Wing Commander: Armada

Moby ID: 494
DOS Specs

Description official descriptions

A strategy game base upon the popular Wing Commander Universe. This game sees you in command of either the Terran or Kilrathi empires in a bid to conquer a sector of space. This game provided 2 distinct modes of play with Armada being entirely tactically based and a far easier quick play method much like the mission creation facilities of Chuck Yeager's Air Combat of 5 years previous.

This game also featured multi-player support both in Quick play and Armada modes. The game could be played either in split-screen, network, serial or modem modes and was one of the first multi-player 3D space sims.

Spellings

  • ウイングコマンダー アルマダ - Japanese spelling

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Credits (DOS version)

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Reviews

Critics

Average score: 72% (based on 14 ratings)

Players

Average score: 2.9 out of 5 (based on 22 ratings with 5 reviews)

This game is ok but not worth seeking out

The Good
The graphics were a lot better than what we were getting with the original games. The 3d models were much better than those bitmaps. The strategy section was ok as well, but fairly easy and repetitive.

The Bad
The dogfights were made a little too hard to win (for some people) due to the shields of the enemies recharging so quickly. Then again, the shields on your ship did the same. At the time, though, I found it a little to easy. The tactics the AI used were very repetitive and I knew what patterns they were going to follow.

The Bottom Line
If it's in the bargain bin, go and get it, but it's not worth searching out. Cheap, repetitive gameplay I'd only suggest to 4000 A.D. fans.

DOS · by wossname (203) · 2000

Strategy and fast action in the Wing Commander universe

The Good
While it doesn't quite match up to the action, the resource distribution implemented is a nice change.

The Bad
The single player gets old VERY quickly. I probably played it for an hour or two total. If you have a network that can run dos games well, this would be pretty cool.

The Bottom Line
By now it can be had for less than $5 if you can find it at all, so there really isn't much penalty for getting this one. If you have several old dos machines on an IPX network, go get it.

DOS · by Aquaman (53) · 1999

The worst WC game made.

The Good
The multiplayer was fun, if you could get the modem routines to work. (which I never managed to at my own computer) The graphics were a revelation, considering we were coming off of the scaled & rotated bitmaps of all the other versions. And the music was good.

The Bad
Gameplay, gameplay, gameplay! The actual dogfighting is the worst I've seen in a flightsim since the NES Top Gun. Due to tweaked recharge rates and different gun powers, it's virtually impossible for a smaller ship to take out a bigger one. His shields will recharge faster than you can shoot him, while he wipes you out in a couple shots. Further, the comptuer only knows one move - the afterburner slide. He'll AB by you, turn, spin, and start shooting, then hit the 'burners, turn, etc. This is bad enough. What's worse is that, as WC fans well know, there's pretty much no countermove to keep him from doing this. Every fight simply becomes a slugging match between the two ships, with no way to stay on the computer's tail for long enough to kill him. The bigger guns win every time. The campaign mode was just as bad. It played like the original Star Control except that, again, it was impossible for a lighter craft to take out a bigger one. Luckily, the strategy AI was even more retarded than the dogfight, or the game would be difficult. Finally, while the graphics were nice at the time, it was painfully obvious the point of the game was more to tantalize you with what was to come - WC3 and it's high-res glory.

The Bottom Line
For the love of god, avoid it. These days, when the chances of getting a modern modem to work in DOS are virtually nil, there's no reason in the world to actually play it.

DOS · by WizardX (116) · 2000

[ View all 5 player reviews ]

Trivia

Milestone

Armada is the first Wing Commander> in a real 3D environment. Up to now you were fighting sprites, now you can fight 3D models.

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  • MobyGames ID: 494
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Contributors to this Entry

Game added by Edward Laverick.

PC-98, FM Towns added by Terok Nor. Windows added by me3D31337.

Additional contributors: Henry Aloni, Alaka, Kayburt.

Game added November 29, 1999. Last modified August 23, 2023.