap collected by scavengers is converted by the Recycler into basic units: the Factory, which builds more advanced units; the Armory, which catapults weapons to distant places; and the Construction rig, which is used to construct buildings like gun towers and repair hangars. Units, split into offensive, defensive and utility, are controlled using an intuitive interface. By using just a few number keys on the keyboard, you can easily manage all aspects of command; whether you're building units, placing structures, or ordering an attack, you hardly ever need to take your eyes off the action. There are over 30 unique units which you can command and pilot - such as tanks, bombers, minelayers, and artillery - and various weapons you can use, like cannons, rockets, missiles and thumper devices.

In addition to the single-player campaign, which consists of 30 missions, you can play numerous Instant Action missions made by Battlezone fans or even take on a much tougher challenge in the Red Odyssey official add-on pack, which includes two new campaigns and a new race – the Chinese. The AI is no slacker, and it will take careful planning and thinking to beat, even on easy difficulty settings.

If you want the ultimate challenge, you will have to take on human opponents in multiplayer battles. Up to eight players can fight on a deathmatch map, or up to four players can compete (every man for himself or in teams) for scrap on strategy maps, with base and unit building. Battlezone's multiplayer feature is a unique experience that gives this game its longevity and lasting appeal.

To play the game, download the Battlezone 1998 all-in-one installer, which is fully patched and updated. It includes Activison's Battlezone, the official Red Odyssey add-on pack, the best maps from the Battlegrounds official map pack, and many more extras.

For more information about Battlezone, please visit the community site at www.battlezone1.net.