Emperor: Battle for Dune - Harkonnen Level 07

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Jimbatron

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Published on March 9, 2024 10:56:08 PM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvOYd-e4FHk

Game:

Emperor: Battle for Dune (2001)

Duration: 27:49

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7

With the new Dune movie released, I thought I'd upload some old videos of a playthrough of the last licensed strategy game for the franchise released in 2001 (although stylistically it looks more like the David Lynch 1984 film than the descriptions in the books or the visuals from Denis Villeneuve's version).

Strategy overview:
This one gets slightly harder. In particular, the Atreides now have the Minotaurus. It is deadly against infantry, powerful against vehicles and has a greater range than most Harkonnen forces. Plus the enemy gets powerful reinforcements and is more aggressive. To counter, I use a tactic that is winning in this and all the remaining missions. I can now build the Devastators. It's the toughest and most hard hitting unit in the game, but slow and if caught in the wrong place, can get picked off. I use Carryalls to deploy them where they can do most damage, dropping them off at the back of the enemy base. I complete the secondary objective to gain Sardaukar allies but I use them mainly for base defence as the Atreides Minotaurus will slaughter them if they go out in open attack.

0:00 Opening Cutscene
1:38 Map
Fortunately, my path to the Atreides capital isn't blocked by a sandstorm, so I can attack an adjacent territory.
2:05 Briefing
There's a bonus objective to take out a Sardaukar general hostile to an alliance with House Harkonnen and pin the blame on the Atreides. Worth doing as it gets you an alliance and extra forces.
2:54 Game Start
Usual fare in that I start building a base, beginning with refineries but as I have three flame tanks I send them after the Sardaukar as they're great against infantry.
4:25 Flame Tank attack
Unfortunately this doesn't go well - the Sardaukar scatter very effectively, with better control, I'd have taken out more than half.
5:09 Sardaukar attack
This is a bit of a problem as I don't really have the forces to deal with them. However, I build a barracks, and this allows me to build a flame turret. Slapping that in the middle of them as they attack my construction yard finishes them off. I then continue with normal base build, starting with a second refinery. I create one trooper as I am low on funds so he can take out the nearest wreckage for the cash bonus inside.
7:25 Sardaukar allies arrive
Probably not enough to finish off the enemy base, and in any case I need to find out where it is, so I train some scouts. I continue to build the rest of the structures available.
13:18 Spice Harvester under attack
One of the enemy patrols attack my harvesters so I send my force of combat tanks to deal with them.
15:38 Attack on my base
With my main force guarding the spice fields, I build some turrets and use the Sardaukar to defend
17:28 Minotaurus approaching my base
I pull my combat tanks back to deal with this threat as these units can hit structures at range. Unfortunately that and a worm earlier taking a bite out of them weakens my attack force.
19:07 Second enemy attack on my base
Easily repelled but it does annoyingly deplete my attack force
20:12 Starport Order Arrives
This consists of Devastators, and Carryalls to move them across the map quickly, getting around the problem of their slow speed. I'm hoping this will swing the battle in my favour.
21:54 Devastators deployed
I set them down to the north of the enemy base on the rocky outcrop they are based on. As there's no way up from land, hopefully an attack will not have been anticipated from this direction and most of the turrets will be to the south west. Unfortunately the AI has built a wall around the entire base and Minotaurus reinforcements have just arrived. Their range makes them the Atreides best weapon against the Devastator. However, whilst they get wiped out, the Devastators take out the enemy construction yard, barracks and all of the Minotaurus. This is the beginning of the end as they won't be in great shape to survive another attack.
24:31 Carryalls pick up more Devastators
I get ready to fly a second wave in to finish the enemy off
25:00 Second attack on the enemy base
I only have 3 Devastators but they are enough to finish the job after the damage the first five caused.
27:32 Victory

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