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AeroWings

Score: 90%
ESRB: Everyone
Publisher: Crave
Developer: CRI
Media: CD/1
Players: 1
Genre: Flight

Graphics & Sound:

Once again, Dreamcast comes through with a winner. By far, AeroWings is the best looking, best sounding, non-combat flight simulation to ever hit a home system. The planes look incredible; beautiful scenery and great texture mapping. Smooth and reflective surfaces can be seen on the 3rd person view, and the cockpit instrumentation is on par. The skyline was well rendered, and a cool smoke effect was added for the sake of bragging about cool techniques on replay. The sound had all the booming effects of any PC flight sim. However, the game is based on true flight formations and technique, so don’t look for any sounds of machine gun fire or massive explosions, other than when you crash and go boom.

Gameplay:

The principle behind AeroWings is not to maim and destroy, but rather to truly gain a sense of respect for true pilots. AeroWings is designed for those who enjoy the sheer joy of flight. You are taught the basics of takeoff and landing procedures, and are later thrown into the thick of flying with other pilots attempting to hold your position while twisting and turning, in some cases within inches of your counterparts. If you are a true flight sim buff, and really didn’t want to buy a computer for realistic flight simulation, then this is definitely one you have been waiting for.

Difficulty:

AeroWings has a straight forward hierarchy of difficulty. The first couple of missions are extremely simple, some of which you may decide to skip. However, as you progress, the game gets increasingly more difficult. The true difficulty of the game is not in completion, but rather accumulating a perfect score while attempting to complete the missions of the game. As with all true flight sims, there is somewhat of a learning curve that must be overcome, but there is nothing here that takes away from the fun factor. Besides, there is a nice realism option bar that allows you to tweak the realism so even the young ones may enjoy the wild blue yonder.

Game Mechanics:

I was initially really concerned about this area with AeroWings. I had yet to play a true flight sim on a home gaming unit that I felt comfortable playing without a flight stick. The results are in, and by golly I liked it. A nice flight stick would still be nice, but the Dreamcast controller was really responsive, and the button combinations necessary for landing gear and the flaps were not as complicated as I thought they would have had to be. Yet, some of the maneuvers will still have your thumb twitching in order to remain in stable formation.

-Sabumnim, GameVortex Communications
AKA Larry Callier

Sega Dreamcast Buzz Lightyear of Star Command Sega Dreamcast Draconus: Cult of the Wyrm

 
Game Vortex :: PSIllustrated