Achtung Panzer: Kharkov 1943
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- RU: 1C Games
- NA: Paradox Interactive
- UK: Mamba Games
| Achtung Panzer: Kharkov 1943 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer | Graviteam |
| Publishers |
|
| Platform | Windows |
| Release | |
| Genres | Real-time strategy, wargame |
Achtung Panzer: Kharkov 1943 (Russian: Линия фронта: Битва за Харьков) is a 2010 single player, real-time strategy video game developed by Ukrainian studio Graviteam and published by Paradox Interactive.[2][3][4][5]
The game covers a relatively short segment of the Third Battle of Kharkov between Germany and the Soviet Union, taking place from 2 – 8 March 1943, while the real battle spanned from 19 February – 15 March 1943. The game has 6 scenarios to choose from, set in different historically accurate battles surrounding the Third Battle of Kharkov.[5] 2 of these scenarios have you controlling the Germans, while the other 4 have you controlling the Soviets.[4] The game also contains an editor so players can create their own scenarios, with several training scenarios being available.[3]
Units in the game consist of platoon size groupings of soldiers, with 250 types of soldiers and officers and an additional 40 types of combat and tactical vehicles available.[6] A 3D encyclopaedia of the units available is also present, allowing you to see the capabilities of both the German and Soviet units.[3] Vehicles in game, much like in Steel Fury: Kharkov 1942, the previous game of the series, simulate penetration values, each part of vehicles and individual members of the crew. This means that a tank may become immobilised when hit in the tracks or the engine, or a Molotov cocktail may set the tank alight. It also means that shells fired at vehicles may ricochet or not cause any damage at all.[3][5]
When in a scenario the game contains two modes, a strategic and a tactical map mode. The strategic map mode is represented by a 2D topographical map separated into grids, where you can get an idea of the scale of the battle and move your units to various positions, including key points on the map. While you do so, the enemy will be doing the same.[3][5] If you leave a unit in a single grid, they will be able to dig trenches and foxholes to use in a battle.[5]
When two units meet in a single square, a battle may begin, moving into the tactical map. A battle also consists of units in neighbouring squares as well, as such your units can be reinforced by nearby units and vice versa.[5] Each turn in the strategic map signifies 4 hours of in game time, meaning that when you get into a battle you may either be playing during the day or the night. During the night there are various simulated light sources such as parachute flares and burning vehicles.[4][5]
The tactical map is in 3D, beginning with showing you where you can deploy squads with the help of a colour coded grid overlay, the colours denoting where is best to place certain types of units.[3] Once units are placed and the battle begins, the game goes into real time, allowing you to move your units around the battlefield to capture key points and assault enemy positions.[3] Circles around a selected unit denotes spotting ranges, firing ranges or a commander's area of effect.[3]
The game contains what the developers describe as a "fully interactive landscape", meaning that you can "tear down, blow-up, and destroy everything from a small bush to an entire village". This allows you to deny the enemy cover and flush out squads by firing artillery into a forest where you think an enemy may be hiding.[6] You can also fight on the same battleground several times during a scenario and take advantage of prior battles, using artillery craters made during previous battles as makeshift foxholes for your squads. You can see knocked out vehicles from prior battles as well.[5] Squads will also make use of various features, such as scavenging weapons from corpses, entering buildings and riding on armoured vehicles.[5]
The more key points and area the player holds, the more victory points they will gain at the end of a turn. The player with the most victory points at the end of the scenario is declared the winner.[3]
