Posted April 07, 2023
This game is nothing bug amazing.
It is old, yes, but was so ahead of its times that, even by today standards, the gameplay holds well.
Nowhere at the time I remember to have seen a clickable cockpit (perhaps, the only other game I can think of Shuttle from Virgin).
The flight model is kind of simplified (for obvious reasons) but still, the whole package provides strong immersion.
Five detailed positions, choke full of switches, buttons and panels. Each one with enough details to be interesting and challenging.
Loads of tough missions and tactical situations to delve trough, in which mastery of the various stations will be critical.
There is also a simplified start-up sequence, where you need to operate the batteries to crank up the engines.
Along there is IFF, radar, terrain scan, EW, loadout management and so many other systems.
No sim, at the time, had such level of simulation.
Coordinating across the Megafortress systems will be critical to win the missions and will require some time and practice.
There is an extensive training session in the manual and in the game, built as a long series of red flag missions.
But make no mistake: you need the manual open and keep reading it. You need to learn the correct procedures to make trough the missions.
The loadout is massive and you really feel like flying a powerhouse. Everything happen at strategic level; hidden from your sight.
You can't walk into this game and expecting explosions, dogfights and fast missions times.
The gameplay feels more like a submarine simulation. Where patience, analysis of the situation and mastery of the systems will play a major role.
The package offered here on GOG is amazing as it provides the two expansions and mission editor, in a convenient format.
Note: the aircraft in the game is modelled after the "Flight of the old dog" si-fi thriller novel, that was supposed to be a modified version of the b-52 Stratofortress.
It is old, yes, but was so ahead of its times that, even by today standards, the gameplay holds well.
Nowhere at the time I remember to have seen a clickable cockpit (perhaps, the only other game I can think of Shuttle from Virgin).
The flight model is kind of simplified (for obvious reasons) but still, the whole package provides strong immersion.
Five detailed positions, choke full of switches, buttons and panels. Each one with enough details to be interesting and challenging.
Loads of tough missions and tactical situations to delve trough, in which mastery of the various stations will be critical.
There is also a simplified start-up sequence, where you need to operate the batteries to crank up the engines.
Along there is IFF, radar, terrain scan, EW, loadout management and so many other systems.
No sim, at the time, had such level of simulation.
Coordinating across the Megafortress systems will be critical to win the missions and will require some time and practice.
There is an extensive training session in the manual and in the game, built as a long series of red flag missions.
But make no mistake: you need the manual open and keep reading it. You need to learn the correct procedures to make trough the missions.
The loadout is massive and you really feel like flying a powerhouse. Everything happen at strategic level; hidden from your sight.
You can't walk into this game and expecting explosions, dogfights and fast missions times.
The gameplay feels more like a submarine simulation. Where patience, analysis of the situation and mastery of the systems will play a major role.
The package offered here on GOG is amazing as it provides the two expansions and mission editor, in a convenient format.
Note: the aircraft in the game is modelled after the "Flight of the old dog" si-fi thriller novel, that was supposed to be a modified version of the b-52 Stratofortress.
Post edited April 08, 2023 by OldOldGamer
