Game Review
M1 Tank Platoon is a tank simulation created by MPS Labs and released by MicroProse for the Amiga, Atari ST, and DOS in 1989.
The game stands as one of MicroProse's most ambitious and successful military simulations, delivering an unprecedented level of tactical depth wrapped in their signature attention to detail. Released in 1989 for DOS systems, this tank warfare simulator doesn't just put you behind the controls of an M1A1 Abrams - it makes a platoon commander responsible for four of these 60-ton steel beasts in hypothetical NATO vs Warsaw Pact scenarios.
What immediately sets M1 Tank Platoon apart from contemporary military sims like Falcon or Red Storm Rising is its dual nature. You can jump into the commander's cupola for a strategic overview, coordinating your platoon's movements across the battlefield, or drop down into any crew position - gunner, loader, or driver - for hands-on tank operation. While flight sims were dominating the market, MicroProse proved that ground-based warfare could be equally compelling. The simulation depth rivals Silent Service, managing everything from ammunition types (SABOT for armor, HEAT for softer targets) to thermal imaging systems and rangefinding. The ballistics model accounts for wind, target movement, and even the Abrams' stabilization system.
The graphics were cutting-edge for 1989 and superior to most military sims of the era. The filled polygon 3D engine delivers smooth frame rates even on 286 machines, putting it ahead of wireframe competitors like Abrams Battle Tank. The tank interiors are meticulously detailed, far more so than the simplified cockpits in Gunship or F-19 Stealth Fighter. Every switch, gauge, and periscope serves a purpose.
Campaign mode is where the game truly shines compared to mission-based sims. Instead of scripted scenarios, you're fighting a dynamic war where your performance affects the overall conflict. This was revolutionary for 1989, predating the dynamic campaigns that would later appear in Falcon 3.0. Lose too many tanks, and you'll find yourself facing overwhelming enemy forces. The AI is competent enough to provide genuine challenge, with Soviet T-80s and T-72s that will flank you if given the opportunity - a significant step up from the predictable enemy behavior in earlier armor simulations.
The learning curve is steep - this isn't arcade-style tank action. You'll spend time in the manual learning about armor angles, penetration values, and tactical formations. But that complexity is exactly what makes success so rewarding. Successfully coordinating a four-tank assault while personally gunning for enemy armor creates moments of tactical satisfaction that few games of the era could match.
M1 Tank Platoon isn't without flaws. The interface can be clunky when switching between command and crew positions, and the infantry simulation feels underdeveloped compared to the tank warfare. Some missions can drag on, especially defensive scenarios where you're waiting for enemy contact - a pacing issue that also plagued submarine sims like 688 Attack Sub.
But these are minor complaints against a simulation that achieved something remarkable for 1989 - it made you feel like you were actually commanding modern armored warfare while most competitors were still offering simplified arcade experiences. For military simulation fans, M1 Tank Platoon remains essential, a masterclass in how to balance accessibility with authentic complexity that set the standard for ground combat simulations.
Users Reviews
Here is another splendid simulator, revived by the friends of "Gamesnostalgia".
We are talking about "M 1 Tank Platoon".
At the beginning of the 90's certainly one of the best among the simulators of armored vehicles. Specifically, the game seats us inside the mighty main battle tank ... "M1 Abrams". We can take on the role of the tank pilot, or the commander, or even the gunner and we can have different views, both inside our armored vehicle and outside, where the view of the environment is wider.
It is also possible to play at the semi-strategic level, in the sense that it is possible to drive an entire platoon of Abrams tanks, plus the means of support.
In this way we will give orders that can involve 4 tanks and not just one. The operations of movement, engagement and fire would be charged by the artificial intelligence.
As the driver, we have the responsibility of maneuvering the path of our tank, choosing whether to move in the open, using all our speed, or try to take advantage of the covers that the ground has to offer us and advance with due caution. In that of commander we manage the main resources of the tank, but the position of gunner is the most engaging! An impressive array of electronic tools will help us strike the first shot, in all weather conditions.
Tactics in this game are very important because many variables are taken into account. For example, if you are hit, several factors come into play, first WHERE you are hit, then WHAT you are hit with, and the various abilities of the individual crews. In this way, you could be hit by a shot fired from a 76 mm gun, if you are hit on the frontal armor you can have a good chance of getting out of it practically unscathed, but if the shot reaches the sides or, even worse, the rear parts of our vehicle, then the chances of damage being inflicted on us would greatly increase.
Maybe the blow doesn't destroy us completely but a track could be damaged, thus compromising our mobility. Obviously it is quite different if the enemy shot is a high-speed penetrator, fired from an enemy tank. In this case, even if you are hit in the most protected part, namely the front, the chances of catastrophic damage can be high. And that's why tactic is a factor to always keep in mind! Our tank is one of the best in the world, especially in terms of protection, but it is always better to avoid testing our "luck". So it is better to avoid running in the open field in front of the well entrenched enemy with many anti-tank weapons! Better to take advantage of the covers. Homes, woodlands, small hills, even large boulders or hollows in the land, can be used to shield our movements from the enemy. Trying, for example, to reach the flanks of the enemy. Using smoke grenades can also be a good idea!
Enemy who, in this game, is the former U.S.S.R. and its Warsaw Pact allies.
The game also includes being able to use support fire, which can be a "Barrage" of heavy artillery, an air attack from an "A 10" or an anti-tank helicopter. But be careful to use these aids wisely, otherwise we will face their destruction. For example, if we decide for help from our air forces, it would be wise to try to annihilate any anti-aircraft weapons first. Thus, our aviation support could even be decisive.
The simulation also offers training "stages", which is always extremely welcome.
Then there are individual battles and then the whole campaign, where with your battle group, you have to participate in a real campaign. Being able to keep your soldiers alive means campaigning with more and more experienced men.
Another thing to point out is the manual, full of news images and illustrations that not only serve a lot to understand the dynamics of "M1 Tank Platoon", but also as a source of absolutely controlled, relevant and truthful news. So a very valuable accompanying document to the game. The game was published by the legendary "Microprose" using the development of "MPS labs".
Another game quite similar to "M 1 Tank Platoon" is "Steel Thunder", the latter published by the "Accolade", came out shortly before, ie between 1988 and 1989 and saw the light in DOS and Commodore 64/128 versions. I have recently seen the DOS version, but I bought the one for Commodore 64/128 and I can tell you that the latter was much superior.
It would be nice if the friends of Gamenostalgia could also insert "Steel Thunder" in their database.
Review by: Maurizio Petta
Published: 10 August 2022 11:59 pm
Review by: Maurizio Petta
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