''Bismarck '' is a
turn-based strategy
A turn-based strategy (TBS) game is a strategy game (usually some type of wargame, especially a strategic-level wargame) where players take turns when playing. This is distinguished from real-time strategy (RTS), in which all players play si ...
video game developed by
Personal Software Services
Personal Software Services (PSS) was a British software company based in Coventry, founded by Gary Mays and Richard Cockayne in 1981. The company was acquired by Mirrorsoft in 1987. PSS produced video games for the ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Ami ...
and published by
Mirrorsoft. It was first released for the
Commodore 64 and
ZX Spectrum
The ZX Spectrum () is an 8-bit home computer that was developed by Sinclair Research. It was released in the United Kingdom on 23 April 1982, and became Britain's best-selling microcomputer.
Referred to during development as the ''ZX81 Colou ...
in 1987 for the United Kingdom. It was ported to
Amiga,
Apple II,
Atari ST and
Atari 8-bit home computers in both the United Kingdom and the United States the following year. The game is the tenth instalment in the ''Strategic Wargames'' series. In the game, the player can choose to control either the German battleship
''Bismarck'' or command the pursuing fleet of
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against ...
ships.
The game is set during the
Last battle of the battleship ''Bismarck'' of
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
and revolves around the ''Bismarck'' attempting to escape a pursuing fleet of Royal Navy ships, who desire to avenge the deaths of 1,412 men in the sinking of the flagship and "pride of the Royal Navy",
HMS ''Hood''. The game received positive reviews upon release; critics praised the graphics and presentation, though one reviewer found difficulty with the controls.
Gameplay
The game is a
turn-based strategy
A turn-based strategy (TBS) game is a strategy game (usually some type of wargame, especially a strategic-level wargame) where players take turns when playing. This is distinguished from real-time strategy (RTS), in which all players play si ...
and takes place during the
Last battle of the battleship ''Bismarck'' on 27 May 1941. The battle is a sequel to the
Battle of the Denmark Strait
The Battle of the Denmark Strait was a naval engagement in the Second World War, which took place on 24 May 1941 between ships of the Royal Navy and the ''Kriegsmarine''. The British battleship and the battlecruiser fought the German battleshi ...
, in which the
Kriegsmarine ships
''Bismarck'' and ''
Prinz Eugen'' sank the
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against ...
flagship,
HMS ''Hood'', resulting in the deaths of 1,412 men.
[ Incensed by the loss of the "pride of the Royal Navy", a large British force was dispatched in order to pursue and destroy the ''Bismarck'' and its support ship, the ''Prinz Eugen''.][
The player has the option to choose which side they wish to command at the beginning of the game. If the German side is picked, the objective of the game is to evade the Royal Navy fleet by either sailing to Iceland or heading to the safety of Nazi ]occupied France
The Military Administration in France (german: Militärverwaltung in Frankreich; french: Occupation de la France par l'Allemagne) was an interim occupation authority established by Nazi Germany during World War II to administer the occupied zo ...
. The player will only have the ability to control the ''Bismarck'' itself, and must defend themselves against Royal Navy and Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) an ...
attacks if compromised.[ If the British side is chosen, then the player must command the hunting Royal Navy fleet in order to ]search and destroy
Search and destroy, seek and destroy, or simply S&D is a military strategy best known for its employment in the Malayan Emergency and the Vietnam War. The strategy consists of inserting ground forces into hostile territory, ''search''ing out ...
the ''Bismarck''.[ To achieve both these ends, the player will be able to access an in-game command centre, which will give out alerts depending on the side chosen. If controlling the ''Bismarck'', the player will be reported of hostile British ]U-boat
U-boats were naval submarines operated by Germany, particularly in the First and Second World Wars. Although at times they were efficient fleet weapons against enemy naval warships, they were most effectively used in an economic warfare ro ...
sightings. If controlling the Royal Navy fleet, they will be told of radio intercepts, which will pinpoint the ''Bismarck''s approximate location.[
If the ''Bismarck'' has been intercepted or compromised by Royal Navy ships, the game will automatically shift to an arcade sequence which will give the player an opportunity to defend the ship against a British attack, or alternatively, if playing as the British, the sequence is utilised in order to destroy the ''Bismarck''.][ The feature can be displayed at any time, though it is automatically enabled if either side comes into conflict.][ The interface of the feature is split into three sections; the upper part of the screen shows a view of the ocean in front of the ship and any hostile ship in the vicinity. The middle section contains buttons and icons which are used to control ship movement and to fire weapons. The lower part of the screen displays a diagrammatic representation of the ship from the side chosen (''Bismarck'' or Royal Navy ships); the diagram will change colours once the ship receives damage from shelling.][
Once a hostile ship is in range, the player will have the choice to either open fire or outmanoeuvre the enemy. The ''Bismarck'' is able to withstand 99 points of damage; internal fires may break out during battle and will risk destroying the ship if the fires are not contained quickly enough or if they reach fuel tanks.][ If fires occur, the player is given the option to order fire-fighting crews to contain the blaze, although it will cause the ship to disengage from combat. The game proceeds in real time, and has the option to change speed from slow to fast at any time.][
]
Reception
The game received positive reviews upon release. Peter Berlin of ''Your Sinclair
''Your Sinclair'', or ''YS'' as it was commonly abbreviated, was a commercially published and printed British computer magazine for the Sinclair range of computers, mainly the ZX Spectrum. It was in circulation between 1984 and 1993.
History
T ...
'' praised the presentation of the game, stating that it was "good to look at" and well organised. Philippa Irving of ''Crash
Crash or CRASH may refer to:
Common meanings
* Collision, an impact between two or more objects
* Crash (computing), a condition where a program ceases to respond
* Cardiac arrest, a medical condition in which the heart stops beating
* Couch su ...
'' asserted that the graphics and interface were "rather bland" but "pretty". Despite stating that the map of the game was "unexciting", Irving noted that it was offset by "pretty touches" and new graphical additions. A reviewer of Computer and Video Games stated that the game was "historically good". Their only criticism was the unsuitability of using a joystick for the game, which they deemed "virtually unusable". David Buckingham of ''Computer Gamer
''Computer Gamer'' was a video game magazine published in the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-wester ...
'' considered ''Bismarck'' the best game Personal Software Studios had released at the time, and added that the two genres of strategy and action work "very well".
Gary Rook of ''Sinclair User
''Sinclair User'' was a magazine dedicated to the Sinclair Research range of home computers, most specifically the ZX Spectrum (while also occasionally covering arcade games). Initially published by ECC Publications, and later EMAP, it was pub ...
'' heralded the gameplay as an "exciting" blend of strategy and arcade simulation. Berlin suggested that ''Bismarck'' was a good introduction for players who were "bored" with the arcade genre and preferred "something a little bit tougher".[ Irving praised the gameplay as smoothly-presented and "undemanding", stating that the type of game Personal Software Studios were creating was "successful". She also considered the rules of the game to be detailed in all important respects, well-presented and "helpful", albeit "not voluminous".][ Regarding the arcade aspect of the game, Rook noted that the level of action in it was sufficient, but was sceptical that it was a "true" wargame.][
]
Reviews
*'' Jeux & Stratégie'' #52
References
{{Personal Software Services
1987 video games
Amiga games
Apple II games
Atari 8-bit family games
Atari ST games
Commodore 64 games
Datasoft games
Naval video games
Single-player video games
Turn-based strategy video games
Video games developed in the United Kingdom
World War II video games
ZX Spectrum games
Personal Software Services games
German battleship Bismarck
Mirrorsoft games