B-17 Flying Fortress
| Developer: MicroProse | Graphics: |
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| Publisher: MicroProse | Sound: |
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| Year: 1993 | Difficulty: |
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| Genre: Flight simulation | Lastability: |
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| Number of players: 1 | Rating: |
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The B-17, nicknamed “The Flying Fortress”, was an iconic American bomber of World War II, heavily employed in the Pacific. This colossal machine housed a crew of about ten and bristled with multiple machine gun turrets for defence against enemy fighters.
Given its nature (a propeller-driven behemoth), the B-17 is certainly not the go-to choice for enthusiasts of high-speed dogfights. Especially since piloting in this game isn’t exactly centre stage. Instead, it’s more of a crew simulation, where each member takes on a specialised role (pilot, co-pilot, navigator, bombardier, and turret operators).
In practical terms, you “hop into” the shoes of one of your charges while the computer handles the others—with varying degrees of competence. As you step in to oversee a particular task, that individual gains experience and autonomy. Rotating between roles is therefore a wise strategy to boost overall efficiency and achieve your objectives as quickly as possible.
The atmosphere is one of MicroProse’s strongest points here. Between the period music, evocative artwork, small touches that bring the characters to life (group photos with individual bios, logbooks, radio chatter), the customisation of the plane’s nose art, and briefings enhanced by a quaintly retro-style presentation—everything draws you into the game. But the start of the first mission rudely drops you into the icy waters of an ocean of bewilderment…
It’s an engaging, realistic simulation, no doubt; varied as well, but undeniably complex. Don’t bother approaching it without a manual and an almost fanatical level of determination. Also, installing it on an Amiga hard drive is strongly recommended.
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