View source for Rorke's Drift (video game)

{{Infobox video game
|title=Rorke's Drift
| image= File:Rorkes drift DOS cover 1990.jpg
|caption=DOS version cover art
|developer=Plato
|publisher=[[Impressions Games]]
|designer=
|engine=
|released=1990
|genre=[[Strategy game|Strategy]]
|modes=[[Single-player]]
|platforms= [[Atari ST]], [[Amiga]], [[MS-DOS]]
}}

'''''Rorke's Drift''''' is a [[strategy video game]] for [[Atari]], [[Amiga]] and [[MS-DOS]] home computers, released in 1990.  The game is a recreation of the [[Battle of Rorke's Drift]] during the 1879 [[Anglo-Zulu War]].  The player assumes command of the British garrison at the [[Rorke's Drift]] shortly before the arrival of the 4,000-strong attacking Zulu force.  The post's 137 defenders are rendered as individual characters which the player must order to perform actions.  The game is played in real time and lasts from 4.30pm on 22 January 1879 until 7am the following morning.  The game received mixed reviews, with critics praising the graphics and criticizing the slow pace and complicated orders system.

== Gameplay ==
[[File:Rorke's.Drift.Post.jpg|thumb|Layout of Rorke's Drift.  The game presents an isometric 3D view of the battlefield from the south.  A plan similar to this is shown in game as an overview map.]]
''Rorke's Drift'' is a [[real-time strategy]] recreation of the [[Battle of Rorke's Drift]], a defence of a mission post during the 1879 [[Anglo-Zulu War]].  The player takes command of a garrison of 137 British troops to defend the post against a Zulu force numbering up to 4,000.<ref name=orr/><ref name=phang/>  The game allows the player the choice of facing Zulu attacks as they came historically or in a randomised fashion.<ref name=laurence>{{cite journal|last1=Scotford|first1=Laurence|title=Rorke's Drift|work=Advanced Computer Entertainment|date=September 1990|page=52|url=https://ia800604.us.archive.org/view_archive.php?archive=/1/items/World_of_Spectrum_June_2017_Mirror/World%20of%20Spectrum%20June%202017%20Mirror.zip&file=World%20of%20Spectrum%20June%202017%20Mirror/sinclair/magazines/ACE/Issue36/Pages/ACE3600052.jpg}}</ref>

The game starts at 4.30pm on 22 January 1879, at which time the mealie bag and biscuit box defences have been erected, and the player's first action is to issue orders to deploy his men to their fighting positions.<ref name=joystick/>  The Zulu attacks begin an hour later and the game runs, in real time, to a conclusion at 7am on 23 January when the British garrison is relieved by the arrival of reinforcements.<ref name=phang/><ref name=dillon/>  Victory is awarded to the player if any of his forces survive until the end.<ref name=phang/><ref name=smith/>

[[File:Rorkes drift 1990 gameplay.png|left|thumb|A screenshot of a game in progress.  Zulu and British characters are visible in the background.  The bottom of the screen shows the menu options and the centre shows the orders menu for the selected character (a British private soldier).]]
The game is presented in [[isometric 3D]] view from the south of the mission post, the screen shows a section of the post and during gameplay the player can scroll the screen to view other parts.  The player's command consists of 137 characters, a mix of soldiers (wounded and unwounded), officers, medics and quartermasters.<ref name=phang/><ref name=joystick/>  There are 80 different frames of character position, depicting the men in kneeling, running, standing and fighting position in eight different directions.<ref name=phang/>  Each individual character has different statistics that affect their movement, shooting and hand-to-hand combat abilities.  The player orders men individually by entering an orders mode that pauses gameplay and prevents the screen from moving.<ref name=orr/>  Orders are given by mouse on an illustrated on-screen menu and are carried out when the player unpauses the game.<ref name=orr/><ref name=Hiersekorn/>  A "repeat order" function allows the player to issue the same order, individually, to more than one character.  Orders include different speeds of movement, different firing positions, aiming, firing, reloading and fighting in hand-to-hand combat.<ref name=orr/><ref name=smith/>  Only soldiers ordered to aim at a target can fine, the chance of a hit depends on the ability of the soldier and the time spent aiming.<ref name=pumphrey/>

As well as the main screen the player can select a map icon to display a fixed overview of the post, a red cross icon to display the total of active, wounded and dead for each side and a clock icon which accelerates the game.<ref name=phang/>  During accelerated play the battlefield is hidden and replaced by a clock and a display showing the number of wounded and dead on each side, the player can exit the screen at any time to return to the battlefield.<ref name=orr/>  As well as fighting the player must also manage the distribution of ammunition and tending of any wounded.<ref name=smith/>  The performance of the characters is affected by their wounds and any treatment received.<ref name=dillon/>  The only sound in the game is a short burst of the song "[[Men of Harlech]]" (popularly associated with the battle by the 1964 film [[Zulu (1964 film)|''Zulu'']]) at the start of the game.  There is a save game feature.<ref name=smith/>

== Development and release==
'' Rorke's Drift'' was designed by Edward Grabowski.  It was developed by Plato, the strategy branch of [[Impressions Games]], who also published the title.  Distribution was by Pactronics.  The games was released on the [[Atari]], [[Amiga]] and [[MS-DOS]] platforms in 1990.<ref name=phang/>  It retailed at £19.99 in the United Kingdom, $59.95 in the United States, 250F in France, 80DM in Germany and 299 Krone in Denmark.<ref name=phang/><ref name=orr>{{cite journal|last1=Orr |first1=Lucinda |title=Strategy with a cast of thousands |work=Amiga Computing |date=September 1990|volume=3|issue=4|pages=42-43|url=https://www.amigareviews.leveluphost.com/rorkesdr.htm}}</ref><ref name=joystick/><ref name=PP/><ref name=ekholm/>

''Rorke's Drift'' was re-released in 1994 by Tactix for the [[Amiga 500]], [[Amiga 600]] and [[Amiga 1200]].<ref name=AP/>

==Reception ==
[[File:Lady butler defense rorkes drift.jpg|thumb|A depiction of the historic defence of Rorke's Drift]]
Reviews of the game were mixed; Laurence Scotford for ''[[ACE (magazine)|ACE]]'' reflected on this, noting that it is "the sort of game you either love or you hate"<ref name=laurence/>  Some reviews discussed the moral standpoint of the game.  Tony Dillon, reviewing for [[Commodore_User#CU_Amiga|''CU Amiga'']], questioned the moral position of the player "wiping out an under-equipped army fighting for their homeland" in a war in which Britain was the aggressor.<ref name=dillon/>  This position was shared by the West German magazine ''Power Play'' which considered the game glorified the British viewpoint.<ref name=PP>{{cite journal|last1=|first1=|title=Rorke's Drift|work=Power Play|date=September 1990|page=|url=https://www.kultboy.com/index.php?site=t&id=1964}}</ref>  Dillon considered the player would have been assisted by the provision of more historical background in the game or manual, including details of the Zulu viewpoint; the lack of background information was also criticised by Paul Rigby in ''[[The Games Machine]]''.<ref name=dillon/><ref name=TGM/>

=== Graphics and performance ===
Many reviewers praised the quality of the graphics, though some thought them overly "cute".<ref name=phang>{{cite journal|last1=Phang|first1=Andrew |title=Rorke's Drift|work=Commodore and Amiga Review|date=November 1990|page=75|url=http://amr.abime.net/review_4447
}}</ref><ref name="orr" /><ref name=joystick/><ref name=smith/><ref name=laurence/><ref name=TGM/><ref name=ekholm>{{cite journal|last1=Ekholm|first1=Hans|title=Vilse i Zulupannkakan|work=Datormagazin|date=September 1990|issue=14|page=68|url=http://amr.abime.net/review_31501}}</ref><ref name=dillon>{{cite journal|last1=Dillon|first1=Tony |title=Rorke's drift|work=CU Amiga |date=July 1990|page=57|url=http://amr.abime.net/review_15000}}</ref>  Dillon considered that the cuteness of the graphics detracted from the atmosphere of a serious war game.<ref name=dillon/>  The French ''[[Joystick (magazine)|Joystick]]'' magazine thought the graphics were better than usually provided in war games.<ref name=joystick>{{cite journal|last1=|first1=|title=Rorke's Drift |work=Joystick|url=http://download.abandonware.org/magazines/Joystick/joystick_numero012/Joystick%20012%20-%20Page%20207%20(1991-01).jpg|date=January 1991|page=207}}</ref>  Adrian Pumphrey, for ''Your Amiga'', thought that "dedicated strategists may find this game a little too colourful for their palates" that oit would appeal to "[[arcade game|arcade]] minded players".<ref name=pumphrey>{{cite journal|last1=Pumphrey|first1=Adrian |title=Rorke's drift|work=Your Amiga|date=August 1990|page=46|url=http://amr.abime.net/review_11152}}</ref>  Lucinda Orr, for ''[[Amiga Computing]]'', considered that the graphics gave the game the feel of a [[miniature wargame|table-top wargame]] and Andy Smith for ''[[Amiga Format]]'' thought this was the concept the designer had in mind.<ref name="orr" /><ref name=smith>{{cite journal|last1=Smith|first1=Andy |title=Rorke's Drift |work=Amiga Format|date=August 1990|issue=13|page=52|url=https://www.amigareviews.leveluphost.com/rorkesdr.htm}}</ref>  A reviewer for ''ONE AMiga'' thought the game was a "good example of how wargames can cross over into the mainstream".<ref name=ONE>{{cite journal|last1=|first1=|title=Rorke's Drift|work=The ONE Amiga|date=July 1994|issue=14|page=84|url=http://amr.abime.net/review_38087}}</ref>  Smith considered that the adherence to turn-based wargaming principles didn't always work in the real-time game, with characters stuck walking into one another until interrupted by the player.<ref name=smith/>

Many reviewers noted the jerkiness of the animations and cursor movements.<ref name=joystick/><ref name=Hiersekorn>{{cite journal|last1=Hiersekorn |first1=Werner|title=Strategische Magerkost |work=Amiga Joker|date=October 1990|page=82|url=https://www.amigareviews.leveluphost.com/rorkesdr.htm}}</ref><ref name=laurence/> Werner Hiersekorn for the German magazine ''Amiga Joker'' noted occasional system crashes.<ref name=Hiersekorn/>

=== Gameplay ===
The reception of the orders system was mixed.  Orr considered it gave the game a more personal feel but Smith found it "unwieldy and awkward", being tedious having to issue orders to each man individually.<ref name="orr" /><ref name=smith/>  Hiersekorn, Scotford, Smith, Hans Ekholm for ''Datormagazin'' and the ''ONE Amiga'' reviewer found the pace of the game, and the ordering system, too slow.<ref name=Hiersekorn/><ref name=laurence/><ref name=ekholm/><ref name=smith/><ref name=ONE/>  Pumphrey thought that the sequence of orders required to fire a rifle, in particular, was too long.<ref name=pumphrey>{{cite journal|last1=Pumphrey|first1=Adrian |title=Rorke's drift|work=Your Amiga|date=August 1990|page=46|url=http://amr.abime.net/review_11152}}</ref>  Although the "repeat order" command was praised by Phang, Rigby thought a group ordering system would have been beneficial.<ref name=phang/><ref name=TGM>{{cite journal|last1=Rigby|first1=Paul |title=Rorke's Drift|work=The Games Machine|date=August 1990|issue=33|page=79|url=http://amr.abime.net/review_9920}}</ref>  Cam Winstanley for ''Amiga Power'' thought that a "fire at will" command would have been useful to avoid repetitive ordering.<ref name=AP>{{cite journal|last1=Winstanley|first1=Cam|title=Rourke's Drift|work=Amiga Power|date=August 1994|page=77|url=http://amr.abime.net/review_941}}</ref>

While the ''ONE Amiga'' reviewer found the ordering menu was intuitive Rigby found "some of the commands are not explained [in the manual] and others do not tally with the screen".<ref name=ONE/><ref name=TGM/>  The lack of instruction in the manual was also criticised by Ekholm.<ref name=ekholm/>  The freezing of the screen during the ordering mode was criticised by Smith and Rigby.<ref name=TGM/><ref name=TGM/>  The fixed isometric view came in for negative comment from Winstanley and Rigby, with the foreground buildings hiding some characters from view and the view making it difficult to judge ground distance.<ref name=AP/><ref name=TGM/>  Rigby also thought the overview map could have been a more useful feature if it showed the positions of troops rather than just an image of the battlefield.<ref name=TGM/>  Orr found the accelerated time mode was risky as the only indication of a Zulu attack was when casualty figures began to increase, at which point it was often too late for the player to direct shots at the Zulus.<ref name="orr" />

Orr noted that with a confined battlefield it was difficult to develop any elaborate strategies and that the game was more about how the player chose to deploy their limited forces.<ref name="orr" />  However Phang described the game as "an exercise in tactics to be enjoyed by those who are dedicated strategy fans, and those who are just looking for an enjoyable game".<ref name=phang/>  Smith noted the game had limited replayability, with only one scenario available and it being only playable from the British side.<ref name=smith/>

=== Review scores ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+
!Magazine
!Author
!Date
!Format
!Score
|-
|''CU Amiga''<ref name="dillon" />
|Tony Dillon
|July 1990
|Amiga
|84%
|-
|''Amiga Format''<ref name="smith" />
|Andy Smith
|August 1990
|Amiga
|62%
|-
|''The Games Machine''<ref name="TGM" />
|Paul Rigby
|August 1990
|Amiga
|34%
|-
|''Your Amiga''<ref name="pumphrey" />
|Adrian Pumphrey
|August 1990
|Amiga
|80%
|-
|''Advanced Computer Entertainment''<ref name="laurence" />
|Laurence Scotford
|September 1990
|Amiga & Atari
|70% (700/1000)
|-
|''Amiga Computing''<ref name="orr" />
|Lucinda Orr
|September 1990
|Amiga
|80%
|-
|''Datormagazin''<ref name="ekholm" />
|Hans Ekholm
|September 1990
|Amiga
|30% (3/10)
|-
|''Power Play''<ref name="PP" />
|Michael Hengst 
|September 1990
|Amiga & Atari
|4%
|-
|''Amiga Joker''<ref name="Hiersekorn" />
|Werner Hiersekorn
|October 1990
|Amiga
|21%
|-
|''Commodore and Amiga Review''<ref name=phang/>
|Andrew Phang
|November 1990
|Amiga
|81%
|-
|''Joystick''<ref name=joystick/>
|
|January 1991
|MS DOS
|65%
|-
|''The ONE Amiga''<ref name=ONE/>
|
|July 1994
|Amiga
|78%
|-
|''Amiga Power''<ref name="AP" />
|Cam Winstanley
|August 1994
|Amiga
|44%
|}

==References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:1990 video games]]
[[Category:Amiga games]]
[[Category:Atari ST games]]
[[Category:DOS games]]
[[Category:Strategy video games]]
[[Category:Video games set in Africa]]
[[Category:War video games set in the British Empire]]