Ever since I discovered my eternal love for computer games, there have always been certain classics that were head and heels above the rest. For me, one of those games was Harpoon. A game originally designed as a board game by Larry Bond, it became a classic among many naval strategic warfare fans that played games on the PC. I loved being able to plan my airstrike packages, conduct ASW, set my own AWACS patrols, Combat Air Patrols (CAP), launch Tomahawk strikes from long range and maneuver my Battlegroups to protect my assets.

The second coming of Harpoon did not enjoy quite the same success as the first series. With the deficiencies of Harpoon 2 and 3 known, SSI is poised to develop the 4th edition of Harpoon in the spirit of the first release in what SSI calls their "Digital Combat Series". With an emphasis on the "naval" aspect, SSI intends on taking Harpoon to the next level. Ever wanted to watch the actual dogfights of your airstrikes? Ever wondered how that CAP intercept looked at 25,000 feet against those Su27s? Or did you wish you could watch the battleships fire a full side volley with their big 16" guns? SSI intends to bring us Harpoon 4 with a real time 3d world!

Supporting Glide, this "2D game will indeed include a 3D world". Players can view ANY platform on the map regardless of what it is. Also, realizing that many players became bored with small "border" wars, SSI intends to move back to the good ole' days and focus on the NATO versus Warsaw Pact Cold War.

Click to continue . . .

SSI plans to include scenarios from the 1960's through the first 20 years or so of the 21st century. This means that we will see platforms including the now retired Battleships to Arleigh Burke cruisers, to the F/A-18E/F and Joint Strike Fighters (JSF). Perhaps even the vaunted Arsenal ship that is supposedly being re-studied by the USN will be included.

Although SSI plans to revisit the Cold War they plan to place different conditions on victories. Players can set victory conditions such as Marginal, Tactical or Total victory. In addition SSI plans to add a multiplay aspect. Ever wanted to play along side friends or against them? It will be there!

Although the title is still being developed for release in mid 1999, changes are possible. SSI have taken on a huge project. Their tactical advantage comes in having many of the numbers needed for accurate simulation of a huge number of weapon systems and platforms.

Is it possible that Harpoon IV might include inter-operable simulations like Flanker 2, or the Aegis cruiser? Apparently Flanker 2.0 is unlikely, but maybe Flanker 2.5!

It's true that not everyone wanted to see the Cold War end. Sometimes it's nice to know WHO your enemy is, and in Harpoon IV it's the Cold War revisited!

SSI has other naval simulations on the way. Watch for an interview on Silent Hunter II later this week!