Scorched Earth

Scorched Earth is a turn-based artillery game developed by Wendell Hicken for DOS and released originally as shareware in 1991. The game became one of the most popular shareware titles of the early 1990s and helped define the artillery game genre on personal computers.

The gameplay is deceptively simple yet endlessly engaging. Players control tanks positioned across randomly generated 2D terrain and take turns firing projectiles at each other, adjusting angle and power to account for wind conditions and topography. What sets Scorched Earth apart from earlier artillery games like Tank Wars or the classic Artillery is its incredible variety of weapons and customization options. Beyond standard shells, players can unleash devastating nuclear warheads, cluster bombs, napalm, and even more exotic ammunition like "Death's Head" or "Funky Bomb," each with unique destructive properties and visual effects.

The game supports up to nine players in hot-seat multiplayer, making it perfect for group gaming sessions. Each player can customize their tank's name, select from various AI difficulty levels for computer opponents, and choose from an extensive arsenal of weapons purchased with credits earned through successful hits and eliminations. The economic element adds strategic depth, as players must balance between buying powerful but expensive weapons and conserving funds for future rounds.

Wendell Hicken's programming creates a surprisingly robust physics system for its time, with realistic ballistic trajectories and terrain deformation that persists throughout matches. When a nuclear weapon detonates, it carves a permanent crater in the landscape, fundamentally altering subsequent shots and strategies. The graphics, while simple, effectively convey the destruction and chaos of battle with satisfying explosion effects and debris animations.

Compared to other artillery games of the era like Worms, which wouldn't arrive until later, Scorched Earth established many conventions that would become genre standards. It genuinely offered more weapons, options, and replayability than any predecessor. While games like Tank on various platforms provided similar basic mechanics, none matched Scorched Earth's depth and polish.

The shareware distribution model proved perfect for the game's addictive nature. Players could enjoy the core experience for free, but were encouraged to register for additional weapons and features. This approach helped Scorched Earth spread rapidly through bulletin board systems and early internet communities, establishing it as a classic of early 1990s PC gaming.

Even today, Scorched Earth remains highly playable and serves as the template for countless artillery games that followed. Its influence can be seen in modern titles across multiple platforms, proving that Wendell Hicken created something truly special with this seemingly simple tank combat simulator.