Balance of Power: The 1990 Edition Overview
Balance of Power: The 1990 Edition is a strategy game set in a world where the Cold War's rigid structure is dissolving. Players guide a superpower, aiming to achieve global prestige through military, covert, and industrial means, while the constant risk of nuclear conflict remains a central constraint.
The game reflects its updated historical context by moving beyond a simple US-USSR rivalry. A new multipolar dynamic allows numerous smaller nations to initiate regional conflicts independently, though superpowers can influence these events by providing or withholding military support. The scope of the simulation is expanded to include 80 different countries.
Decision-making is supported by a Crisis Advisory Board, a panel of four advisors who offer counsel during international incidents. While a superpower can exert significant influence over smaller states, careful attention must be paid to the actions and reactions of the opposing major power, making the overall management of global affairs challenging.
