Battlehawks 1942
| Developer: Lucasfilm | Graphics: |
 | |
| Publisher: Lucasfilm | Sound: |
| |
| Year: 1989 | Difficulty: |
 | |
| Genre: Shoot’em up | Lastability: |
 | |
| Number of players: 1 | Rating: |
8/10 | |
An extremely simplified flight simulator (no take-off or landing), and therefore easy to handle, which lets you take part in Pacific battles during World War II, either on the American or Japanese side.
When you say Pacific, you say flat, blue surface—they didn’t exactly push the boat out with the scenery. The planes and boats are represented in 2D, which gives a finer rendering (up close) and acceptable fluidity, although the speed drops as soon as multiple units appear on screen.
It may not offer the depth of an F-16 Combat Pilot or the atmosphere of Wings (with its ongoing, scripted campaign); all it offers are dynamic air battles. That’s all I was expecting. Several aircraft are still selectable, and different parameters can be adjusted (infinite ammo and fuel, invincibility, starting altitude, enemy difficulty). It’s also possible to record gameplay sequences and view them from every angle.
I don’t quite understand why, but the engine sound cuts out at one point—just press “S” or “E” twice to “turn it back on”.
The same studio will release Their Finest Hour: The Battle of Britain the following year, relocating the action over the Channel.
|
