North & South: The Game

North & South: The Game is a remake of the classic North & South. It is a turn-based strategy game set during the American Civil War and the player can choose to control either the Union or the Confederacy. It is played over a map of the Eastern and Midwestern portions of the United States, with four scenarios representing the four years of conflict (1861-1864). The game is played against another human player (locally or online) or against the computer controlled AI.

The player controls an army that consists of infantry, cavalry and artillery. They are moved on a map from state to state through drag-and-drop and when an opposing army is met, a battle ensues played out on a separate battle screen. On the battle screen a joystick-like system is used to select one unit at a time and attacks are performed through a separate button. The overall goal is usually to eliminate armies, capture certain points or recruit more soldiers. Movement on the map and events are also influenced by weather, ships, Western towns, Mexican and Indians. These can optionally be disabled for custom matches.

Next to the main board game scenario there is a whack-a-mole mini-game as a 2D platform game that is activated when you attempt to take a town or steal gold from a riverboat. It involves a soldier moving automatically against a backdrop. He has to duck with a button when soldiers appear to avoid bullets and when it is released and the coast is clear he starts moving again. Ducking can be done as long as possible, but there is only a limited amount of time available to complete he level. Enemy soldiers are defeated by tapping their faces.