NAM / NAPALM (PC DOS) (1998) - Episode 1: 'Tour of Duty I' - Longplay [1080p] (uncommented)

Full playthrough of the first episode ('Tour of Duty I') of the Build Engine shooter NAM by TNT Team and GT Interactive. NAM is set in the Vietnam War and started off as a Duke Nukem 3D total conversion before it was released as a standalone game in 1998. The title was also sold under the name NAPALM in Walmart stores.

Everybody who is familiar with NAM knows how hard and unforgiving the game is. I would say playing on low difficulties equals playing BLOOD on a high difficulty setting - and you know what kind of torture that is. Therefore, only the second hardest setting (Grunt) has been chosen for this longplay. Still ballbusting as hell. The game is relentless, it constantly keeps you on your toes with a barrage of camouflaged hit-scan enemies, snipers, booby traps, tanks, airstrikes, and other mean traps. Simple run-and-gun tactics as they can be used in other build titles such as Duke Nukem 3D or Shadow Warrior do not work in NAM. It will only get you killed instanly. The first thing you need to understand when playing this game is to take it slow. It is possible to somewhat rush through the game if you know it pretty well and can remember enemy placements (even though the game does work with a lot of random spawns to keep it fresh). However, I do believe NAM is much more fun if you stealth your way through it and soak up its intense atmosphere (the sound design of the game is excellent) and small details - something I intentionally did for this playthrough.

Saying NAM was not well received by players and critics upon release is an understatement. But despite its many flaws, NAM to me is a misunderstood Build Engine gem. You just have to be in the right mindset for it. Learn to love the crouch button. Endure the pain. It may be very frustrating and demoralizing at points. Unfair and brutal. But so is war - the very thing this game tries to simulate. And this, it does very well.

Emulated with DosBox.

00:00 Intro / Menu
00:49 E1M1: Base Camp
07:02 E1M2: Assault
15:06 E1M3: Hill 104
18:50 E1M4: Contact Lost
26:04 E1M5: Huey Down
31:13 E1M6: Search And Destroy
38:08 E1M7: POW Camp
52:32 Bonus: E1M5: Huey Down (Alternative Route)

#NAM #FPS #RetroGaming #MSDos #GTInteractive #Napalm #Longplay