Fighting Steel by Eric "Snacko" Marlow
	Summary I'm a bit torn when sizing up Fighting Steel. While I applaud the developer's attempt at accuracy and realism in constructing the ships database, the AI, and the physical modeling aspects, I am disheartened by some of the choices that where made early in the development cycle. The need for first-person gunnery/torpedo targeting, the lack of a radar station, and the necessity for more robust campaign engine might damage this game by not allowing a fuller game play experience. It is that fuller experience that will determine enjoyment over the long term, and at the moment Fighting Steel is weak in this dimension. On the other hand, I had a first-rate time constructing missions and then playing them out as I saw fit. I rather liked playing historical missions and determining if my maneuver skills would have given me an advantage. Although it's tough for me to overlook the problems with the software, what's included in the box is an enjoyable simulation. Although many of the features I had hoped to make it into this sim probably will never be incorporated, I feel confident that SSI's continued support of this product will allow it to stay on my hard drive for some time to come. Here are some of my parting shots.. er, thoughts: High Points: Mission Builder Available Assets Realistic Environment and Feel Manual Low Points: Lack of Control Over Certain Game Play Aspects Graphics a Little Behind the Times Some Bugs Click to continue		A Battleship Rolls Over Ratings Core Rating: 88% Game Play: 80% Graphics: 70% Sound: 75% Manual: 92% Intelligence/AI: 88% User Interface: 88% Mission Planner: 90% Fun Factor: 80% Learning Curve (in hours): 2-3 hours Overall Rating: 83% Test System Pentium III 500 Windows 98 256MB RAM Diamond Monster 2 SLI Diamond V550 TNT AGP Turtle Beach Montego II PCI Mitsumi 32x CD-ROM Latest drivers on all ;-) Download Snacko's custom mission: The Battle of Vella Lavella Download the v 1.02 Patch. 1.3 MB to take care of many small issues and crashes. Download the Fighting Steel Demo 23 MB. Cruise the Fighting Steel web site. Join a discussion forum on this article by clicking   HERE.
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