Field Combat

Field Combat is a vertically scrolling action game developed by Tose and published by Jaleco for the Famicom in 1985. It is a home conversion of Jaleco's arcade game released earlier that year and was officially available only in Japan. The story concerns an evil scientist named Phozom, who uses a brainwashing device to turn the world's military forces against Earth. In response, the defenders deploy the Genesis-3, a disc-shaped attack craft equipped with missiles and an experimental Capture Beam.

The player guides the Genesis-3 upward through a succession of futuristic battlefields occupied by enemy infantry, tanks, mobile guns and helicopters. Missiles can destroy or temporarily disable hostile units, while the slower Capture Beam converts selected enemies into members of the player's own army. Using the beam requires the target to remain inside its crosshairs and leaves the Genesis-3 vulnerable, creating a choice between quickly eliminating an opponent and risking capture to gain a useful reinforcement.

Captured troops remain in reserve and can later be deployed by pressing both action buttons simultaneously. Available units include soldiers, armoured vehicles and helicopters, each behaving independently after entering the battlefield. Up to six friendly units can fight alongside the Genesis-3 at once. A small display cycles through the available reinforcements, so calling the desired unit requires careful timing. Enemy flying saucers can abduct friendly ground troops and may also attack allied helicopters in the air.

Each battlefield ends at a fortified position protected by gun emplacements and waves of Red forces. Progress therefore depends not only on direct shooting but also on building and deploying an effective reserve army. This mixture of an overhead shooter and simple battlefield management distinguishes Field Combat from more straightforward military games such as Front Line and Commando. A second player can participate in an alternating mode rather than fighting simultaneously.

Field Combat presents an unusual strategic idea for an early Famicom action game, although its execution can initially feel awkward. The Genesis-3 moves slowly, both weapons have limited range, and selecting reinforcements through a rotating display is less convenient than a conventional menu. Once these systems are understood, capturing and redeploying enemy troops gives the repetitive battlefields additional tactical interest. The military action is accompanied by an electronic arrangement of Richard Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries, reinforcing the deliberately theatrical atmosphere of the advancing army.