Herzog Zwei

Infobox VG
title=Herzog Zwei


developer=TechnoSoft
publisher=TechnoSoft
designer=
release=

flagicon|Japan December 15, 1989
flagicon|USA January 11, 1990

genre = Real-time strategy
modes = Single player, Multiplayer Split-screen
ratings=ESRB: E (Everyone)
input= Game controller
platforms=Sega Mega Drive/Genesis
media = cartridge

"Herzog Zwei" is a Mega Drive/Genesis game by Technosoft, published in 1989 (released in the United States in early 1990). It is one of the first real-time strategy games, [cite web | url=http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3134179 | title=Herzog Zwei in 1up.com's essential top 50 | author=Sharkey, Scott | publisher=1up.com | accessdate=2007-09-27 | format=html] predating the genre-popularizing "Dune II", and considered one of the best two-player Genesis games, combining arcade-style play of Technosoft's own "Thunder Force series" with a simple, easy-to-grasp level of strategy. It is the sequel to "Herzog", which was only available on the Japanese MSX personal computer.

"Herzog Zwei" (pronounced ['hɛətsok tsvai] ) translates from German to "Duke Two". It offers either single or 2-player mode. Single-player mode has the advantage of being in full-screen, but has the disadvantage of weak AI, which the computer opponent compensates for by having available many more units than the player. The multiplayer mode is only possible via a split-screen setup, in which the competing players can observe the other's activity, making discreet maneuvers or surprise attacks difficult to execute.

The mechanics of "Herzog Zwei" make it a game with a slower feel than most modern RTS games, making for more thoughtful play. It was not a huge success, due to its lack of marketing, relatively early release on the Genesis platform, and its non-arcade genre on what was considered an arcade game console. Scores for the game were generally very low from professional reviewers, but, long after its release, it achieved cult status and is often found on several "best of..." lists of video games owing to its precedence in the real-time strategy genre, as well to the increasing understanding of finer points of its gameplay.

A sequel was planned for Sega's 32X platform, but with the subsequent failure of that console, so, too, died the plans for a third "Herzog" title. With Technosoft closing its doors in 2001 and the status of the intellectual property being unknown, the future of the series is likely sealed.

Objective

The objective of the game as defined in the user's manual::War!

:The world is at war! When you turn on your Genesis Game System, the Title screen appears. Then the demonstration battles begin.

:As the high commander, you're in charge of mobilizing and controlling all troops. You must occupy the neutral bases and gain control of the enemy's advance bases. You decide what weapons to deploy and where to place your forces. You must also protect your occupied territory from enemy attacks. Your final objective --- and the final battle --- is destroying the enemy's base camp.

This basic structure of attacking a set of minibases and a main base by a main player ship and a set of purchased units appeared earlier, and may have been inspired by, Rescue Raiders.

Mechanics

"Herzog Zwei" has eight different land-based units and a unit representing the player, a transformable flying/land-based robot. Units can be picked up and dropped by the player, saving the power of the carried unit. Units are given orders such as "fight from a fixed position", "patrol this area", "fight in fixed radius," "go to/attack/occupy intermediate base" via six "programs" which cost differing amounts of money to activate.

The maximum number of units allowed in the game at once is one hundred (fifty for each player), but after seventy units the console slows down, making play difficult.

In addition to the two main bases are nine outposts or mini-bases, sometimes neutral, that can be captured to provide an additional 40G by ordering infantry units. Outposts act as a refueling station as well, both for the player-controlled transformer (who can only walk or fly for a finite time before running out of fuel, at which point he is destroyed and renewed at home base) and for any units he creates. Units will move and attack for as long as they have the fuel and ammunition to do so, and will come to a complete, vulnerable standstill when they run out.

To complete the game in single-player mode, the player must defeat the computer on each level four times, each time representing an increasing level of difficulty. When completed, the ending offered differs on whether the player played as the first player (red), or the second player (blue).

Levels

A key aspect of the game play is how the player interacts with the environments of the different levels. Each of the eight levels takes place in a different location that requires a different strategy for attacking the other side. Some levels have a large, physical barrier in the middle of the level that prevents a user from launching a direct ground attack at the main base in a timely fashion. For example, the jungle stage "Waldung" has a large swamp in the middle of the board that slows troops movement and eats up energy. Other levels, such as the volcano stage "Vulkan" are covered in lava rivers that will destroy any unit that comes in contact with it. This makes it difficult to launch ground assaults against the main bases as well as the mini-bases as the individual units artificial intelligence is quite limited. Only three of the levels, "Strand", "Eisfrei", and "Oase", have bodies of water that allow boats to be launched against the enemy. The "Abgrund" level features a river but the player is not allowed to purchase boat units.

On all levels with the exception of "Abgrund", the both sides start off with a certain number of mini-bases already claimed. In "Abgrund", all bases are neutral, including those directly near the main base.

References

External links

*moby game|id=/herzog-zwei|name="Herzog Zwei"
* [http://www.fortunecity.com/skyscraper/cache/1286/cb/herzog_zwei.htm A Herzog Zwei homepage] (contains passwords of all 32 levels, and weapons statistics)
* [http://www.technodynamic.com/Herzog.html Technodynamic Herzog Zwei Shrine] Technodynamic has a write-up on this game with unit information.
* [http://www.zen53531.zen.co.uk/HERZOG/ Join the Herzog Fight] Set and compare level times and "kill" stats.