Platoon is based on Oliver Stone's Oscar winning film Platoon. Platoon is set early in the Vietnam conflict - 1965 to 1968 - and includes the several famous battles: Operation Shiny Bayonet, the Pleiku campaign, and Operation Pershing. Players control Martin Lionsdale, a newly married, and green, US Army recruit. Platoon's story involves Lionsdale relationships with other soldier's in his platoon, his emotions, and his long distance correspondence with his wife.

Lionsdale gradually advances to the rank of Lieutenant and assumes responsibility for a platoon of 30 soldiers, including riflemen, snipers, scouts, machine gunners, grenadiers, engineers, and commandos. Only historically accurate weapons are available, and tactical options are based on US Army Vietnam reports and documents. Environments include elephant grass, rice paddies, jungles, marshes, and bunkers; each soldier's movement and abilities are affected by the terrain and situation. The M113 Armored Personnel Carrier and M48 Patton Tank are available as are mortars and recoilless rifles. The music is from composer Tamás Kreiner.