Napoleon 1813 (PC)

GameSpot editors' review

• CNET editors' rating: 3.0 stars Good
  Detailed editors' rating
  Overall score: 6.7 (3.0 stars)

• Reviewed by:
  Bruce Geryk
• Reviewed on: 12/01/1999
• Updated on: 05/01/2000
• Released on: 08/31/1999
• Originally published on GameSpot: Napoleon 1813 (PC) Review

Historical wargamers seem to be the last ones to reap the benefits of technology when it comes to computer games. While fans of most genres have been enjoying games that push current computer hardware to its limits, wargamers are often left with games that, while historically accurate, are little more than refinements of traditional board games. With Napoleon 1813, Empire Interactive embarked on a formidable task: to use the potential of the computer medium to combine the strategic, operational, and tactical aspects of Napoleonic warfare in a single game using a real-time engine. With a goal as ambitious as this, it was perhaps inevitable that there would be some hiccups. Unfortunately, Napoleon 1813 turned into a full-blown coughing fit.

The concept behind the game is as solid as the line of British infantry at Waterloo: to model an entire Napoleonic campaign starting with an overall strategic overview. You must then make decisions down to the operational level, assigning and rearranging commands and issuing orders to various commanders. When you join a battle, you must fight the entire engagement in real time on a tactical battlefield. Wargamers have been dreaming of this kind of tactical emphasis for years, and the inherent appeal of grandiose Napoleonic combat makes it a logical choice for such treatment.

Empire Interactive chose to base the game on the campaigns in central Europe in 1813 and 1814, where Napoleon tried desperately to stave off ultimate defeat after the disastrous Russian campaign of 1812. This was a good choice, as there is plenty of room for maneuvering, and the many nations that made up each coalition give the game a unique historical flavor. It's an encouraging start.

Napoleon 1813 can be played at various levels, from a single day at Bautzen to a grand campaign starting in early 1813 and continuing through late 1814. The tactical battles are quite interesting in their own right, and while they consist of mostly clicking and dragging as in any real-time strategy game, the pace should be slow enough for even the most uncoordinated wargame player.

The campaigns add a whole new layer of detail that, at its best, provides a new wargaming experience. Bridges can be blown, cities besieged, and supply depots established to keep your army on the move. The strategic aspect is represented through the use of manpower and resources to build replacement units. Although the basic interface isn't difficult to grasp (simply select a formation and drag it to its destination or set waypoints), the many factors that come into play when planning operations can be overwhelming to a less experienced gamer. However, for those with prior experience with wargaming concepts, Napoleon 1813 has all the right elements. Now, if only they all worked properly.

Continue reading

Compare prices for Napoleon 1813

This product is currently not in stock at any of our online merchants.

Email me when this product is available