North and South

North and South

Overview & History

Released by Infogrames in 1989 and ported to the NES in 1990 by Taito, North and South is a delightfully quirky, strategic action-comedy based on the famous Belgian comic book series *Les Tuniques Bleues*. Diverging from grim historical simulations, the game drops players into a whimsical caricature of the American Civil War. You choose to command either the Union (North) or the Confederacy (South) during the year 1861, racing against your opponent or an AI to conquer all of the country's territories before the war reaches its historical conclusion. Unlike typical turn-based wargames, it injects manic, arcade-style skirmishes into the campaign map.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

The campaign map plays out in real-time. Players move armies across a stylized map of the United States to capture states, collect federal reinforcements that arrive by train, and defend against marauding bands of Native Americans and Mexican outlaws. When two opposing armies collide on the map, the game transitions into one of three distinct, action-packed mini-games: a side-scrolling fort assault where troops use grappling hooks and sabers, an open-field infantry and cavalry battle, or a frantic train defense sequence where you must board and sabotage the enemy's locomotive while fending off enemies on moving roofs. Victory requires a clever blend of strategic territory management and twitch-reaction combat skills.

Keyboard Controls

• Arrow Keys / D-Pad: Move
• Action Keys: Attack / Jump
• Enter: Start / Pause