Spearhead 1998 Tank Sim

Polak2 · 12-09-23, 07:44 AM

Quote:

If I can’t beat the campaign soon, I guess I’m done with it.
It’s still a really cool 3dfx tank sim….a little frustrating right now, however.

You have pretty much tested thoroughly 3 older TankSims so far:
M1TP2
Armored Fist3
Spearhead

So which one out of those 3 is your choice so far to be the best?
And the next question: what next?

RetroGamer · 12-10-23, 02:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polak2

You have pretty much tested thoroughly 3 older TankSims so far:
M1TP2
Armored Fist3
Spearhead

So which one out of those 3 is your choice so far to be the best?
And the next question: what next?

Hello Polak2! It’s good to hear from you again!

There’s no doubt, M1TP2 is the best. There are several campaigns, more vehicles, different terrains, different tank camouflages, videos, etc. That big manual, too!

Spearhead is somewhat “M1TP2 - Lite”:

One basic terrain - desert,
One camo scheme for vehicles - desert tan,
One campaign - and you’re hopessly stuck if you cant complete a mission.

Armored Fist 2 and 3 are almost the same game. AF2 is USMC based and is a DOS sim. AF2 has the Marines using Bradleys. I don’t think the USMC ever had Bradleys but I could be wrong. I always thought their Bradley IFV/CFV equivalent was the LAV-25. AF3 is US Army based, has smoother graphics, but is essentially the same. I’ve beaten both AF2 and 3 but I don’t enjoy them as much. You can’t manually track targets very well like we can in M1TP2, Spearhead, and Steel Beasts. I consider the AF series an exercise in proper use of terrain and avenues of approach.

AF1 is a different story. One CAN track targets with a joystick with a hat switch! I’ve beaten all 47 AF1 missions many times. That sim will always hold the #1 spot for me.

What’s next? Helicopter sims. I’m taking a break from tank sims. Steel Beasts Pro PE does not sound fun to me. World of Tanks is ok but I don’t consider that a tank sim.

I’m enjoying Comanche 4 right now and am repairing my son’s old xBox 360 (replaced several leaking capacitors) so I can play “Apache: Air Assault”.

I haven’t given Gunship! A chance yet but that’s in the future.

What are you playing?

Polak2 · 12-10-23, 01:06 PM

Quote:

What are you playing?

ARMA: Cold War Assault.
As you perhaps know it is the ArmA#1 that is re-release of Operation Flashpoint by Bohemia Interactive.

I decided to revisit most if not all of the titles in Arma Series with special focus on relearning the mechanics/tactics/strategies of the Arma games and custom mission creation/planning with emphasis on the combined arms infantry and mechanized/tank operations.
I realize that although 1st Arma is a pretty ancient title by today's standards, it has still many elements of gameplay, custom tools, and mods worth revisiting.

I admit that despite my reservations I found this title is great fun and here is why:

1. this video shows what to expect in tank handling and combat
Mission 10. "Commander"

2. few shots showing tanks:

3. and finally 2-part Video Tutorial for creating custom missions - as for now perhaps the best of all(!):

OFP/ArmA: Cold War Assault Editor Tutorial - The Basics (1 of 2)

OFP/ArmA: Cold War Assault Editor Tutorial - The Basics (2 of 2)

RetroGamer · 12-10-23, 11:46 PM

ARMA! I’ve heard of it but never investigated what the series is about. It looks good! Hey, I like old stuff so I might hunt down the original Operation Flashpoint game and start there on my hand built Windows XP desktop.

Thanks for the heads up, the game looks great!

FWIW - I just completed the Spearhead difficult mission 8, “high speed road march”. It only took 3 months and 100 tries. It turns out there were tanks hidden everywhere and you have to know where everything is to take them out in time. The only way to accomplish this is repeated replays.

Was it worth it? Yes.

Here’s another example of Tank Game frustration….

https://steamcommunity.com/app/13514...5580597236771/

It turns out this training mission might be doable but it’s going to take time.

I believe these simulations are good for mental sharpness (I’m getting old and need to exercise the mind and body hard) so keep on gaming!

RetroGamer · 12-28-23, 08:36 PM

I’m still “fighting” through the campaign. I’m on mission 20. According to someone who reviewed this game 20+ years ago, there are 23 missions.

I made a pretty silly mistake on one of the missions and failed it repeatedly.

Because I DIDN’T READ THE BRIEFING!! LOL!

As soon as I realized what I was supposed to do, I won.

Pretty funny. “Failure to folllow instructions”!!!

Skybird · 12-30-23, 07:34 AM

ArmA is a great concept featuring a terribly lousy AI. Back then (the original ArmA and then ArmA 2) I played it a lot in SP, but had to micromanage every single soldier. I set up the biggest island with randomized enemy patrols and garrisons, scattered ammo and equipment crates, also randomized and then roamed freely as lone wolf or squad leader and survived as long as I could. It was great fun, but the lousy AI finally killed my interest in it. The vehicles I always avoided, the game is for infantry what Steel Beasts is for tanks. But Steel Beasts kind of sucks for infantry, and so does ArmA for vehicles, all sorts of.

For Multiplayer it probaly is a sandbox paradise. They should have sold it from all beginning on as MP exclusive maybe. There are plenty of videos from real world groups of players with real military experience who coop-play ArmA against AI. To watch these guys using real world drills, comms routines and procedures in the game, is quite impressive.

I recently bought 6 Days of Fallujah in the Steam christmas sale. The roadmap says SP gets AI fireteam bots in Q1 24, thats what I wait for, right now the game is probably the most lethal game experience in SP I have ever experienced in the past 30 years LOL. Fantastic - I say again: FAN-TAS-TIC - sound suite, first time hearing the LAV (or was it a Striker) in my rear letting go with his autocannon made me jump up so hard that I almost got stuck with my head in my room's ceiling. The gameplay is not only lethal, but makes it almost a scarejump game. Really nasty stuff. Brutal, unforgiving, and tough.

RetroGamer · 01-06-24, 08:19 PM

It’s been a lengthy campaign! I’ve been playing off and on since Sept 2023.

I’m on the last battle. I’ve got to race to a nuclear reactor before the enemy destroys it as part of their “Scorched Earth” philosophy. I almost beat it this afternoon.

Wow - I wish I’d given this a chance back when it was current. Steel Beasts (the original game), M1TP2, and Spearhead all share the same concepts.

1. Find the target
2. Track the target with your joystick, keeping the target smoothly in the reticle.
3. Select the appropriate round
4. Laze the target

The Armored Fist 2 & 3 series does not have good manual tracking and firing. It’s “auto-lock” which I guess simulates the gunner finding the target and reporting to you. You can manually track enemy targets in the AF games, but it’s jerky and it’s obviously not meant to be played like that.

You can play 1994’s AF manually, with a hat switch however. Playing like that is not how I believe the designers intended so mastering the game that way is really fun! It’s gonna be the 30th anniversary of Armored Fist in October. Perhaps I’ll replay all 47 missions to celebrate.

Now to finally beat Spearhead. After that, I’m going to try to build some custom scenarios with the mission builder.

12-10-23, 11:46 PM	#4
RetroGamer Mate Join Date: Sep 2021 Posts: 54 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Operation Flashpoint ARMA! I’ve heard of it but never investigated what the series is about. It looks good! Hey, I like old stuff so I might hunt down the original Operation Flashpoint game and start there on my hand built Windows XP desktop. Thanks for the heads up, the game looks great! FWIW - I just completed the Spearhead difficult mission 8, “high speed road march”. It only took 3 months and 100 tries. It turns out there were tanks hidden everywhere and you have to know where everything is to take them out in time. The only way to accomplish this is repeated replays. Was it worth it? Yes. Here’s another example of Tank Game frustration…. https://steamcommunity.com/app/13514...5580597236771/ It turns out this training mission might be doable but it’s going to take time. I believe these simulations are good for mental sharpness (I’m getting old and need to exercise the mind and body hard) so keep on gaming!

12-28-23, 08:36 PM	#5
RetroGamer Mate Join Date: Sep 2021 Posts: 54 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Almost Beaten it! I’m still “fighting” through the campaign. I’m on mission 20. According to someone who reviewed this game 20+ years ago, there are 23 missions. I made a pretty silly mistake on one of the missions and failed it repeatedly. Because I DIDN’T READ THE BRIEFING!! LOL! As soon as I realized what I was supposed to do, I won. Pretty funny. “Failure to folllow instructions”!!!

12-30-23, 07:34 AM	#6
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 40,571 Downloads: 9 Uploads: 0	ArmA is a great concept featuring a terribly lousy AI. Back then (the original ArmA and then ArmA 2) I played it a lot in SP, but had to micromanage every single soldier. I set up the biggest island with randomized enemy patrols and garrisons, scattered ammo and equipment crates, also randomized and then roamed freely as lone wolf or squad leader and survived as long as I could. It was great fun, but the lousy AI finally killed my interest in it. The vehicles I always avoided, the game is for infantry what Steel Beasts is for tanks. But Steel Beasts kind of sucks for infantry, and so does ArmA for vehicles, all sorts of. For Multiplayer it probaly is a sandbox paradise. They should have sold it from all beginning on as MP exclusive maybe. There are plenty of videos from real world groups of players with real military experience who coop-play ArmA against AI. To watch these guys using real world drills, comms routines and procedures in the game, is quite impressive. I recently bought 6 Days of Fallujah in the Steam christmas sale. The roadmap says SP gets AI fireteam bots in Q1 24, thats what I wait for, right now the game is probably the most lethal game experience in SP I have ever experienced in the past 30 years LOL. Fantastic - I say again: *FAN-TAS-TIC* - sound suite, first time hearing the LAV (or was it a Striker) in my rear letting go with his autocannon made me jump up so hard that I almost got stuck with my head in my room's ceiling. The gameplay is not only lethal, but makes it almost a scarejump game. Really nasty stuff. Brutal, unforgiving, and tough. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

01-06-24, 08:19 PM	#7
RetroGamer Mate Join Date: Sep 2021 Posts: 54 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I’m on the Last Mission of the Campaign! It’s been a lengthy campaign! I’ve been playing off and on since Sept 2023. I’m on the last battle. I’ve got to race to a nuclear reactor before the enemy destroys it as part of their “Scorched Earth” philosophy. I almost beat it this afternoon. Wow - I wish I’d given this a chance back when it was current. Steel Beasts (the original game), M1TP2, and Spearhead all share the same concepts. 1. Find the target 2. Track the target with your joystick, keeping the target smoothly in the reticle. 3. Select the appropriate round 4. Laze the target The Armored Fist 2 & 3 series does not have good manual tracking and firing. It’s “auto-lock” which I guess simulates the gunner finding the target and reporting to you. You can manually track enemy targets in the AF games, but it’s jerky and it’s obviously not meant to be played like that. You can play 1994’s AF manually, with a hat switch however. Playing like that is not how I believe the designers intended so mastering the game that way is really fun! It’s gonna be the 30th anniversary of Armored Fist in October. Perhaps I’ll replay all 47 missions to celebrate. Now to finally beat Spearhead. After that, I’m going to try to build some custom scenarios with the mission builder.