Know Thy Vehicles
This may be brazenly obvious given that the vehicle guide is the previous chapter, but just in case you skipped over it... know your vehicles. In other words, know the functions and specialties of each vehicle, what they are intended for, what they are not intended for, and what you could use them for in the right situation, especially with the Scions and the morphing capabilities of some of their units and the three forms of shielding.
To successfully play Battlezone II you'll have to learn the vehicles inside and out. |
Beyond that you should probably be jetting around in a vehicle that best fits your playing style - loose and fast in a scout or light vehicle, or pure muscle with a tank. In some of the earlier scenarios this just isn't possible, but it becomes more of a reality as the campaign progresses (and all the time in Instant Action). There's nothing wrong with getting acquainted with a particular vehicle and getting it attuned to your keyboard/mouse/joystick setup exactly to your liking.
Thou Shalt Circle-Strafe
Let's face it, if you've ever played a game like this (say something like Doom, Quake, or Half-Life) and managed to do it successfully, then you probably know the fine art of circle-strafing. That is, while keeping your enemy in your crosshairs, you are moving to your left or right in a strafing (or sidestepping) manner. Because you're keeping the crosshairs relatively centered while moving left or right, you'd actually be moving in a circle, assuming the target was relatively stationary. The idea is that you will have a fair chance of hitting your target, which will appear to be stationary, while your opponent on the other hand will have a much harder time hitting you, because you're very much in motion. It can take a while to get used to, especially with Battlezone II's three-dimensional terrain and smart targeting, so practice, practice, practice.
Of course, there are many derivatives of these tactics. If you and your opponent are attempting to circle-strafe, chances are you'll just move in two parallel lines. The best way to avoid fire is to act unpredictably - move in zigzag patterns, alternating between left and right. Moving backward gives you the extra advantage of keeping your weapons trained on the enemy while you're running away. Use your vehicle's jumping ability to throw off the enemy's aim. Lastly, use terrain features, buildings, structures, or even other vehicles (friendly or otherwise) to shield yourself from incoming fire, even momentarily.
Never stay still if you're in a knife fight (a close-range combat situation), and shoot from a distance when given the opportunity. If you have a chance to damage or paralyze an opponent way before he ever gets to you (like with a mortar) then do so. Head-on attacks, however, are generally not recommended.
Next:
General and multiplayer strategies (cont.) 
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