Hooked on a New ‘Harpoon’

When Three-Sixty Pacific came out with “Harpoon” a few years ago, it was a breakthrough game, a very sophisticated naval war simulation much like computer games actually used for training in the U.S. Navy. Over the years the game makers have issued improvements and various expansions of the original “Harpoon.”

Now along comes the “Harpoon Challenger Pack Signature Edition,” which includes the original “Master” game, set in the North Atlantic, along with expansion “BattleSets” elsewhere on the globe and an editing program. At just $80 for the whole package, it’s the way to go if you’re inclined to play armchair admiral.

There is a certain quaintness to several of the scenarios since they are NATO-vs.-U.S.S.R. conflicts. But there are several other battles with lesser powers, such as Libya and Iraq. BattleSets, which may encompass as many as a dozen different battle scenarios, include the North Atlantic, the Mediterranean Sea and the Persian Gulf-Indian Ocean. (Warning: Some individual scenarios may tax your RAM capacity.)

In all, you are presented with a Mac or Windows-like screen showing a theater map and a close-up look at any particular spot in the region. There is little effort to present realistic images of the ships, submarines, helicopters and airplanes at your command, but you have wide latitude manipulating the various icons around the screens. Indeed, the few efforts that the game makers have taken to present graphic images of combat are probably the weakest parts of the program.

The “Harpoon” series has earned considerable praise in both computer and war-gaming circles. It is a terrific program, and this package makes it a bargain too.

Harpoon

Rating: ****

IBM and compatibles. EGA or VGA; 640K, hard drive. List: $79.95.

Computer games are rated on a five-star system, from one star for poor to five for excellent.