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GAME REVIEWED: Apache Havoc
RELEASED BY: Empire Interactive
PRICE: £39.99
REVIEWED BY: G-String
REVIEW: -
Apache Havoc. What does that mean? Well, allow me to explain it for you. Apache is the US Apache Longbow (a chopper) and the Havoc is the Russian Havoc (another chopper!). This is a game basically about the cold war (capitalist versus communists). So, is this chopper game any good? Well it boasts a massive amount of features: 2 fully simulated combat helicopters; 3D engine specifically designed for low level helicopter combat; Highly detailed and articulated 3D models, and authentic flight dynamics; 30 fixed cockpit views and a detailed virtual cockpit for each chopper; realistic and novice options and many more.
First things first, I have to comment on the graphics. The very first thing that comes to mind ids the despicable jungle edges. They are like a green wall that stops suddenly this cannot be forgiven. Apart from this, the graphics are very realistic, and are smooth and well detailed. The two helicopters themselves are completely different, and they are very precisely detailed. There is a view mode that is like a TV camera and when you watch your chopper from this camera, you really do see how much time has been spent modeling these fabulous helicopters. The buildings are gray boxes with windows apart from a few special exceptions.
The cockpits are highly detailed and all the instruments are complicated and difficult to get the hang of. Every single key on the keyboard can be used in the game at some point. This makes getting to grips with the controls of the game really difficult. Although if you actually read the manual, it has a tutorial, covering all the steps you need to get yourself up and flying with ease. So a piece of advice: Read the manual (the first chapter anyway). I was put off at first by the complicated controls, mainly because I prefer games where you can get straight into the action (others in the office were in love at first sight, however). There were two things that stopped me from getting straight into the action. One is learning how to use your chopper the other is the lack of a feature that dumps you straight in the thick of it (a quick start feature).
The combat is great fun (when you do find some!) and it is not all like other modern flight sims. That is that you don't just get someone in your sights and then press the button once and then they're dead, although it can be like that if you want. I much prefer to go along, spot a tanks, hide behind a hill, put up, shoot shit out of it, and then go down again, flying round the side of a hill. That's another thing. In this game, you really do have to use the terrain to succeed in this game. This makes it a lot more fun and realistic. You find that you are no longer the invincible Yankee, and nobody can hurt you. You are now very vulnerable, especially if you just hover about, up high where everyone can see you. The fact that you can go the Russians I thought was an excellent feature, as I personally really enjoyed going up and blowing shit out of the yanks (sorry all American visitors!)
The missions are ok, but they are mainly patrols at first although you can stray off and find people to kill, if you want of course. But the missions become more harder and more advanced, the more you play the game. We at the office, didn't really fall in love with the missions, we preferred to blow choppers, airplanes and ground stations out of this world. Even if it were our own bases. We didn't give a damn!!!
Overall, Apache havoc is a must for all Chopper and flight sim fans. Because it is brilliant fun, it will also appeal to every gamer, apart from those who detest these types of games. A well designed game.
SCORE:
88%
MINIMUM HARDWARE REQUIRED:
CPU: 166+
RAM: 32MB
500MB HD Space
3D graphics accelerator
Windows 95\98
Quad CD-ROM
LINKS: www.empireflight.com