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Blacklight · 08-15-07, 11:12 AM

I would never say that Harpoon has nothing new to add. It's an excellent learning tool that often surprises me with it's challenges.
Harpoon III ANW does not have 3D graphics. It's not designed to be a graphicly intense sim. It's more designed to simulate what a naval commander at the Pentagon would see on his screens. See the screenshots linked off this page:

http://www.matrixgames.com/games/game.asp?gid=323

There are also reviews linked off the page.
Also.. the subsim link to the review from The Wargamer:
http://www.wargamer.com/reviews/harpoonanw/

If you're looking for a graphicly intense game full of explosions, this is not it. However, if you're a hardcore wargamer and want the naval sim with the highest accuracy and number of platforms/weapons to command (And you don't mind a learning curve) This is your game. Where it really shines is it's databases that have accurate stats and information about pretty much every naval ship/weapon/sensor/aircraft out there. The Peoples Database project adds a ton more.

If 3D graphics and explosions are a must yet you still want some accuracy, check out Fleet Command in Sonalysts Naval Combat Pack.

http://www.strategyfirst.com/en/games/NavalCombatPack/

It's easier to master than Harpoon, has 3D graphics (It's an older game so it's not up to modern standards but it's decent), and has explosions. It has nowhere NEAR the database that Harpoon has but it's also not quite as hardcore a sim. I'd reccomend this over Harpoon to the casual gamer because getting a casual gamer to wrap their head around Harpoon is a daunting task.

You can also check out Global Conflict Blue which is a freeware open source project that's in the works that's trying to basically do Harpoon but make the appearance more similar to Fleet Command. It's a slow work in progress.
I havn't been able to run it properly on my computer but I've read other people here say that what they have so far with it it decent.

http://gcblue.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

None of the above games have anywhere NEAR the database(s) that Harpoon III ANW has. (Can you tell I love my Harpoon ?

)

I would suggest reading the reviews linked off the Harpoon III ANW page. They pretty accurately describe the sim and who would/wouldn't like it. This sim along with Dangerous Waters, Silent Hunter III, Conquest of the Agean, and The Operational Art of War III never leave my hard drive. I'm always running at least ONE of these games.

There's also a rumor kicking around (I don't know how authentic it is) that after SEVERAL starts, stops, cancellations, etc.. that there is a Harpoon 4 computer game in the VERY early works. As I said... it's a rumor. Can anyone out there verify this ?

08-15-07, 11:12 AM	#7
Blacklight Ocean Warrior Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Connecticut Posts: 2,507 Downloads: 145 Uploads: 0	I would never say that Harpoon has nothing new to add. It's an excellent learning tool that often surprises me with it's challenges. Harpoon III ANW does not have 3D graphics. It's not designed to be a graphicly intense sim. It's more designed to simulate what a naval commander at the Pentagon would see on his screens. See the screenshots linked off this page: http://www.matrixgames.com/games/game.asp?gid=323 There are also reviews linked off the page. Also.. the subsim link to the review from The Wargamer: http://www.wargamer.com/reviews/harpoonanw/ If you're looking for a graphicly intense game full of explosions, this is not it. However, if you're a hardcore wargamer and want the naval sim with the highest accuracy and number of platforms/weapons to command (And you don't mind a learning curve) This is your game. Where it really shines is it's databases that have accurate stats and information about pretty much every naval ship/weapon/sensor/aircraft out there. The Peoples Database project adds a ton more. If 3D graphics and explosions are a must yet you still want some accuracy, check out Fleet Command in Sonalysts Naval Combat Pack. http://www.strategyfirst.com/en/games/NavalCombatPack/ It's easier to master than Harpoon, has 3D graphics (It's an older game so it's not up to modern standards but it's decent), and has explosions. It has nowhere NEAR the database that Harpoon has but it's also not quite as hardcore a sim. I'd reccomend this over Harpoon to the casual gamer because getting a casual gamer to wrap their head around Harpoon is a daunting task. You can also check out Global Conflict Blue which is a freeware open source project that's in the works that's trying to basically do Harpoon but make the appearance more similar to Fleet Command. It's a slow work in progress. I havn't been able to run it properly on my computer but I've read other people here say that what they have so far with it it decent. http://gcblue.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page None of the above games have anywhere NEAR the database(s) that Harpoon III ANW has. (Can you tell I love my Harpoon ? ) I would suggest reading the reviews linked off the Harpoon III ANW page. They pretty accurately describe the sim and who would/wouldn't like it. This sim along with Dangerous Waters, Silent Hunter III, Conquest of the Agean, and The Operational Art of War III never leave my hard drive. I'm always running at least ONE of these games. There's also a rumor kicking around (I don't know how authentic it is) that after SEVERAL starts, stops, cancellations, etc.. that there is a Harpoon 4 computer game in the VERY early works. As I said... it's a rumor. Can anyone out there verify this ? __________________ Be my friend or be a mushroom cloud. "I am coming at you. You will explode in a couple of minutes !" Last edited by Blacklight; 08-15-07 at 03:54 PM.