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Decision in the Desert

Game Mechanics

Decision in the Desert is one wargame which simulates, at the operational level, five battles of the Desert War between the British and the Italian and German forces in North Africa during the Second World War. The game offers five scenarios. The first trace of Operation Compass, which took place between December 1940 and February 1941, marked the first British victory over the Italian armies in Sidi Barrani. The second simulates the Crusader operation in which the British managed to force the Germans commanded by Erwin Rommel to abandon Tobrouk's seat in late 1941. The third is the Battle of Gazala, which marks the last German victory in North Africa. The last two scenarios simulate the first and second battle of El Alamein in which the Germans try to push the British beyond the Nile. In each scenario, the player can face the computer or another player. The computer can play any of the two camps and it is possible to change camp in the middle of a game. Most scenarios also offer several variants that allow them to replay in different conditions. These variants can, for example, change the initial position of troops or improve the supply conditions of one of the camps.

Like its predecessor, the game takes place in real time rather than in turn. The action of the scenarios is thus continuous and is not interrupted by towers or play phases. The player can give orders to his troops at any time and the computer updates the conditions and positions of the units at regular intervals. If necessary, the player may nevertheless slow down the course of the game or pause it. The player directs his units using the joystick or keyboard. Each unit has a certain degree of autonomy that allows it to choose the training to adopt and the road to travel to reach the destination chosen by the player. The player may also authorize their units to choose their target or area to defend. Each scenario takes place on a strategic map, representing the entire battlefield. Only one portion of it is displayed on the screen and the player can scroll it to view the other portions