It Started Here - LZ X-Ray

It Started Here, November 1965

It Started Here: LZ X-Ray from Lock ’n Load Publishing places you at the center of one of the most important battles of the Vietnam War. The game recreates the fighting at Landing Zone X-Ray in November 1965 during the Battle of Ia Drang, where U.S. cavalry forces and North Vietnamese Army units clashed in a brutal test of tactics, leadership, and endurance.

You command platoon-level forces as the battle unfolds across the rugged terrain surrounding LZ X-Ray. American units rely on mobility, air support, artillery, and disciplined infantry tactics to hold their ground against determined North Vietnamese assaults. The NVA player uses numbers, maneuver, and relentless pressure to surround and overwhelm the landing zone before reinforcements can stabilize the situation.

Each turn places you in command of squads, weapons teams, and leaders as you maneuver across the battlefield, coordinate fire support, and react to the constantly shifting flow of combat. Mortars, artillery strikes, and air support provide critical firepower, while terrain and positioning determine whether your forces hold the line or break under pressure.

It Started Here: LZ X-Ray focuses on tense tactical decisions and fast-paced engagements. Players must balance aggression with survival as both sides struggle for control of the battlefield in one of the earliest large-scale confrontations between U.S. forces and the North Vietnamese Army.

The game includes detailed scenarios based on the historical fighting at LZ X-Ray, allowing players to experience multiple moments from the battle and explore different tactical approaches as the conflict unfolds.