Herzog
Zwei Strategy, part two
How to Beat the Computer Player
Win
the single-player games and leave time for lunch.
In
most early Herzog Zwei games, the computer tends to overwhelm the
player, who might begin to think he or she is in over their head.
In fact, beating the computer is pretty easy. Once you learn what
to look for, winning single-player matches becomes a cinch.
How
the Computer Plays
The
computer follows the exact same pattern, game in, game out. At the
beginning, he will deploy a number of units to defend its HB. Then
he will deploy Infantry and move to capture one of your bases.
 This
is when you strike. You should already have either captured a neutral
base or saved up money for SAM's. Once you see which base the computer
is attacking, build all your defenses there. You want to concentrate
on air defenses, which means 4 SAM's. This is where the Cross Formation
is worth its weight in gold.
With
the SAM's and your Mech, you should easily destroy the computer
Mech. You'll also learn his weakness: this computer is stubborn.
Visciously stubborn.
What
usually happens is this: the computer flies to the nearest friendly
base and builds one unit, either Infantry, Armored Car, or Tank.
He then takes the unit and flies to your base, drops off the unit,
and returns for another run.
You
blow up his Mech, and the computer just comes back for more. Again
and again and again. Sometimes it tries to sneak in by dropping
units from a distance and running off, but it almost never changes
tactics or targets another base. It follows the same stubborn pattern
over and over.
Going
on the Offensive
You
will usually need two or three tanks to support the SAM's and leave
the situation in your army's hands. Be sure to check up now and
then, because they will be slowly chipped away if you don't pay
attention.
Go
on the offensive, using whatever works best for you. Send a couple
Harassment strikes. Then, while the computer obsessively adds units
to defend its HB, take his minor bases away and start building those
Tank convoys. If there's water, start building Boats. The computer
can't handle Boats.
Once
you hit your groove, you should win matches in 15-20 minutes. The
higher difficulty levels add more powerful units at the bases, but
the same pattern applies. Just don't lose any Mech's yourself, and
you'll soon be bored stupid and start looking for friends to play
against. Which is the way it should be, really. |
