Balance
About Balance
Balance is a Cold War geopolitical strategy game that originally appeared on the Macintosh in 1985, created by the legendary game designer Chris Crawford. Published by Mindscape, this MSX 1 port arrived during the mid-80s wave of political simulations that tried to capture the tension of superpower rivalry. The MSX version presented the same core experience but on a platform more accessible in Japan and Europe.
In Balance, you take control of either the United States or the Soviet Union and navigate a series of global crises. Each turn presents diplomatic incidents, military standoffs, and regional conflicts where you must allocate resources, issue threats, or back down. The game resolves these interactions with a prestige system that measures your nation's credibility. If you push too hard and escalate recklessly, you risk triggering a nuclear war - and game over for the world.
What makes Balance worth revisiting is its pure focus on strategy without any arcade elements, a rarity on MSX 1 where action games dominated. It captures the paranoia and brinkmanship of the Cold War era better than most modern simulations. The learning curve is steep and the visuals are minimal, but for fans of thoughtful turn-based strategy, this port is a fascinating historical artifact.
How to Play Balance Online
Getting Started
When you start Balance, you first choose which superpower to lead - United States or Soviet Union. The game then presents a series of scenarios where you must respond to world events. Each turn you decide how to react to a crisis: deploy military forces, negotiate, issue a warning, or back down. The computer opponent does the same, and the outcome depends on your nation's current prestige level and the strength of your commitment.
The core loop involves reading briefings on a crisis, making a decision, and then watching the consequences unfold. Your goal is to expand your influence without letting armed conflicts spiral into direct war between the two powers. A prestige meter shows how other countries perceive your resolve; losing too much prestige weakens your leverage, while over-aggression can incite a nuclear exchange.
If you are unfamiliar with the original Mac interface, expect a text-heavy screen with menu choices. The MSX version uses simple keyboard selections. Take your time reading each report before acting. The game has no real-time pressure, so you can think through each move.
Balance Keyboard Controls
Controls
- Arrow Keys: D-Pad / Movement
- X: Trigger 1
- S: Trigger 2
- Enter: Start
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