Muzzle Velocity (video game)
Muzzle Velocity is a tactical wargame released by Digi4fun in 1997. The program is a unique hybrid of standard two-dimension map-based tactical gaming, and first person action. It is set in World War II.
| Muzzle Velocity | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Code Fusion |
| Publisher(s) | Digi4fun |
| Platform(s) | MS-DOS |
| Release | 1997 |
| Genre(s) | Strategy |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
The game was developed by Code Fusion and Digi4Fun. At the time of release, it could lay claim to being "the ONLY true war strategy game that puts you in the middle of the action".
Gameplay
The player selects forces and moves them on the two-dimensional battle map, while a tactical AI would battles; however, the player can jump from unit to unit, taking over in a first person capacity. Gameplay is action-oriented, and damage modelling is unrealistic in the extreme. Heavy machine guns can be used to knock stone buildings into piles of rubble, for example. Limitations of the game engine restrict engagement ranges to a few hundred metres.
Up to 100 units can be controlled in the overhead two-dimensional mode. The three-dimensional mode uses a simplistic graphics interface for vehicle controls.
Players could control British, American, or German forces. Weather effects were included, such as snow and rain falling in the 3D world, and terrain was realistic and textured, with such things as bullrushes in the swampy areas and decorative lamp posts in the urban areas. Sound effects are good, though all voices in the game spoke with a British accent, giving sometimes comical responses "Get out! Get out!" when infantry were unloaded, for example, or an apologetic "oops" when a civilian was crushed under your tank.
Terrain is deformable, with trees being crushed under the weight of vehicles and buildings collapsing under high explosive fire.
Development
Code Fusion was a US subsidiary of Digi4Fun, which was created for holding the exclusive US distribution rights. The game was based on the Pharlap DOS Extender, which enabled it to run beyond the limit of 640K.