Desert Rats vs. Afrika Korps

{{Infobox VG

| title = Desert Rats vs. Afrika Korps

| image = Desert_Rats_vs._Afrika_Korps_EU_CD_Cover.jpg

| image_size = 200px

| caption = European cover art featuring montgomery(right) and rommel (left)

| publisher = {{Plainlist|

}}

| released = {{Video game release|NA|March 30, 2004{{Cite web |title=Desert Rats vs. Afrika Korps rolls out |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/desert-rats-vs-afrika-korps-rolls-out/1100-6092531/ |access-date=2024-01-08 |website=GameSpot |language=en-US}}|EU|April 8, 2004}}

| genre = Real-time tactics

| modes = Single-player, multiplayer

| platforms = Microsoft Windows

}}

Desert Rats vs. Afrika Korps, released as Afrika Korps vs. Desert Rats outside the UK and U.S., is a real-time tactics game that is based on the North African campaign of World War II. The single player missions are playable as the German Afrika Korps or the British Desert Rats. There is also an option for online multiplayer.

Gameplay

This real-time, tactical combat game's playable factions included the German and British armies. The game focused on desert battles. It could render beautiful graphics and a large number of units, as well as fully destructible environments. Previews praised the excellent music in it.

It has 20 missions in two campaigns, although the missions were only loosely based on historical battles.

Multiplayer support for up to four players was planned.

{{Cite web |last=Ocampo | first=Jason |title=Desert Rats vs. Afrika Korps Hands-On Preview |website=GameStop |date=January 16, 2004 |url= https://www.gamespot.com/articles/desert-rats-vs-afrika-korps-hands-on-preview/1100-6086600/ |accessdate=January 3, 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250103190255/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/desert-rats-vs-afrika-korps-hands-on-preview/1100-6086600/ |archive-date=January 3, 2025 |url-status=live |quote=The German and British armies once again battle in the desert in this upcoming real-time tactical combat game.}}{{Cite web |title=Desert Rats vs. Afrika Korps' news page |website=GameStop |date=March 30, 2004 |url= http://www.gamespot.com:80/pc/strategy/desertratsvsafrikacorps/news.html |accessdate=January 4, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070825104200/http://www.gamespot.com:80/pc/strategy/desertratsvsafrikacorps/news.html |archive-date=August 25, 2007 |url-status=dead }}

There are more than 70 units true to history included. Infantry can interact with vehicles including getting into tanks. Players can attempt to disable enemy's vehicles, and capture and repair them with own infantry.

Reception

{{Video game reviews

| MC = 70/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/desert-rats-vs-afrika-korps/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=Desert Rats vs. Afrika Korps for PC Reviews |work=Metacritic |accessdate=April 13, 2012 |archive-date=October 21, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021093016/http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/desert-rats-vs-afrika-korps |url-status=live }}

| CGW = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine |last=McDonald |first=Thomas L. |url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_240.pdf |title=Desert Rats vs. Afrika Korps |magazine=Computer Gaming World |issue=240 |date=July 2004 |page=71 |accessdate=September 8, 2017 |archive-date=June 4, 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040604062508/http://www.computergaming.com/article2/0,2053,1586332,00.asp |url-status=live }}

| GI = 6/10{{cite magazine |last=Biessener |first=Adam |title=Desert Rats Vs. Afrika Korps |magazine=Game Informer |issue=134 |date=June 2004 |page=135}}

| GSpot = 6.6/10{{cite web |last=Parker |first=Sam |date=April 1, 2004 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/desert-rats-vs-afrika-korps-review/1900-6092750/ |title=Desert Rats vs. Afrika Korps Review |website=GameSpot |accessdate=September 8, 2017 |archive-date=September 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909094925/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/desert-rats-vs-afrika-korps-review/1900-6092750/ |url-status=live }}

| GSpy = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web |last=Durham Jr. |first=Joel |date=April 19, 2004 |url=http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/desert-rats-vs-afrika-korps/507129p1.html |title=GameSpy: Desert Rats Vs. Afrika Korps |website=GameSpy |accessdate=September 8, 2017 |archive-date=March 13, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313142801/http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/desert-rats-vs-afrika-korps/507129p1.html |url-status=live }}

| IGN = 7.2/10{{cite web |last=Butts |first=Steve |date=April 7, 2004 |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/04/08/desert-rats-vs-afrika-korps-review |title=Desert Rats vs. Afrika Korps Review |website=IGN |accessdate=September 8, 2017 |archive-date=September 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909053312/http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/04/08/desert-rats-vs-afrika-korps-review |url-status=live }}

| PCF = 68%{{cite magazine |last=Dean |first=Paul |url=http://www.pcformat.co.uk/reviews/default.asp?pagetypeid=2&articleid=30549&subsectionid=680 |title=Desert Rats vs. Afrika Korps |magazine=PC Format |issue=161 |date=May 2004 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040812104543/http://www.pcformat.co.uk/reviews/default.asp?pagetypeid=2&articleid=30549&subsectionid=680 |archivedate=August 12, 2004 |url-status=dead |accessdate=September 8, 2017}}

| PCGUK = 79%{{cite magazine |title=Desert Rats vs. Afrika Korps |magazine=PC Gamer UK |date=May 2004}}

| PCGUS = 74%{{cite magazine |title=Desert Rats vs. Afrika Korps |magazine=PC Gamer |date=June 2004 |page=66}}

| PCZone = 70%{{cite magazine |title=PC Review: Desert Rats vs. Afrika Korps |magazine=PC Zone |date=May 2004}}

| XPlay = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web |last=Jackson |first=Jonah |date=June 8, 2004 |url=http://www.g4techtv.com/xplay/features/801/Desert_Rats_vs_Afrika_Korps_PC_Review.html |title=Desert Rats vs. Afrika Korps (PC) Review |work=X-Play |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040812172058/http://www.g4techtv.com/xplay/features/801/Desert_Rats_vs_Afrika_Korps_PC_Review.html |archivedate=August 12, 2004 |url-status=dead |accessdate=September 8, 2017}}

}}

The game received "average" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.