Summary
- Release Year: 1989
- Platforms: Amiga, Atari ST/STE
- Publishers: Legend Software
89: La Revolution Francaise: A Strategy Game of Revolutionary France
Released in 1989, 89: La Revolution Francaise is a turn-based strategy game that puts you in the shoes of a revolutionary leader during the French Revolution. You must manage your resources, build your army, and make strategic decisions in order to overthrow the monarchy and establish a new republic.
The game is set on a map of France, which is divided into provinces. Each province has a population, a level of support for the revolution, and a garrison of troops. You must conquer provinces in order to expand your territory and increase your resources.
To conquer a province, you must first build up your army. You can recruit new units from the population of your provinces, or you can hire mercenaries. Each unit has its own strengths and weaknesses, so you must carefully consider your army composition before launching an attack.
Once you have built up your army, you can move your units around the map and attack enemy provinces. Combat is resolved automatically, and the outcome is determined by the strength of your units and the level of support for the revolution in the province.
In addition to conquering provinces, you must also manage your resources. Resources are used to build new units, hire mercenaries, and construct buildings. You can collect resources from your provinces, or you can trade with other factions.
You must also make strategic decisions about how to allocate your resources. Do you focus on building up your army and conquering new territory, or do you invest in economic development and improving the lives of your people? The decisions you make will have a major impact on the outcome of the game.
89: La Revolution Francaise is a challenging but rewarding game that will make you think about the complexities of history. It is a great game for fans of strategy games and historical fiction.
Gameplay
The gameplay of 89: La Revolution Francaise is turn-based. Each turn, you can move your units around the map, attack enemy provinces, and manage your resources.
The game is divided into three phases:
- Movement phase: In this phase, you can move your units around the map. You can move each unit one space per turn.
- Combat phase: In this phase, you can attack enemy provinces. Combat is resolved automatically, and the outcome is determined by the strength of your units and the level of support for the revolution in the province.
- Resource management phase: In this phase, you can manage your resources. You can collect resources from your provinces, trade with other factions, and build new units.
You can also issue a number of special orders to your units, such as:
- Fortify: This order increases the defensive strength of a unit.
- Siege: This order allows a unit to attack a fortified province.
- Raid: This order allows a unit to pillage a province for resources.
- Recruit: This order allows a unit to recruit new units from the population of a province.
Factions
There are four playable factions in 89: La Revolution Francaise:
- The Jacobins: The Jacobins are a radical faction that believes in the overthrow of the monarchy and the establishment of a republic.
- The Girondins: The Girondins are a more moderate faction that believes in constitutional monarchy and limited reforms.
- The Royalists: The Royalists are loyal to the monarchy and believe in the restoration of the old order.
- The Vendéens: The Vendéens are a counter-revolutionary faction that is based in the Vendée region of France.
Each faction has its own unique strengths and weaknesses. The Jacobins have the strongest army, but they are also the most unpopular faction. The Girondins are more popular, but they have a weaker army. The Royalists have the support of the nobility, but they are outnumbered by the revolutionaries. The Vendéens are a small but determined faction that is fighting for its independence.
Historical Context
The French Revolution was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France that lasted from 1789 to 1799. The revolution began with the Storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789, and ended with the coup d’état of Napoleon Bonaparte on November 9, 1799.
The revolution was caused by a number of factors, including:
- Economic inequality: The French economy was in a state of crisis in the late 18th century. The gap between the rich and the poor was growing wider, and the peasantry was suffering from high taxes and food shortages.
- Political inequality: The French government was an absolute monarchy, and the king had absolute power. The people had no say in how they were governed.
- Intellectual ferment: The Enlightenment had led to a new way of thinking about society and government. People began to believe that they had natural rights, such as the right to liberty and equality.
The French Revolution was a watershed event in world history. It marked the end of the old order and the beginning of a new era of democracy and equality.
Legacy
89: La Revolution Francaise is a classic strategy game that is still enjoyed by gamers today. The game is praised for its historical accuracy, its challenging gameplay, and its immersive atmosphere.
The game has been ported to a number of platforms, including the PC, the Amiga, and the Atari ST. It has also been translated into a number of languages.
89: La Revolution Francaise is a must-play for fans of strategy games and historical fiction. It is a challenging but rewarding game that will make you think about the complexities of history.
Review Score
8/10
