Producer: Lothlorien
Retail Price: £9.95

This must be the most popular period enjoyed by the traditional wargamer (with the possible exception of Ancient) and so it was a pleasure to find a new Napoleonic game released - on the classic battle itself. I was doubly impressed to discover Lothlorien were the publishers. They got off to something of a dodgy start but The Bulge was a classic and my respect for them has been far higher since. The packaging of their products has certainly improved since the early days. Waterloo comes beautifully packaged in a large format cassette holder with excellent artwork and a slim but excellent manual which many conventional wargames companies would do well to examine before they released their next title.

The game is a strategic simulation on divisional level of the battle that finally brought Napoleon to his downfall. Napoleon was on his way to Brussels to gain support for his forces from Brussels. However, he must first defeat the Anglo-Dutch force commanded by the Duke of Wellington from the Seventh Coalition. Napoleon had a stronger force than his opponent but Wellington had superb defensive positions that cut across his adversary's front lines. Plus, he knew that if he fought a defensive strategy long enough, reinforcements would soon arrive in the form of General Blucher's Prussian army. And so the stage is set for a one player game with the human participant playing Napoleon.

The game has has a smooth scrolling 'plan' of the battlefield as a display. The scrolling really is smooth on this game - far superior to other games of this nature that boast the same feature. Units are displayed as divisional markers, each unit coloured according to nationality. Displayed on the markers is information pertaining to the nature of the unit such as whether it is cavalry or infantry. On the French units the Corps number and command status is also shown. On requesting a detailed report of a unit, the marker widens to twice its original length and the units strength in terms of fighting men and its morale are displayed. On enemy units however, only the strength is displayed.

Handling the units is accomplished by using a straight-forward mini-menu at the bottom of the display area in conjunction with cursor control. Units can be commanded as a Corps (by giving a general command to the leading division) or individually. It's possible to alter the level of difficulty of the game by varying the number of unit orders that may exist simultaneously. Units may actually leave their set positions to follow commanding units if they leave the immediate vicinity.

One of the interesting features of the game is the way a unit may be prevented from achieving its orders because of enemy resistance (or maybe just presence) but after the threat is passed, the unit will continue on its original course of action. This isn't a totally original feature to computer wargaming but rarely is it used so realistically. One up for Lothlorien.

Movement is affected by type of unit and terrain, as you would expect but terrain also affects combat strength to varying degrees, depending on whether they are attacking or defending. Combat strength is also (logically) affected by how many active men exist in the unit and its morale. Combat takes place between any two adjacent enemy units. Combat losses are displayed as they occur, over the relevant unit. This is only brief but you can study the situation more fully at the end of the game turn.

Combat can, of course, result in one of the divisions involved retreating or routing. Routing units are removed from play immediately. Retreating units may be eliminated of their paths of retreat are not clear. Because such units are considered to be at least in partial disarray, they will inflict fewer casualties when fighting.

When orders have been issued to all the units for that turn, the computer carries out all the movements and combat actions in a clearly defined manner. During this time, various commanders will communicate with you and explain that the orders you have given them are problematical because of a change in the unit's situation. They will suggest a course of action as an alternative and you answer the question depending on your strategy.

The manual contains detailed explanations of the victory conditions and they, themselves offer a challenging game for the player whilst remaining balanced. On the subject of which, Lothlorien have made one omission and two alterations to details of the battle in order to make it more playable. Firstly, there is no consideration taken of artillery (a shame considering all the trouble Napoleon took to get it there), so there is no indirect fire phase. Secondly, Napoleon has been given an extra Corps, to balance numbers, whilst Blucher's minions arrive on the scene earlier to add to the difficulty.

Lothlorien really have come a long way since those early days. This wargame is fast, playable and deceptively complicated. Designed with a care rarely encountered in computer wargaming, it employs some of the best features of the purists' hobby - and to good effect. A classic game for a classic subject.

Publisher: Lothlorien
Price: £9.95
Memory: 48K

Wargame specialist Lothlorien is back again with an exciting simulation of the battle of Waterloo.

The game is for one player only against the computer, and you've no choice about whose side you're on - stuff you hand in your shirt and put on a funny hat. You're Napoleon.

Napoleon, of course, was the loser, so this is one of those change-the-course-of-history games. The playing area is not large, about three screens in all, with a single battle involving less than 100,000 troops.

The map is unsophisticated but scrolls smoothly and is very clear, as are the units, cavalry and infantry. Artillery does not enter into the game.

As Napoleon, you must launch an effective assault on Wellington's strong defensive lines, occupying two chateaux and a series of ridges. Terrain features vary in their effect on movement and combat, and the essence of the game is to maintain maximum manoeuvrability.

An excellent feature of the game is the option to delegate command of the six French army corps to their individual commanders.

In such situations a commander will take advantage of particular details of his position, and may advise against your orders. Alternatively, you can move each unit individually. The option means that beginners can play swiftly and simply, commanding only a few units, and sending reinforcements when required, taking fuller control when they understand the game better.

At the learning level the game is reasonably easy to win, while we also scored one easy victory at the standard level. At the highest level the English get better morale and higher strength units making victory very difficult.

Four different strategies have been programmed into the game, so you cannot rely on the same tactics twice, and our victory was probably lucky as Wellington seemed to have little stomach for a fight on the day. In the rematch, Napoleon was slaughtered.

Waterloo plays fast and a game lasts no more than an hour or so. While wargame fanatics may find it too simple for purist tastes, it's nevertheless lots of fun, fairly realistic in its results, and ideal for inexperienced wargamers.

MACHINE: Spectrum
SUPPLIER: Lothlorien
PRICE: £9.95

Waterloo is a one player wargame, smartly packaged in a video wallet and includes a well-presented booklet, which contains all the necessary information to play the game together with some tactical hints and historical information, While not as detailed as Crusade in Europe, the booklet is easy to use and does include a printed map.

Set in one of the most interesting of all wargame periods, the game is for one player only, giving you command of the French army and will appeal mainly to those seeking a challenge and to experienced wargamers rather than arcade game players.

Unlike Lothlorien's last war game, The Bulge, the graphics are not to arcade standard but have been based upon wargaming symbols.

While cannons and horses would have looked nice on the screen, there were definite advantages to receiving clear information about units without having to use the cursor to distinguish one unit from another.

Control is by keyboard inputs giving a wide range of command options and there is always a screen prompt to remind you of your current options. Movement is quick and simple.

With every computer wargame the essential elements stand or fall by the "skill" of your computer opponent and the variability of the game.

There are three levels of play and the computerised British fight a demanding game at level three, I was unable to score a significant victory.

The game also allows for the computer to take control of some of the French army corps or to split up the corps into individual units each under its own set of orders. Both of these options in different combinations give great scope for interesting replays of the game and add greatly to the overall playability.

The map itself is clear and concise being somewhat larger than the full screen, but sound is rudimentary.

Overall, I felt that Waterloo is a welcome addition to the current crop of computer war games which seem to be a fast growing part of the market.

While the game is sufficiently demanding for the experienced wargamer, the facility to give partial control of your army to the computer could make this a good buy also for the novice to "cut his teeth on". Definitely a game I shall continue to play.

M.C. Lothlorien
£9.95

Ever since I saw Rod Steiger storming around as Napoleon I've been interested in this battle. Unlike most wargames for the computer you do not command the British side or the historical winners, yep, you get lumbered with being Napoleon.

Although cast as the underdogs, a few liberties have been taken in order to enhance the playability of the game, the French army has been increased to five corps of infantry instead of four, and the Prussian army will arrive earlier than in reality to make your task a little more difficult. Purists may not approve.

The game is played by means of graphics and single key presses form a series of option menus. This allows for an unexpected variety of actions to be taken be taken quickly and easily.

The playing area was a little small and at first I was confused due to the booklet map being printed with the French army at the bottom and the English at the top, but onscreen the map is rotated 90 degrees clockwise. I spent quite a while trying to move the wrong army.

Once I began to play properly I soon mastered the first, and easiest, of the three levels and achieved a decisive victory on my second play. For what appears a simple, slow, intellectual exercise I found it unaccountably gripping and addictive.

Not tonight Josephine, I'm going to have another whack at Wellington.