Battlezone 64: Rise of the Black Dogs

by SPIG

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000035YAN
• Media: Game Cartridge
• Release Date: March 29, 2000
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #30,095 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)

Product Description

Product Description

The 1980 arcade classic Battlezone gulped quarters by the pocketful, but always left virtual tank gunners satisfied with its simple, yet engaging first-person style. In 1998, Activision brilliantly refitted the game into a 3-D strategic combat game for the PC, and now Climax/Crave offers N64 gamers a chance to share in the game's new groove.

Battlezone 64 introduces a bevy of new twists on the old theme. Players choose between three modes: arcade, pilot, and commander. The arcade variation most closely resembles the original's gameplay, namely shoot anything and everything that may resemble an enemy until it blows up. The second mode sends players on tasks provided by a mission commander, adding a bit of adventure and responsibility to the mix. The third variation most closely resembles the PC revision's combination of action and strategic gameplay, enabling players to collect vital resources necessary for building new structures and vehicles, and to populate a base with defensive measures and command units. Added bonus: the freedom to jump out of your vehicle, stealthily run to another (30 vehicles in all with over 15 weapons), climb aboard, and battle on. Multiplayer mode allows up to four players to battle, or two players to compete in a more strategic game style. --Eric Twelker

GameSpot Review

The year is 1969, and humankind has landed on the moon. In a startling development, US astronauts stumble across a cache of alien weaponry, leading to the largest cover-up in human history. While people at home are led to believe that the trip was uneventful, joint Soviet and US forces amass for military occupation of the moon. Thus follows the plot of Battlezone: Rise of the Black Dogs, the N64 port of a PC game that only vaguely resembles the Battlezone of yore. At the outset, you must decide how you want to play, choosing arcade, pilot, or commander modes. From there, you choose from three factions: American, Soviet, or The Black Dogs, each faction offering 21 separate missions. Then you hop into one of eleven tanks and begin your quest to harness the alien technology. While no side plays much differently than the others, those seeking a truly involving battle simulation will enjoy the game's commander mode, which puts you in total control over unit deployment, strategy, and objectives. If you're just into blatant destruction, the arcade or pilot modes will fulfill any need for catharsis. Battlezone: RotBD plays like a cross between San Francisco Rush, Battletanx, and Quake. Multiton tanks zoom along like souped-up Nissans, while weapons and ammunition expend themselves in amounts reminiscent of WW2. While that might not sound too realistic for a tank game, Battlezone: RotBD actually benefits from these nuances. There are a few slow and dumpy tanks for realism, while faster, more arcade-like models exist for those desiring a less frustrating experience. Though each tank is limited to a small selection of ammo and power-ups, the game's sniper mode offers you the ability to change/steal tanks often - letting gamers experience a greater number of weapons and tanks than were initially available. Unlike the single-player missions, the multiplayer modes will leave you with a bad taste. The four-player deathmatch and race modes are bland and boring, offering little more than brief periods of excitement before depleting the attention span of all involved. The two-player strategy mode offers the potential for multivehicle battle, but it comes out as an even less-varied version of regular deathmatch, minus two other players. It's safe to say that gamers who complete all of the game's single-player missions will have no reason to pick the game up again. Of course, with more than 60 unique missions, this could be a long time coming. Visually, Battlezone: RotBD impresses with diverse vehicles, lens flares, and a healthy dose of particle effects. The backgrounds, albeit spartan, are decently rendered and lack the oft-maligned fog that the Nintendo 64 is known for. The game isn't as pretty as its PC counterpart, and the sniper-mode visuals are laughable in comparison, but the game's graphical quality is definitely a cut above the rest. This doesn't hold true for the multiplayer modes though, as the fog and slowdown rush back in, almost as if to further deter any chance that you will try out the game's multiplayer offerings. Now that those aspects are out of the way, it's time to talk about sound. Actually, it's time to discuss the lack thereof. Single-player background music is repetitive, poor-quality MIDI, and in-game sound effects barely do the job of expressing the action. In addition, the multiplayer levels are so bereft of musical variety that one continues to wonder why they were included at all. In fact, for a 64-bit game, the audio is barely above 8-bit in quality. Suffice it to say, Battlezone: Rise of the Black Dogs is a fun game with good looks that fails to deliver in terms of multiplayer support and audio quality. Anyone who enjoys the thought of space-tank combat coupled with an engaging plot will want to give this title a try, but those hoping to bring their friends in on the action will want to remain far, far away.--Frank Provo--Copyright © 1998 GameSpot Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of GameSpot is prohibited.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars DA BOMB, July 26, 2000

By 

Andrew McIlhenny (Battle Zone Moon(Burlington Iowa U.S.A.) - See all my reviews

= Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Battlezone 64: Rise of the Black Dogs (Game Cartridge)

Another must buy,I just love this game because it's almost like your free but realy your not,the reason I think that your free is because like other games your not traped in one single tank all the time,also you can shoot enemy tanks with your sniper rifle when on foot with one shot and kill the pilot and take over their ships if you don't have tank,plus there are a lot modes to play in and there are evean more modes in 2 player mode and thats it well here I guess I will give 2 of the codes for it but there are alot more anyway here they are"infinite ammo is Hold Z at the main menu and type:L,R,L,R - and for infinite armor is Hold Z at the main menu and type:L,R,L,R".Well thats all that I am going to tell you but anyway this a great game and of course it is a must buy! note:you can't earn cheats.

4.0 out of 5 stars Battlezone, December 28, 2001

By 

Michael (New York, New York United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Battlezone 64: Rise of the Black Dogs (Game Cartridge)

Battlezone is a fast, furious, and at times, a very hard game. There's three different gaming modes for different tastes. The commander mode is kind of like the game starcraft, except that you are in a vehicle fighting too, instead of being some sort of crazed war god. People that like to blow stuff up should definately give this game a try.

5.0 out of 5 stars Sweeeetness!!!!!!, July 24, 2001

By 

Chestah Pearson (Hudson, Ohio USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Battlezone 64: Rise of the Black Dogs (Game Cartridge)

have you been searching for the best adventure of gaming history, an immortal among others that will keep you on the edge of your seat through the entire experience? Than look no further, for a, b, c, and all of the above are found in this game. A must buy!!!!!!!