A BLUETOOTH CONTROLLER OR KEYBOARD IS REQUIRED TO PLAY THE GAME. PLEASE NOTE: The game runs in an emulator and REQUIRES some configuration of the emulator (See website). The emulator is a faithful recreation of the Commodore 64 home computer.

Theatre europe is a turn-based strategy game with optional shoot’em up screens. The game tries to simulate a world war between NATO and the Warsaw Pact during the 80s, and feature conventional battles as well as NBC weapons. The game is single player: the human player can chose one of the two sides and the computer will command the other side. For the Warsaw Pact, the objective is to advance with several divisions beyond the Rhine within 29 in-game days, while NATO has to prevent this. If the player launches a total nuclear attack, the computer opponent will always retaliate and this will lead to mutual annihilation. Imminent conventional defeat or repeated use by either side of NBC weapons may prompt the computer to launch a total nuclear attack, and if the player’s reflex system is on, he will automatically retaliate and this will lead to mutual annihilation; if the player’s reflex system is off, retaliation to such attack is not possible and the computer will win.

The game was notable because, in order to access certain options, players were required to insert a password. The password wasn’t provided in-game or in the manual; instead, the player was instructed to call a number. The number, available only in the United Kingdom at the time of game’s release, connected the caller with a recorded message. After sounds effects of screams and explosions, the message disclosed the password to access strategic nuclear options was “midnight sun”.

Setup:
https://www.thawsoe7.co.uk/phoenix-retro-games
https://www.c64-wiki.com/wiki/Theatre_Europe