Battle Isle

Battle Isle is a turn-based, hexagon-mapped, tactical war game. It was developed and published by Blue Byte in 1991 to great successes (and many data disks and sequels and ports). It is a very nice game because it is very easy to play and the difficulty is quite gradual... although some missions seemed impossible to me . The beauties of Battle Isle are its controls that are intuitive and easy-to-use, its graphics that are nice and varied with many different units, and its game mechanics that are quite realistic.

Story

Battle Isle is about the war of the Drulls against Skynet Titan on the planet Chromos. The Drulls are looking for a leader to command their their armies (ground, air, and sea) to defeat Skynet Titan over 16 missions. (You can play other 16 missions against another player as well as many more missions from the data disks.) They build Battle Isle as a game to find this leader (think The Last Starfighter or Ender's Game) and, of course, you have been chosen!

Across 16 missions, you must use the different units and resources given to you to devise a tactic that will bring you to victory: either by destroying all enemy units or by invading the enemy's headquarters. To win, you must combine the different forces and units at your disposal, which vary mission-to-mission: ground, air, and see units.

Realisation

Battle Isle is generally extremely clean and lean. Its graphics and user interface are entirely obvious so that reading the manual is quite unnecessary. It is turn-based, which means that there are two phases in the game: while one player gives moving orders, the other player gives firing orders. Then, the game performs the orders, starting with the combats. The screen is divided in two so that at all time both player can see each other's movements. The combats are shown in the appropriate terrains, for example mountains or bridges.

Graphic Design

Graphics are very nice in Battle Isle, they are precise, clear and clean, and convey clearly what each unit, each terrain, each building is about. It is very rare not to guess what something is about just by looking at it! If needed, below, I summarise all the available units with their images.

Musics and Sounds

Let's face it, music is not the forte of Battle Isle . The unique (?) music is okay but, of course, quite repetitive after a while. Sounds are okay but do not bring much to the game. So, sound-wise, Battle Isle is a bit lacking but it's okay because, at the same time, the game is not about music!

Animations

Moves, combats, and invasions are animated. Moves are shown as units moving from their position to their next positions. They allow following the moves of the enemy units and "guess" the enemy's tactics.

Combats show the terrains of the two fighting units and the units rolling in. Then, they show each unit firing on each other as well as exploding subunits. They are nice but not extraordinary and only help to increase the tension...

Invading building are also animated and show always the same animation of some troops torch-blowing their way into the building and the door falling down.

So, animations are nice but in truth do not bring much to the game.

Units

A strength of Battle Isle is the variety of available units that makes it interesting to combine different units. Some units can carry other units, I call them "carriers" in the following. In the table below, I summarise each unit with its image, its characteristics, and some comments.

Characteristics are:

• Strength and range against:
  • Ground units;
  • Air units;
  • Naval units;
• Range of movements;
• Armour strength.

These characteristics are important because they define what each unit can or cannot do and how they will fare against enemy units.

Units and their Characteristics

Names	Graphics		Characteristics	Comments
	Images	Icons
AD-5 Blitz			25/1 40/1 25/1 5 30
AD-9 Sphinx			0/0 48/6 0/0 5 30	It needs one turn before being ready to fire, so avoid moving it at all if possible.
CAS Firebird			35/1 10/1 35/1 7 30	Deadly when they have maxium experience.
CV Amazon			0/0 0/0 0/0 8 70	Beware that they need two free hexagones to turn! They can transfer on-board unit to the land or to other carriers, like TLAV Invaders! They can even tranfer unit through a bridge made of one (and only one) TLAV Invader .
FAV Buster			35/2 12/1 35/2 8 25	Use this unit as support to other units at distance! Its armour is so weak...
G-2 Giant			0/0 0/0 0/0 9 20	Only useful to transport other units obviously!
HG-12 Angel			45/6 0/0 45/6 4 25	Only at distance! It needs one turn before being ready to fire, so avoid moving it at all if possible.
M-17 Brick			0/0 0/0 0/0 0 80	Somehow, U-7C Barracudas absolutely want to destroy them...
MB-A Buccaneer			45/1 15/1 38/1 7 70
R-1 Demon			32/1 0/0 32/1 4 25
SC-P Merlin			0/0 0/0 0/0 5 30	During the attack phase, the Merlin can target an area to build a new depot. It takes two turns to build a new depot or two Merlins targetting the same area. In the next attack phase, a single Merlin must target the same area again. The targetted area will be the endtrance to the depot.
SC-T Provider			15/1 8/1 15/1 7 25
T-3 Scorpion			40/1 0/0 40/1 7 45
T-4 Gladiator			52/1 0/0 52/1 6 50
T-7 Crusader			60/1 15/1 60/1 4 65
TB-X Marauder			0/0 15/1 60/3 10 65
TLAV Invader			40/1 10/1 40/1 7 30	Very weak but can go anywhere (except mountains).
U-7C Barracuda			0/0 0/0 100/4 9 85	The U-7C Barracuda is invisible but can be spotted by moving around it other ships: the ships won't be allowed to move atop the submarine...
XA-7 Raven			50/1 25/1 50/1 9 25	Deadly when experienced, can attack any kind of units... but weak to the T-7 and XF-7... fortunately!
XF-7 Mosquito			0/0 45/1 0/0 10 25	Deadly against CAS Firebirds.
Z-1 Pegasus			0/0 50/4 0/0 9 90

Gameplay

Controls and Phases

The game can be played with the joystick or the keyboard. Personally, I must prefer the keyboard because it is easier in Amiga Forever . The keys are space, CTRL, and the arrows. The arrows are used to move the cursor. The space bar is used to confirm the change of phase. The CTRL key combined with the arrow allow full control of the game:

Different Orders

The two-phase gameplay are moving units or targetting/repairing/creating units. During the moving phase, each moveable unit is available (not grayed-out) to be moved according to its range and simple rules of engagement: unit touching enemy units cannot run away immediately, so be aware of be circled/blocked by the enemy! Carriers can deliver their transported units.

During the targetting phase, each unit within range of some enemy units can target one of these units. Within buildings, units can be repaired or new units can be created, both if there are enough energy left in the building.

New energy can be brought back by carriers if energy crystals of Aldinium are available on the map. Each energy crystal is worth 50 unit of energy, which means about creating about four units! So, it is important to grab these crystals before the enemy .

Artificial Intelligence

Playing against the computer is fun and challenging. The computer generally plays well but relies on numerical superiority rather than cunning to win... Also, the computer is not to smart for several things:

• It goes for "high priority targets", like the SC-P Merlin, rather than following a strategy.
• It takes over depots and factories even if a R-1 Demons unit is nearby (thus giving up its R-1 Demons).
• It does not seem to build anything in factories.

Combats

The game computes the winner based on several factors: armament, fire power, range, numbers, and experience. Obviously, armament is important: some units can only attack ground or air units. The computer will refuse to let you use these units to attack different units. Fire power is the number of "subunits" left in one unit out of six. The more "subunits" a unit has, the more fire power it has. Some units can only perform close-range combats, i.e., they must be next to the opposing units, but others can perform long-range attacks in particular the HG-12 Angels. Such units are very powerful because they can support other units and gain experience with little risks. However, they must be protected because they are usually poor in term of defence. The number of units also plays a role: the more units surround (and attack) an enemy unit, the more chance to win the battles and destroy that enemy unit. Finally, experience plays also a role! Experience is gained after each battle: one point of experience per battle, two when the enemy unit is destroyed. Experience is one 7-level Likert scale, from no experience to four points to diamond to a Iron Cross-style cross. Units with greater experience have greater chance to win a battle. I have seen units with only one or two subunits win battles against more numerous units thanks to their experiences!

Strategies

Below are some hints to win the missions against the computer... Sometimes, luck play a non-negligible part . Generally, the Enemy seeks to destroy certain particular units, so they can serve as bait: R-1 Demons, XF-7 Mosquitos, and CAS Firebirds. Also, it is a good idea to destroy all the Enemy's R-1 Demons so it cannot invade your HQ! It is always good to destroy the Enemy's CAS Firebirds and XA-7 Ravens because they can only be shot by AD-5 Blitzs, which are rather fragiles, or other air units, which are often few. Finally, T-7 Crusaders are the best unit because, when experienced, they can destroy Enemy's units in one combat .

Another important rule to remember is that carriers (like TLAV Invaders) can load units iff they haven't moved but they can unload units after having moved! This rule is important in the last mission against the computer .

Missions and Strategies

CONRA		No deep strategy here, just use the T-3 Scorpions and the T-4 Gladiators (in the HQ) to attack the enemy units and one of the R-1 Demons to assault and occupy the HQ.
PHASE		Similarly to CONRA, no need for a deep strategy here. Make good use of the Fav Buster to attack enemy units at a distance by protecting it with the T-3 Scorpion and T-4 Gladiator.
EXOTY		Beware of the Enemy's HG-12 Angel. Attract the enemy on the southernmost bridge and destroy its units methodically. In particular, use the T-7 Crusader and Fav Buster in combination, with the Crusader protecting the Buster. The units at the North East should be brought back to attack enemy units from behind.
MOUNT		It is relatively easy to occupy the two depots and, then, it is just an attrition war...
FIGHT		The best strategy is to use a SC-T Provider to transport some R-1 Demons as fast as possible to occupy the depot at the South. This depot contains invaluable units, in particular two T-7 Crusaders and one HG-12 Angel! In the meantime, you can also send R-1 Demons and T-3 Scorpions to block the exit of the other depot, on the East, so that the Enemy cannot use its units... Then, it is just a matter of using the T-7 Crusaders carefully to destroy all enemy units .
RUSTY		Not a very difficult mission: as fast as possible, using the R-1 Demon and the SC-T Provider, seize the depot on the South-West. Then, it is a war of attrition because the Enemy does not use its Factory to build new units.
FIFTH		I tried to invade the Enemy's HQ using the TLAV Invader unsuccessfully... Better use it to transport the units in the South-West depot to the mainland... Destroy the Enermy's R-1 Demons as fast as possible!
VESUV		A difficult one! A working strategy is to use the R-1 Demons to take the eastern depot as fast as possible, using the SC-T Provider to provide cover by positioning it southwest, right next to the entrance of the depot. The SC-T Provider blocks the enemy T-3 Scorpion that may reach the depot first. Meanwhile, use the factory to build two HG-12 Angels, which will provide cover to the ground units.  Then, use the remaining units to create a fixing point between the western depot, the central mountain, and the HQ. The R-1 Demons should take the western depot as fast as possible. Finally, use the SC-P Merlin to create a depot (with 30 units of energy!) next to the factory. From that point on, it is a matter of destroying systematically the enemy units, using the HG-12 Angels first, then the ground units (fixing any damaged units).
MAGIC		This one requires a good start! Use the two SC-T Providers and the R-1 Demons to reach as fast as possible the factories on the north-east and south-west. While one of the SC-T Providers drives to the south-west factory, drop off a unit of R-1 Demons, backed up by the T-3 Scorpions to block the depot in the center of the map. For the south-west factory, wait for the Enemy to take it before occupying it: thus gaining an additional unit of R-1 Demons. In the north-east, build a HG-12 Angel to destroy any units coming through the bridge and use the T-7 Crusaders to block the access: this tactic will keep the Enemy stuck while it is destroyed. In the south-west, build a CAS Firebird and seek and destroy any units in the south. In the center, attack the depot and any enemy units, using the cover of the AD-9 Sphinx and the AD-5 Blitzs to protect your units from air attacks.
SPACE		These missions are getting tougher and tougher! They seem to be more and more like chess: the opening makes the difference between victory or defeat. Here, the opening consists in storming as fast as possible the factoring in the north-west to build at least one HG-12 Angel to be positioned after the bridge. The rest of the force should be used to keep the enemy's at bay in the center. From then on, the game consists in destroying the enemy's units from afar with the HG-12 Angel while preventing them to come close to the HQ...
VALEY		That was a difficult one! A minimalistic mission ... Do not bother with the South-West depot... Rather, gather all your units around your HQ. Use the SC-T Provider and one R-1 Demon to seize the North-East Depot. Meanwhile, take the other R-1 Demon out to bait the Enemy in sending its aircrafts... Destroy them all as soon as possible... while keeping your units repaired in your HQ or Depot. Destroy all the Enemy's R-1 Demons... then it is just a matter of time!
TESTY		Beware of the XA-7 Ravens! Once they gain experience, they are very, very hard to destroy without a AD-9 Sphinx... So, the idea is to have a three-pong attack: from the North to the East and South, from the Center to the Southeast, and from the South to the East. Use the depot in the Center-West as refuge to repair your strongest units and hide the other ones. Use the SC-P Merlin to build the depot in the Southwest. Use R-1 Demons to invade the various factories, depots... and the enemy's HQ!
TERRA		Be aware that the Enemy has a U-7C Barracuda lurking on the North-West, "behind" your CV Amazon. Move your navy to the south, going by the west passage and block the passage using the M-17 Bricks in MB-A Buccaneer. Move all your units towards your HQ and use the narrow straits to kill the Enemy's units. Target in priority the R-1 Demons, HG-12 Angel, and CAS Firebird.
SLAVE		Be aware that a MB-A Buccaneer cannot carry other units but the M-17 Bricks... so use the CV Amazon to fetch the units in the North-West... destroying the naval units of the Enemy in the process. Seize the North-East Depot and, if possible, the South-East Factory... Then, destroy all the R-1 Demons...
NEVER		Don't bother with the Depots... Rather, save your Northern units by moving them as fast as possible to your HQ. Seize the Factory. Use the AD-5 Blitz and the other units to protect the AD-9 Sphinx in the North-West and destroy the Enemy's CAS Firebird (and other aircrafts). Use your other units to protect your HQ and build a TLAV Invader to move your North-Western units to the mainland. Then, destroy all the Enemy's R-1 Demons!
RIVER		The opposite of VALEY! Hundreds of units? As usual, the goal is to destroy the Enemy's R1-Demons. However, an urgent sub-goal is to destroy the Enemy's aircrafts else they become too powerful. Send the CV Amazon holding all the T-7 Crusaders to the Enemy's depot on the East to surround and destroy its aircrafts. Use also the TB-X Marauders and MB-A Buccaneers to surround the aircrafts. Meanwhile, send the CV Convoy with the T-3 Scorpions around the base to take the Enemy by surprise. Finally, align two TLAV Invaders with one MB-A Buccaneer with the last CV Amazon, containing the T-4 Gladiators to unload the T-4 Gladiators at the heart of the Enemy's units...

Upon winning the last mission, you are treated with a nice extro that follows the story set in the intro and you obtain two extra missions (for two players): STORM and EUROP, which relate to Operation Desert Storm and a posible war in Europe...

Extro

Conclusion

Battle Isle is a must-play turn-based, tactical war game. It has a great realisation, easy user interface, and gradually more difficult missions, which make for hours and hours of fun... and frustrations . It is the prototypical war game that spun many sequels and variants and copies.

Marks

• Music: poor;
• Sounds: neutral;
• Graphics: excellent;
• Playability: excellent;
• Lastability: months if not years.

Summary

• Name: Battle Isle;
• Publisher: Blue Byte;
• Type: turn-based, tactical war game;
• Date: 1991;
• Hardware: Amiga OCS/ECS, 512Kb;
• License: commercial;
• Final mark: 9/10.

Further Reading

• EmuParadise;
• Hall of Light;
• Lemon Amiga;
• Moby Games;
• My Abandonware;
• Old Games;
• Strategy Wiki;

• Wikipedia.

The last three changes:

Tygre - 2018-08-31 07:18:33 pm  |  Tygre - 2018-08-31 07:03:33 pm  |  Tygre - 2018-08-14 12:55:34 pm