Battle of Zama
David Lent · 2023 · Strategy, Turn-Based Strategy, Tabletop, Grid-Based Movement, Turn-Based Tactics
PC
3 user reviews100% · 3
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About Battle of Zama
Battle of Zama is a video game about one of the most important battles in history. Scipio from Rome’s Army met Hannibal’s Army on the battlefield in Carthage. Historically, the Romans won. However, If they would have lost the world would be completely different, because Carthage would have been the primary influence in Europe and the Mediterranean instead of Rome.
Battle of Zama is inspired by old Avalon Hill and SPI games. It uses a square grid instead of a hex map, because historically ancient army units rarely moved at a diagonal. Units can change facing, move, ranged fire and melee. In addition, units that are part of a formation can move together to make movement faster.
One of the most interesting parts of this game is the Elephant Berserk Phase. Historically, when Hannibal attacked with his elephants the Roman cavalry blew large horns to scare the elephants and many went berserk and charged Hannibal’s own units. In this phase, the elephants are completely controlled by the AI and the ones that randomly go berserk will charge in a random direction and then do both a ranged and melee attack at whatever unit they are adjacent to. Afterwards, the berserk elephant’s handlers will kill the animals.
In order to win the game, the Romans must either kill Hannibal or cause the Carthaginian Army to surrender by reducing it to 10 or fewer units. The Carthaginians win if they kill Scipio or cause the Romans to surrender by reducing them to 10 or fewer units.
The three modes of play are 1 player where you play the Romans and the Carthaginians are controlled by an AI, 1 player where you play the Carthaginians and the Romans are controlled by the AI or 2 players where you can either control both sides by yourself or sit somebody else at your computer with you and play against them.
Battle of Zama is inspired by old Avalon Hill and SPI games. It uses a square grid instead of a hex map, because historically ancient army units rarely moved at a diagonal. Units can change facing, move, ranged fire and melee. In addition, units that are part of a formation can move together to make movement faster.
One of the most interesting parts of this game is the Elephant Berserk Phase. Historically, when Hannibal attacked with his elephants the Roman cavalry blew large horns to scare the elephants and many went berserk and charged Hannibal’s own units. In this phase, the elephants are completely controlled by the AI and the ones that randomly go berserk will charge in a random direction and then do both a ranged and melee attack at whatever unit they are adjacent to. Afterwards, the berserk elephant’s handlers will kill the animals.
In order to win the game, the Romans must either kill Hannibal or cause the Carthaginian Army to surrender by reducing it to 10 or fewer units. The Carthaginians win if they kill Scipio or cause the Romans to surrender by reducing them to 10 or fewer units.
The three modes of play are 1 player where you play the Romans and the Carthaginians are controlled by an AI, 1 player where you play the Carthaginians and the Romans are controlled by the AI or 2 players where you can either control both sides by yourself or sit somebody else at your computer with you and play against them.
What Steam players say
Recent verbatim reviews from Steam — separate from playze.io community reviews below.
I first saw this game a couple of weeks ago and I put it on my wish list to buy. I then promptly forgot about it but then it was on sale at 50% off so I decided to buy it at once. I'm glad I did because although it is a simple war game at first glance it has that one more turn factor to see if you can beat the other side. It is really a board war game with square counters just like the old Avalon Hill and SPI games of old. I really have enjoyed this and I cant understand how so few people have got this. The AI is capable and victory is hard to get. I played the Romans at first next time I'm gonna take the Carthaginians. This system could also apply to other battles and Id love to see that happen. The only criticism I have is that if you press the right mouse button it ends the current phase you are in thus resulting in you not firing during the missile phase or melee phase. I'm not sure if this is a bug or intentional. Anyway I heartily recommend this great little game as it will give you quite a few hours of turn based war gaming in the ancient era. Kudos to the dev who is bringing this rather niche product to Steam. So buy it and hopefully he will create other games base…8 found this helpful
I like it, need more battles! I played the Romans and got beat, no way! Lots of fun. Worth every penny for me. Good job!!!2 found this helpful
--> This game plays in Manjaro Linux without proton or wine! <-- This is EXACTLY how a battle / war game SHOULD LOOK. As minimalist as possible so the "meat and potatoes" of the game is saved for the game's AI. Everything you need to know is on each of the little character tokens and the battle field shows whom, what and where in play. This game is NOT for beginner war gamers. It just isn't. What looks simple and easy is far from it. The AI will find ways to wipe you off the map asap. Let other war game devs take a look at this game and LEARN how to make a war game look. This game is not a joke nor does it pretend to be with it's basic movement but it's well developed AI. This game is very much recommended for anyone looking for a HISTORICAL BATTLE that made a massive difference in the history books. WELL DONE dev. WELL DONE.
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