Military Madness
Military Madness (Nectaris (ネクタリス, Nekutarisu) in Japan) is sci-fi-themed, hex map turn-based strategy game for the TurboGrafx-16. The first game in the Nectaris series, it was developed by Hudson Soft.
Military Madness | |
---|---|
Developer(s) | Hudson Soft |
Publisher(s) | Hudson Soft |
Composer(s) | Jun Chikuma |
Series | Nectaris |
Platform(s) | TurboGrafx-16 |
Release | TurboGrafx-16 |
Genre(s) | Turn-based strategy |
Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
The game was remade for PlayStation in 1998 and released on flip phones in 2008. A 3D remake, Military Madness: Nectaris, was released for WiiWare, Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network in 2010.[1] An iPhone version, Military Madness: Neo Nectaris, was released in February 2010.
Gameplay
Military Madness is a turn-based strategy game that takes place on the moon in 2089, with the player controlling the Allied-Union forces against the Axis-Xenon forces. Units cannot be produced, but the Allied-Union forces can "capture" enemy units if they are in factories, or find unsecured factories and gain units from them. Units can also be repaired by returning them to factories under Allied-Union control.
Release and reception
Military Madness was released for the TurboGrafx-16 in early 1990, about four to five months after the system launched in North America. The game garnered a "Best War Game" award and Video Games & Computer Entertainment's "1990 Best Military Strategy Game Award".[2]
The game was cited as one of the key influences on the seminal real-time strategy game Dune II (1992).[3]
In 1997 Electronic Gaming Monthly editors ranked it the 48th best console video game of all time, calling it "The most addicting strategy game ever". They described it as "both easy to learn and incredibly rich in gameplay complexity", noting how the opening tutorial effectively teaches players the basics and the later levels introduce new mechanics and challenges at a manageable pace.[4]
Military Madness was rereleased for Wii's Virtual Console on December 18, 2006 in North America. The game was later released in Europe and Australia, the game's first release in PAL regions.
Manga
Nectaris was adapted by Manga titled Famitsu Comix: The Shape of Happiness (しあわせのかたち, Shiawase no katachi), published in the Famitsu Comics collection from March 1989, drawn by Tamakichi Sakura.
References
- Hatfield, Daemon. "GDC 09: Military Madness Hands-on". Archived from the original on July 20, 2011.
- "Military Madness: Nectaris Explodes into Action on Xbox LIVE Arcade". GameZone. September 30, 2009. Retrieved 2011-05-19.
- "The History of Command & Conquer". NowGamer. Archived from the original on 26 June 2011. Retrieved 5 September 2011.
- "100 Best Games of All Time". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 100. Ziff Davis. November 1997. p. 129. Note: Contrary to the title, the intro to the article explicitly states that the list covers console video games only, meaning PC games and arcade games were not eligible.