- Lost Patrol
Infobox VG| title = Lost Patrol
developer =Shadow Development
publisher =Ocean Software Ltd
designer =Simon Cooke ,Ian G.Harling
engine =
released = 1990
genre =Action role-playing game
modes =Single player
ratings = 70%Zzap!64
platforms =Amiga ,Atari ST ,DOS
media =
requirements =
input =Joystick , Keyboard, Mouse"Lost Patrol" is a
survival action role-playing game with strategy elements developed byShadow Development and published byOcean Software Ltd , released forAmiga computers in 1990 and theAtari ST in 1991. ADOS version was later released byAstros Productions . Despite appearances, all graphical cut scenes except the black and white in-game animations are hand drawn, not digitised.toryline
The game is set during the
Vietnam War , where onJune 7 , 1966, a U.S. helicopter, returning troops from a rest and relaxation break inSaigon crashes in remote highlands ofVietnam . Seven U.S. soldiers, survivors of the crash, face the task of trekking across 58 miles of harsh terrain infested withbooby trap s and enemy soldiers and make their way to Du Hoc, the nearest U.S.military base . The team has little food or ammunition and their chances of making it home are slim.Gameplay
The player assumes the role of Sgt. Weaver, the only man left to take charge of the surviving crew. The player must learn the characteristics of the team, as completing the mission may hinge upon character reactions to your decisions. The game also features several action sequences.
Combat sequences
;Hand to hand combatScouts would at times encounter roaming
Viet Cong fighters. The player must defeat the opponent usinghand to hand combat , using a choice of keyboard or joystick controls. If the player fails to defeat the opponent before a timer expires, that soldier is assumedmissing in action and is no longer available, assumed dead.;Firefight: The player mans an
M-60 machine gun against a large group of NVA soldiers.;Machine gun nests: The squad encounters one or more NVA machine gun positions. The player must hurl hand grenades at the enemy from the first-person perspective.
;Sniper fire: The squad is pinned down by enemy
sniper fire, requiring the sniper to be located and disposed of. The player can chose which member of the team will assume the role of the shooter, with skill levels varying. To locate the position of the sniper, a magnified view of the terrain is visible through the scope of the players rifle, which he must use to locate the flashpoint of the enemy fire.Civilian encounters
The group may encounter local civilians, including entering villages visible on the map. A range of options is available, from searching area to even killing one or all of civilians. The player may also attempt to communicate with the Vietnamese (a friendly talk or a hard
interrogation ) usingkey word s typed from keyboard (for example, "VC" or "Viet Cong" when asking for enemy forces).Mines
The squad would at times have to cross
minefield s laid by enemy forces. To successfully navigate the minefield, the player must choose a member of the squad to crawl through the minefield, stabbing at the ground along the way to check for explosives. Stabbing or crawling directly onto a mine would result in the player being killed. At times mines would disappear from view due to the soft nature of the ground, making the task of backtracking through the minefield difficult and requiring the player to remember where mines were located.Minefields are visible on the map, but the booby-traps are not (the only solution is to move slowly in an areas that may be mined). The player may also set
Claymore mine s or trip-wire grenades when followed by an enemy patrol after escaping from a combat encounter.Characters
[
morale ]*Sgt Charlie Weaver:U.S Residence;
Springfield, Illinois . Status; 5'9" ; 153 pounds:29 years old, single. 2 years army service - 10 months active service in Vietnam on W.H.A.M. mission, intelligence. Decorated for valour during action in the An Loc Province during October 1964.*PTE William Blom:U.S. Residence;
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania . Status; 6'1" ; 168 pounds:24 years old, married, one child. Six months active service in Vietnam. Aikido 2nd dan.*PTE Robert Case:U.S. Residence;
Columbus, Ohio . Status; 5'11" ; 147 pounds:31 years old, married, 2 children. Nine months active service in Vietnam.*PTE Harvey Moore:U.S. Residence;
Fayetteville, North Carolina . Status; 5'8" ; 162 pounds:22 years old, single. Six months active service in Vietnam.*PTE Richard Bachman:U.S. Residence;
Bangor, Maine . Status; 5'10" ; 161 pounds:28 years old, single. Fourteen months army service, six months active service in Vietnam. Highly proficientmarksman .*PTE David Cain:U.S. Residence;
West Liberty, Kentucky . Status; 6'0" ; 163 pounds:27 years old, single. Seven months active service in Vietnam.*PTE Juan Gomez:U.S. Residence;
Montgomery, Texas . Status; 5'6" ; 132 pounds:24 years old, married, two children. Nine months active service in Vietnam.External links
*moby game|id=/lost-patrol
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