Over the Reich

Over the Reich

North American cover art
Developer(s) Big Time Software
Publisher(s) Avalon Hill
Designer(s) Charles Moylan
J. D. Webster
Artist(s) Stephen Holmes
Composer(s) Charles Moylan
Platform(s) Microsoft Windows
Macintosh
Release date(s) Microsoft Windows:
  • NA September 30, 1996
  • EU 1996
Macintosh:
Genre(s) Strategy
Mode(s) Single-player
Multiplayer
Distribution CD-ROM

Over the Reich is a 1996 strategy computer game for personal computers operating the Microsoft Windows operating system. The game was released in North America and Europe.

Gameplay

The player's squadron of fighter planes are taking on threats from land and from air in this World War II mission.

Players can play as either Nazi Germany, the United States of America, or as Great Britain. This game combines turn-based dogfighting with strategic manoeuvers as the player must position his airplanes to destroy his enemies. Authentic clips from World War II help to improve the realism of this video game.

A mostly classical music soundtrack (with some wartime radio music) helps provide ambiance for the aerial settings. This game would eventually have a prequel called Achtung Spitfire! in 1997. Missions range from trying to liberate Nazi-occupied France by air power to attacking the German military power in the heart of Germany itself. The main menu resembled a vintage World War II hangar with difficulty levels ranging from Cadet (allowing new gamers to dive directly into the game) to Flight Commander (where incidentals like altitude, speed and attitude have to be manually controlled).

Creating results that are worse than expected will result in somber music. However, achieving results that are better expected will result in swing music being played. Music played during combat is Ride of the Valkyries by Richard Wagner.

References

Reception
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