TVG returns to the battlefields of WW2 courtesy of this upcoming turn-based DS title from 10tacle...

Way back in the 1990s, there was a series of turn-based World War II strategy titles for PC and something called a 'Mac' (apparently it's what the cool kids use, though there's very little gaming to be had on them). Developed by the now defunct Strategy Simulations Inc, which was absorbed by Ubisoft in 2001, the Panzer series had some armchair generals battling across a Europe devastated by the Nazi war machine, not to mention the hundreds of hexagonal frames that broke each environment into pieces.

Nearly a decade after that Panzers series died comes a new hexagon inflicted World War II title, this time developed by Sproing Interactive and set for release on DS later in the quarter courtesy of 10tacle. Christened 'Panzer Tactics DS' no doubt in homage to the original series, and also to 10tacle's acquisition of CDV's Codename: Panzers brand, the new turn-based strategy aims to fill what is perhaps a gap in the market...if you're a DS-owning armchair general, that is.

Armed with a map of Europe, a compass, and a feeling of absolute resoluteness, TVG formed our own Expeditionary Force and led the march of liberation...

The Road To War.

Whilst a multiplayer mode for up to four players over Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection and Ad Hoc will feature in the eventual release, our preview focused solely on the Campaign and Scenario options. Taking place across thirty missions between three factions (the German Wehrmacht, the Soviet Red Army, and the Allies), the Campaign takes gamers from the very beginning of the war in September 1939 to the fall of Berlin in April 1945. Appointing an increasing difficulty to each faction, starting with the Germans before eventually taking the fight back to them as the Allies and Soviets, the set up of Panzer Tactics DS will at least sound familiar to RTS fans.

The truth is however, that Panzer Tactics DS will be more at home nestling between the lead models of Warhammer or Dungeons & Dragons tabletop soldiers. Thanks to the turn-based structure and its hexagonal layout, not to mention that every terrain affects each unit type that developer Sproing can throw at us (around 150 in total by their reckoning), Panzer Tactics is at first glance being woven with plenty of depth. If the prospect of digging through the depth in the game seems a tad overwhelming however, then the eight-part tutorial should help with that.

Despite the option to use the d-pad, moving units with the stylus was as natural as it could be, though mapping the extra options and abilities to the same screen could be tightened up. Refuelling and stopping for ammo is a key feature of the game in some of the more significant maps, though the patterned touch interface to order re-supplies, mount artillery or troops, recruit units, or just end a turn, is quite fiddly so far.

The actual combat between units is automatic, and like tabletop titles depends on several factors including the environment the battle is being fought, the number of units of each side, and their own set of attributes. For instance, Anti-Aircraft guns are pretty useless against artillery or infantry, so they stand a greater chance of suffering higher casualties, whilst tanks have reduced attack capabilities in towns and forests. So far the units seem fairly balanced against one another, with a level of strategic 'rock, paper, scissors' at play, though whether the same can be said for the entire selection box of units will have to be seen.

Dollars, Marks, Rubbles, and Pounds won't be the currency of choice in Panzers. Instead, players will obtain additional units with 'Fame', accumulated over time and on completion of secondary objectives. Adding to the pre-determined 'Core soldiers', which become more experienced and potent as the Campaigns, the new units and vehicles also include three Heroes specific to land, air, or sea combat, further increasing their unit's strengths.

Besides primary and secondary objectives, which usually mean liberating or invading towns, or destroying various tactical positions, Panzer Tactics also features a time-based element that gives players a recommended number of 'days' to complete the goals. The faster the mission is completed, the more stars are awarded to players, and the greater amount of Fame is rewarded, allowing players to recruit further units and replenishing those lost in battle.

Despite the restrictions of the platform, the structure of Panzer Tactics is shaping up quite neatly. Taking the sensible option and splitting the interface into two very distinct areas, one for each of the DS' screens, players will always have their eye on the local areas of the battlefield. Additional information, including the advantages of each environment hex, the complete breakdown of fuel and ammo levels for selected units, and the ability to view the battlefield as a whole, feature on the top screen - though the important element in all that is how legible the information is laid out. So far at least, the preview code suggests that whilst Sproing has managed to get a decent overview of all the battlefield data squeezed onto the DS' top screen, it does so at the expense of retaining 20/20 vision. In other words, prepare to squint at the miniaturised icons.

Their Finest Hour???

Away from what is suggested to be substantial Campaign and Scenario options, Panzer Tactics DS will feature an extra angle that may just be enough to stop it from sinking like a depth-charged U-boat. The multiplayer modes. It was fairly traditional in the days of Nintendo DS (and Sony's PSP) for developers to drop any idea of implementing Infrastructure-based multiplayer modes. Of course, there was always the option for local Ad Hoc player, which was fine if the game in question is a big seller, but what it meant for some of the lesser titles was that they weren't taking opportunities to their fullest. For that matter, even some of the AAA games on PSP have tripped up over that issue. Sproing and 10tacle are being very shrewd indeed with the inclusion of Infrastructure, showing that both parties recognise the game is niche and allowing the opportunity for would be fans to 'meet up'.

It's fair to assume that with its perceived depth and tabletop visuals Panzer Tactics won't be to everyone's taste; it doesn't exactly fall into Nintendo's strategy of a more casual environment. That said, the game will be one of the few (if not, the first) World War II strategy title for Nintendo DS, so at least it looks like Sproing's work will fall into the remit of expanding the marketplace. The Nintendo DS after all, isn't the first platform that springs to mind when anyone would think 'turn-based strategy'. Whilst Panzer Tactics DS won't be sending too many DS owners rushing to their nearest store to pre-order a copy, there's certainly a lot of depth to the campaign - and that's without taking the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection gameplay feature into account.