Rating: 
Summary: Terribly Incomplete
Review: Land masses played a significant role in the sea battles during WWII, especially in the Atlantic / North Sea Campaigns. Unfortunately, Divide By Zero doesn't provide any land masses. Its like conducting a sea battle where there is endless water and no land. This detracts from the realism of the game. The US used air craft carriers during the naval battles in the Pacific. Also, the British Navy used air craft carriers in its relentless efforts to sink the Bismark. Yet, this game doesn't provide any air craft carriers, air craft, and submarines. Players are treated to Navy forces consisting of battle ships, cruisers, and destroyers. This is very unrealistic. Now, for the major problem I have encountered with this game. I have an opponent's vessel completely out of action. I pull up real close to the vessel -- say about 500 - 700 yards. My ship blasts my opponent's vessel with its main and secoundary guns. However, at this close range, most of my shots miss the enemy's boat. How can that be? The enemy his helpless in the water; he is not moving, and I experience such rotten accuracy. even the most inexperienced gunners can hit a target some 500 - 700 yards away. Another interesting problem. Let's say I have sunk all the opponent's vessels. I click on acclerate end to move on. Well, guess what I find? Some of my vessels have either been sunk or damaged because of "Air/Sea Superiority." How can that be? -- Considering that my opponent's naval force has been sent to the bottom of Davy Jones's Locker. If Superior Air Power is used, then ships should be allowed to defend against it. "Fighting Steel" does not give us the option of fighting air craft. The images of the ships are "realistic." Battle Damage, however, is not. True, when the main gun batteries explode, they appear destroyed on screen. However, other battle damage is not all that realistic. For these reasons, I believe the game is still a Work in Process. It is incomplete, and needs enhancing. The graphics are accurate, but they look like unrealistic cartoon images. Overall, it is not the worst game on the market. But, unfortunately, it is not the best either.
Rating: 
Summary: Stimulating sim of naval surface combat in World War II
Review: This three-demensional simulation of naval surface combat in the early days of world war II is just the game naval historians and the avid war gamer has been looking for. All the major vessel classes are represented in all the major engagements in both night and day action from 1939 to 1942. Let the PC do all the bookingkeeping as to who shot who where, you get to do the fun part as to deployment, tactics and the the thinking end of the fighting. With the exception of no land featured in the game, which makes re-supply and bombardment scenarios difficult to simulate, this is a shortcoming that, hopfully future editions or updates will address. All in all, an excellent game!
Rating: 
Summary: Alas, what might have been!
Review: When I first saw Fighting Steel on the shelf, my immediate reaction was "Finally, the ultimate follow-on to the Great Naval Battles series." As I read the details printed on the box, my interest peaked and I couldn't wait to get into a major capital ship engagement. Unfortunately, I then installed this turkey and tried to play it. Simply put, the game requires too much detailed effort to be enjoyable. There are an endless series of menus and sub-menus that must be employed to get anything done. By the time you have formed your forces, set navigational parameters, and maybe gotten lucky enough to engage the enemy, you're more than ready for the action to start. It doesn't happen that way. The game requires micromanagement of every aspect; navigation, gunnery, damage control, and this for every ship. What should be a very enjoyable simulation just bogs down in minutia. What is even more frustrating is the magnificent selection of available forces. Battleships, battlecruisers, heavy cruisers, destroyers, subs and just about everything else from every major fleet are there, alongwith an almost overwhelming assortment of weapons. This game could have been a World War II enthusiast's dream come true, but it just doesn't deliver on the promise. Worse yet is the brutal tendancy for the game to lock up in the middle of the action, with no apparent pattern to the problem. Technical support is non-existent, so you just get to start over and hope for something better. The graphics are good, the sound effects are excellent and, if you can get a battle going, it's quite realistic. The problem is that it takes too long to get there, too much effort to control the forces engaged, and carries no guarantee that you'll get to see anything through to a conclusion. If they ever get this right, it's going to be great. Somehow, I don't think I'll hold my breath.
Rating:
Summary: Alas, what might have been!
Review: When I first saw Fighting Steel on the shelf, my immediate reaction was "Finally, the ultimate follow-on to the Great Naval Battles series." As I read the details printed on the box, my interest peaked and I couldn't wait to get into a major capital ship engagement. Unfortunately, I then installed this turkey and tried to play it. Simply put, the game requires too much detailed effort to be enjoyable. There are an endless series of menus and sub-menus that must be employed to get anything done. By the time you have formed your forces, set navigational parameters, and maybe gotten lucky enough to engage the enemy, you're more than ready for the action to start. It doesn't happen that way. The game requires micromanagement of every aspect; navigation, gunnery, damage control, and this for every ship. What should be a very enjoyable simulation just bogs down in minutia. What is even more frustrating is the magnificent selection of available forces. Battleships, battlecruisers, heavy cruisers, destroyers, subs and just about everything else from every major fleet are there, alongwith an almost overwhelming assortment of weapons. This game could have been a World War II enthusiast's dream come true, but it just doesn't deliver on the promise. Worse yet is the brutal tendancy for the game to lock up in the middle of the action, with no apparent pattern to the problem. Technical support is non-existent, so you just get to start over and hope for something better. The graphics are good, the sound effects are excellent and, if you can get a battle going, it's quite realistic. The problem is that it takes too long to get there, too much effort to control the forces engaged, and carries no guarantee that you'll get to see anything through to a conclusion. If they ever get this right, it's going to be great. Somehow, I don't think I'll hold my breath.
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