The Wargamer

For some years now, Matrix Games has been forming its niche as a premier publisher of classic wargames.  In recent months, Matrix has reintroduced several time-honored and “battle” tested games back into the mainstream library, including Close Combat and John Tiller’s Battleground series.  A couple of years back, Matrix Games teamed with Advanced Gaming System Inc. to revive the Harpoon series and build upon its previous successes.  After Ubisoft cancelled plans to produce and publish Harpoon 4, Matrix Games stepped in to help build upon the previously published Harpoon 3.  Harpoon 3 – Advanced Naval Warfare, appeared out of the ashes of Harpoon 4.  Although widely considered to be thoroughly buggy, the two companies continued to collaborate to remove the errors and secure the future of the Harpoon series.  I had the opportunity to write a review for Advanced Naval Warfare Version 3.8 (http://www.wargamer.com/article/2461/Harpoon-Advanced-Naval-Warfare), which I believe to have considerably improved the game.

Matrix Games has continued to build upon its reputation in the arena of classical wargames, working with AGSI to bring back Harpoon Classic to the wargaming community in the form of Larry Bond’s Harpoon – Commander’s Edition.  Like the other attempts at reviving proven classics, Commander’s Edition does justice for its historical ancestor, Harpoon Classic.  AGSI’s website (http://www.computerharpoon.com/) indicates that Commander’s Edition will be the final investment placed into the classical version of Harpoon.  From here on out, development of Harpoon games will proceed along the lines of Advanced Naval Warfare.  With that in mind, fans of Harpoon Classic should look to grab Commander’s Edition while they still can.

However, the power to endorse or criticize Larry Bond’s Harpoon – Commander’s Edition lies far beyond my meager powers.  For over a decade, Harpoon has received the acclaim of professional and hobby gamers worldwide.  Since Commander’s Edition represents more of Harpoon’s re-release than a bona fide and substantial upgrade, I feel obligated to defer to the various existing critiques and the numerous Harpoon communities for any judgment of Harpoon in any of its various classical forms.  Indeed, the mere fact that Harpoon has found enough favor to be released multiple times over more than a decade should serve as a fait accompli for its measure as a wargame.  Instead, I feel forced to attempt to concentrate on release specific information for Commander’s Edition

Ensign’s Training