Borodino screenshots

Introduction; a few short texts describing what lead up to this battle, and it's historical results.

The game lets the player/s to be Napoleon or Kutuzov, or having the computer in both roles.

The order interface; either text entries to give commands, or clicking on the map to identify units and landscape features. (the 'view from' command is actually reversed)

Identifying the purple/red/white units at the lower right. Enemies are not identified by name, the red triangular flags indicate Russian units. Rectangular flags are HQ:s, and can have other colors.

Here I selected the troops on the upper left screen, near the compass rose. These are friendlies (French), and we get details like the commanders name, and troop designation.

The battle starts with predefined battle orders, and I'll let the computer play both sides here. This is the view from Napoleons HQ, facing East.

The view from the Russian HQ, facing West. Blocks with two colors are infantry, three colors are cavalry. Guns are drawn separately, but go together with either troops.

The effects of the battle are minimalistic. Here in the center of the screen, a Russian shell hits the French infantry, showing as a little red triangle.

View of Russian HQ, looking South

The French HQ, view toward North. A cannon is firing, its animated flame shooting out. DOS version has no sound, so this is as exciting as it gets.

Once the initial movements are made, the commanders start sending out mail orders by horse-riders. The game-time delay is 15 minutes per command level.

Usually, a historically correct troop commanders name is used, but for some units they are unknown, so a troop name is used instead, like here, for the 3rd Foot Artillery unit.

The French HQ has a group of dispatch riders for sending messages, sometimes these get lost or delayed, and it's up to the subcommander to choose from possibly contradictory orders.

If a general needs reinforcements, he must be given support by another designated troop. These can be prepared in advanced, or requested/ordered during battle, with inevitable delays.

What Napoleon or Kutuzov wants may not be achievable, and a subcommander can withdraw when things are going bad. Try, try again.

Here commander Golitsyn is asked to reinforce a decimated defence force under Borozdin. Golitzyn will eventually run out of soldiers if things continue to go bad for Borozdin.

For Napoleon, the battle report comes in an hour after the fact. Message from Compans->Davout->Napoleon took some extra time.

Golitsyn is transferring his corps to Borozdin, as part of the reinforcement request.

More cannon action, animated smoke-puffs. What will they think of next?

And now Golitzyn has no reinforcements left. (Can I go home now, please?)

Sebastiani is out of control, it seems? No, this is to establish a direct support link, without involving higher command when reinforcements are required.

The bloody battle is continuing, status reports coming in with some delay, here 'only' 30 minutes.

Cannons pointing in several directions, it seems Napoleon is being flanked.

The Foot Artillery is doing a great job for the Russians, taking out ten times their own number.

At 7pm (19:00) the battle ends, at nightfall - even if no darkness sets in in the game.

Napoleons results.

Kutuzovs results.

A bloody draw, as the history also tells. Kutuzov pulls out during the night, and Napoleon follows to Moscow, and his ill-fated winter campaign.

Borodino

Amiga screenshots

Atari ST screenshots

DOS screenshots