Harpoon (video game)
| Company type | Video game |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | 1989 |
| Founder | Larry Bond |
| Products | Harpoon series |
| Parent | Three-Sixty Pacific |
Harpoon is a computer wargame initially released by Three-Sixty Pacific in 1989 for MS-DOS, subsequently adapted for Amiga and Macintosh. This title marked the beginning of the Harpoon series.
Plot
In this simulation, players assume control over NATO or Soviet military forces, directing vessels and aircraft outfitted with more than 100 different weapon systems. The gameplay centers on naval engagements within the strategic confines of the GIUK Gap.
Gameplay
Harpoon serves as a naval warfare simulator grounded in authentic military intelligence and inspired by a miniatures wargame format. It deliberately avoids fixed battle routines and does not impose artificial balance between opposing factions. The package includes a comprehensive user manual, Larry Bond's Harpoon Tactical Guide, and a supplementary booklet authored by Tom Clancy detailing Russian destroyers. Notably, Clancy utilized this simulation to craft naval combat sequences for Red Storm Rising, which he co-wrote with Bond.
Development history
The game's roots trace back to the late 1970s Navy wargame SEATAG, which later evolved into NAVTAG, a computerized tactical training tool. Development of Harpoon was influenced by former naval officer Larry Bond’s experience with these systems in 1980.
Following its initial launch, the game expanded through several add-ons such as Harpoon BattleSet 2: North Atlantic Convoys (1989), BattleSet 3: The MED Conflict (1991), BattleSet 4: Indian Ocean / Persian Gulf (1991), and the Designers' Series: BattleSet Enhancer (1992).
Updated versions include Harpoon Classic (1994) and its subsequent iteration Harpoon Classic '97 (1997), which built upon the earlier remake.
Reception
By 1993, Harpoon had achieved sales exceeding 80,000 units.
In February 1990, M. Evan Brooks of Computer Gaming World gave it a perfect five-star rating, describing it as "the most detailed simulation available to civilians" and "essential for serious naval strategy enthusiasts," while emphasizing its educational merit as surpassing a year at the Naval War College.
The April 1990 edition of Dragon lauded Harpoon as an authentic simulation featuring data derived from real-world military hardware and armaments, calling it a "graphical masterpiece" and awarding flawless scores across MS-DOS, Macintosh, and Amiga platforms.
Mike Siggins from Games International, in May 1990, praised the game's intricate design and high-resolution visuals, assigning it an above-average score of 8 out of 10 and recommending it to aficionados of tactical modern naval combat.
Judith Kilbury-Cobb of Info highlighted the Amiga version's extensive technical detail but criticized its slow performance on less advanced systems, granting it a rating of 3.5 out of 5 that balanced realism with playability concerns.
In 1991, The One characterized Harpoon as a "simulation tailored for purists," emphasizing its strategic complexity and precise military hardware database while acknowledging that its appeal might be limited due to the absence of arcade-style gameplay elements.
The title earned "Wargame of the Year" honors from Computer Gaming World in 1990, while Game Player's PC Strategy Guide recognized it as "Best PC Wargame," praising it as "the most detailed, authentic, and convincing modern naval warfare simulation created to date."
Tim Carter reviewed expansions like Harpoon Battleset 3: The MED Conflict and Battleset 4: Indian Ocean / Persian Gulf for Computer Gaming World, noting their contribution through new scenarios and platforms despite some creative constraints.
By 1994, PC Gamer US ranked Harpoon as the 36th greatest computer game ever released, citing its persistent sales figures and ongoing use in military training contexts. In 1996, Computer Gaming World placed it at number 40 among top computer games ever made, with wargaming columnist Terry Coleman ranking it third among all computer wargames up to that point.
Reviews
- Computer Gaming World - June 1991
- Amiga Action - March 1991
- Top Secret - March 1993
- Aktueller Software Markt - February 1991
- Jeux & Stratégie nouvelle formule #7
External links
- Downloadable demo of Harpoon Classic at Internet Archive
- Playable demo of Harpoon Classic '97 available via Internet Archive