Siege (video game)

{{Short description|1992 video game}}

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{{More citations needed|date=May 2010}}

{{Lead too short|date=November 2021}}

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{{Infobox video game

|title = Siege

|image = Siege video game cover art.jpg

|alt =

|developer = Mindcraft

|publisher = Mindcraft

|series =

|engine =

|released = 1992

|genre = Strategy

|modes = Single-player, multiplayer

|platforms = MS-DOS

}}

Siege is a video game released by Mindcraft in 1992 for MS-DOS. An expansion pack, Dogs of War, was released. It added multiplayer, six new castles, and 16 new units to the game. A sequel, Ambush at Sorinor, was released in 1993.

Plot

Set in the world of Mindcraft's The Magic Candle,{{cite magazine | url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1992&pub=2&id=97 | title=The Consumer Electronics Show: No Longer Behind Closed Doors | magazine=Computer Gaming World | date=August 1992 | accessdate=3 July 2014 | pages=23–28}} Siege is a castle-combat war game in which the player controls either the hordes of darkness (including orcs, trolls, domugs, and tekhirs) or the warriors of good (humans, dwarves, and elves), in a campaign in Western Gurtex that involves either attacking or defending one of its four castles. The player manages elite troops, berserkers, sergeants, and engineers, as well as assault and defense equipment (such as ballistae, burning oil, battering rams, mobile bridges, siege towers, assault ladders, and catapults) and magicians who use spells against the enemy. The game features 24 different scenarios, and comes with an editor to allow the players to create new scenarios or alter the ones included in the game.

Reception

{{Video game reviews

| rev1 = Pelit

| rev1Score = 89/100{{cite magazine |last1=Nirvi |first1=Niko |title=Örkit on jo ovella... |journal=Pelit |issue=6/92 |pages=26–27, 79 |publisher=Sanomaprint Erikoislehdet |language=Finnish}}
90/100 (Dogs of War){{cite magazine |last1=Nirvi |first1=Niko |title=Haukku tekee haavan |journal=Pelit |issue=2/93 |pages=50–51, 79 |publisher=Sanomaprint Erikoislehdet |language=Finnish}}

}}

Computer Gaming World in 1992 complimented Siege{{'}}s "beautifully rendered" VGA graphics and scenario editor, and approved of it being the first game based on castle warfare. The magazine criticized the lack of detail in win conditions and a too-predictable AI opponent, but concluded that the game "is an all-around unique and engaging simulation ... If the computer AI had more of a cruel streak, the game would be outstanding".{{cite magazine | url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1992&pub=2&id=99 | title=Mindcraft's Phantastic Simulation of Castle Warfare | magazine=Computer Gaming World | date=October 1992 | accessdate=4 July 2014 | last=Lombardi | first=Chris | pages=142, 144 | issue=99}} In a 1993 survey of pre 20th-century strategy games the magazine gave the game two-plus stars out of five.{{cite magazine | url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1993&pub=2&id=107 | title=An Annotated Listing of Pre-20th Century Wargames | magazine=Computer Gaming World | date=June 1993 | accessdate=7 July 2014 | author=Brooks, M. Evan | pages=136}} The game was reviewed in 1993 in Dragon #189 by Hartley, Patricia, and Kirk Lesser in "The Role of Computers" column. The reviewers gave the game 4 out of 5 stars.{{cite journal

|title=The Role of Computers

|last1=Lesser|last2=Lesser|last3=Lesser|first1=Hartley|first2=Patricia|first3=Kirk|name-list-style=amp

|journal=Dragon

|issue=189

|date=January 1993

|pages=57–62}}

Niko Nirvi of Pelit summarized: "AI is a bit weak, but the violence, playability and digitized effects make this an excellent strategy game". He reviewed the expansion and said: "The best thing about Dogs of War is the opportunity to play Siege against other human players. Wow!" and also praised the improved AI.

Jim Trunzo reviewed Siege in White Wolf #34 (Jan./Feb., 1993), rating it a 4 out of 5 and stated that "Ultimately, Siege delivers what it promises. As the attacker, you'll be in your glory as you rain arrows at defenders in order to protect your troops who are scaling ladders placed by your engineers. As the defender, you'll experience equal amounts of glee as you direct your troops to pour boiling oil on savage troll troops trying to breach your walls, and heart-pounding excitement as you send your hero-led troops on a foray outside the castle walls to attack the catapult unit that is about to fire. In either case, your decisions will determine victory or defeat."{{Cite magazine |last=Trunzo |first=Jim |date=January–February 1993|title=The Silicon Dungeon |magazine= White Wolf Magazine |number=34 |pages=15–17 |url=https://imgur.com/a/GAqejO8}}

Reviews

  • ASM (Aktueller Software Markt) - October 1992
  • PC Games (Germany) - October 1992
  • Computer Gaming World - June 1993
  • The Good Old Days (Staff Reviews only) (February 2014){{cite web | url=https://www.goodolddays.net/game/id%2C195/Siege.html | title=Crystals of Arborea}}
  • Power Play (September 1992){{cite web | url=http://www.kultboy.com/index.php?site=t&id=5595 | title=Game review | website=kultboy.com | access-date=2 April 2023}}
  • Joker Verlag präsentiert: Sonderheft (1993){{cite web | url=http://amr.abime.net/issue_2934_pages | title=Amiga Joker Amiga Joker Sonderheft Nr.5 - Strategie Page scans - Amiga Magazine Rack}}

References

{{Reflist}}