I recently found out that Harpoon 4 could be delayed until May. This for a game that was originally due out in the year 2000. Needless to say, disappointing.
So I dug out my Harpoon Classic 97 (the I-Magic update of the original Harpoon Classic) and went online to see if someone still had the original patch to download when I discovered…
A bunch of enthusiasts last year released an update to Harpoon Classic 97 that fixes a ton of the problems that were left with the game, as well as modifying the game engine to improve the AI significantly.
And so far, all I can say is “Wow!”
Though I wish they could have done something with the awkard interface (trying to ID a unit and then giving it an order requires toggling between two different windows), I have to say I’m really impressed. I’m able to relive some glorious Harpoon moments again, and it’s actually better than ever now that I have a spacious 21-inch monitor to enlarge and spread my windows out. Not to mention an AthlonXP 2100+ to run a game originally ran on 1989-era computers (and the I-Magic remake required a whopping 486SX 33). Needless to say, time compression flies like a bat out of hell now.
There’s a demo, but to play the full version of the upgrade you need to pay a $10 registration fee. But it’s worth it, especially if you just can’t wait anymore for Harpoon 4 to address that naval warfare fix.
They’re supposed to be working on an updated platform editor and database, but seeing that their web site said November 2002 for a release date on those, they’re obviously behind schedule. But this is definately worth it.
Time to unleash some whoop-ass on the Kola Penninsula again with those mighty US Navy CVBG’s!