Panzer Front Ausf B (tank simulation for the PS2)

I just came upons this game in the game shop, its for the Playstation 2, and its a tank simulation (rather rare genre for the PS2), unfortunately its PAL region only, the game was made by a japanese company but i have to say i am impressed.

The games setting is mostly in north africa (one bit in france), and you'll be surprised how authentic the tanks are, there are 5 sides to choose from (British, Australian, French, Italian and German) you get to control the tanks used in that period of war, including the Matilda, Crusader, PzIII, M13-40, M11-39, Somua and Hotchkiss tanks (among others). Later on you can set up the battles however you please, there are Shermans, T-34's, and Chi-Ha tanks thrown in all with authentic ammunition names too, also a bigger surprise you can control stationary vehicles like the Flak 88mm (complete with crew to move it around at your bidding), and even gun carriers, useless vehicles but i be damned if it isn't fun ~D

The graphics is not that much, it stutters sometimes when alot of troops and tanks are involved, but overall the game controls very well, the shoulder buttons (R1-R2, L1, L2) control the tracks, the traingle, square, circle and x buttons control targetting, "select" pops out the tanks commander (to use your binoculars Press the Analog L3), the left analog stick is used for viewing your surroundings, and the right analoge to change ammunition, the D-Pad is used for aiming. The start button is the Command Screen, here you can issue orders to tanks in your squad(explained below).

Usually every battle you start with a squad of 3 other tanks following you(you can even change each tank if you like too), you can command them seperately, group them into A, B, C squads, assume formations and also holding points or attacking them. There are also commands to call for artillery to shell a location, call for bombers or call for air superiority if fighters are pissing you off.

The game has alot of detail, you can control the tank completely manually (even shifting gears and manual loading of ammunition!). Terrain plays a big part, heavier tanks do well on roads when moving, cruiser tanks can go anywhere with little deterrance, and you must stop to fire (you can fire while moving, but good luck hitting anything).

Last but not least, tank damage, your tank can have its crew killed, tracks damaged or even destroyed, engine busted, or you the commander getting killed, if the engine or track is destroyed game is not over, but your stuck in that position, also there are several rounds to deal with different types of tanks or troops, like HE, AP and even 88mm (for the flak cannons) among other types.

Unfortunately, no yanks in this game, since its set in 1940-1941, but you can still make fictional battles(Merdrop makes for good fictional Normandy invasion since you have shermans and stuarts).

Thats it, i hope you found this review helpful if you ever found the game (it went for approximately 14.99 GBP if i converted my money right).

Too bad it's PAL, but since it came out of Japan, I wonder if they made any NTSC versions.

I truely want a "state of the art" WW II tank sim--preferably for the PC.
I even enjoyed the tank sections of MOH and COD

True tank sims have been few and far between. Other than a couple of arcade offerings, I can only think of the ancient Panzer Commander and Panzer Elite.


The former is probably too old to even run on Windows XP and I couldn't stand the god awful uglynessl of latter.

There has been a WW II tank sim in development, but the developers haven't been able to find a publisher, so it has been on again/off again for some time now. I've lost the link, but it was depressing every time I visited anyway.

A good WW I flight sim is my other wish, but that may never happen either.

Thanks for the review, but raspberries for reminding me of what I want and may never have-LOL

Cheers

Have you looked at the T-72 Balkans on Fire tank sim? OK its not WWII (but does include some Russian late WWII tanks eg. T-34/85 and SU-100. Stunning graphics and very challenging gameplay. They have a new demo out - take a look here http://www.battlefront.com/products/t72/news.html

Oh man, Panzer Front Ausf B would be the tipping point for me regarding PS2: it would actually be worth getting one. If only it weren't just PAL.:wall:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Forward Observer

A good WW I flight sim is my other wish, but that may never happen either.

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Checked out the Over Flanders Fields mod for CFS3? http://OFF